STATE LANDS (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read. 1.45 pm.

The Minister of State for Law (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move "That the Bill be now read a Second time".

This Bill seeks to amend the State Lands Act to establish a statutory office of the Chief Valuer.

These amendments are consequential in nature, following amendments to the Constitution to make the Chief Valuer a safeguarded appointment passed at the last Parliamentary sitting on 20th March. At that time, DPM Lee had set out the background to these amendments.

The Bill introduces new sections 2A, 2B and 2C to establish the Chief Valuer, currently a departmental title, as a statutory office. He will be appointed by the President on the advice of the Public Service Commission. The President has the discretion to disagree with the Commission's advice. Administratively, the Chief Valuer will be responsible to the Minister for Law on all state land valuation matters.

The independence of the office-holder is safeguarded by provisions which stipulate that the Chief Valuer's remuneration and terms of service cannot be altered to his disadvantage during his tenure.

The amendments also set out the Chief Valuer's functions and confer on him right of access to buildings and lands. He can exercise this right at reasonable hours and only for the purpose of discharging his functions.

These amendments will help strengthen the institutions and systems for the effective operation of the constitutional safeguards over past reserves.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment, read a Third time and passed.