REMUNERATION OF SPEAKER

The Leader of the House (Mr Wong Kan Seng): Sir, I beg to move,

That, pursuant to Article 41 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, the Speaker shall be paid:

(1) a monthly salary and allowances equal to 40 per cent of the salary and allowances of Staff Grave IV + 1% as specified in the Senior Administrative Officers' Scheme of Service; and

(2) a non-pensionable annual fixed bonus of four months of his salary and allowances.

Sir, our present Speaker's salary has been pegged at 40% of the Speaker's full salary and the Deputy Speaker was given an allowance of 16% of Mr Tan's salary since 1st April 1989. This is because Mr Tan prefers to perform his duty as Speaker on a part-time basis.

As salaries for office-holders and senior public officers will be reviewed and possibly revised every year, depending on the salary changes in the benchmark earnings of private sector professionals listed in the White Paper on "Competitive Salaries for Competent and Honest Government: Benchmark for Ministers and Senior Public Officers", it is more convenient to have this motion which states the formula which I have just moved. This will obviate the need to move a motion every time the salaries of office-holders and senior public officers are changed.

Sir, I must emphasise that this motion today does not mean that the Speaker's salary will be changed immediately. The status quo remains. The Speaker's salary will only be revised on 1st July 1995 when salaries of office-holders and senior public officers are revised as announced by the PMO on 8th March 1995. At that time, 1st July 1995, the Speaker's salary and the Deputy Speaker's allowance will be adjusted accordingly.

I may also want to add that the revision to be effected on 1st July 1995 will also apply to the allowance for MPs. As to the extent of the revision, it is being worked out.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That, pursuant to Article 41 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, the Speaker shall be paid:

(1) a monthly salary and allowances equal to 40 per cent of the salary and allowances of Staff Grave IV + 1% as specified in the Senior Administrative Officers' Scheme of Service; and

(2) a non-pensionable annual fixed bonus of four months of his salary and allowances.