TIME LIMIT FOR SPEECHES (Suspension of Standing Orders)

The Leader of the House (Mr Wong Kan Seng): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present to move that the proceedings on the item under discussion be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order No. 45 in respect of the speech to be made by the Deputy Prime Minister, BG Lee Hsien Loong?

Sir, DPM BG Lee will be giving the Government's full and comprehensive response to the Report of the Committee on Singapore's Competitiveness afterwards. In order that he will be able to speak unaffected by the time, I propose to move this motion.

Mr Speaker: I give my consent. Is it the pleasure of hon. Members that the motion be moved by the Leader of the House?

Hon. Members indicated assent.

With the consent of Mr Speaker, and the general assent of Members present, Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That the proceedings on the item under discussion be exempted from the time limit for speeches laid down in paragraph (8)(a) of Standing Order 45 in respect of the speech to be made by the Deputy Prime Minister, BG Lee Hsien Loong. - [Mr Wong Kan Seng].

Mr Speaker: Order. I suspend the Sitting and will take the Chair again at 5.00 pm.

Sitting accordingly suspended at 4.52 pm until 5.00 pm. Sitting resumed at 5.00 pm