SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS (Business Motion)

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

That, notwithstanding the Standing Orders:

(i) the proceedings on the Estimates of Expenditure for FY 2000/2001 on 8th, 9th, 10th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 17th March 2000, be continued beyond 4.30 pm, and be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1 until 7.00 pm on each day; and

(ii) the proceedings on the Estimates of Expenditure for FY 2000/2001 on 11th March 2000 be continued beyond 4.30 pm, and be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1 until 5 pm.

This is because almost 530 amendments will be moved in the Committee of Supply this year. In fairness to the MPs, and in order for them to get the replies, we need the extra time to deal with these amendments.

Resolved,

That, notwithstanding the Standing Orders:

(i) the proceedings on the Estimates of Expenditure for FY 2000/2001 on 8th, 9th, 10th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 17th March 2000, be continued beyond 4.30 pm, and be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1 until 7.00 pm on each day; and

(ii) the proceedings on the Estimates of Expenditure for FY 2000/2001 on 11th March 2000 be continued beyond 4.30 pm, and be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1 until 5 pm.