REMUNERATION OF THE SPEAKER

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

That pursuant to Article 41 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, the Speaker shall be paid with effect from 1st July 2000:

(1) a monthly salary and allowances equal to 40 per cent of 1.64 times the salary and allowances payable to a Senior Administrative Officer on the minimum point of the Ministerial Range 4 (MR4) as specified in the Senior Administrative Officers' Scheme of Service;

(2) a non-pensionable annual fixed bonus pegged at the norm Performance Bonus rate of a Senior Administrative Officer on the minimum point of the Ministerial Range 4 (MR4) as specified in the Senior Administrative Officers' Scheme of Service; and

(3) a GDP Bonus pegged at the GDP Bonus rates payable to a Senior Administrative Officer on the minimum point of the Ministerial Range 4 (MR4) as specified in the Senior Administrative Officers' Scheme of Service.

Sir, on 23rd March 1995, Parliament had resolved that the Speaker's salary and allowances to be 40% of the Staff Grade IV plus 1%, as specified in the Senior Administrative Officers' Scheme of Service, as you are performing the duty on a part-time basis. This was done in order to obviate the need to move a motion every time the salaries of office-holders and senior public officers are changed. This principle has not changed.

Arising from the review of the 1994 White Paper on Competitive Salaries for Honest and Competent Government, fundamental changes were made to the salary and grade structures of the Ministers and the Administrative Service. A system of salary ranges was introduced to replace the system of salary points and fixed salary scales in the Administrative Service. Consequential changes were made to the gross monthly salaries of the various appointments, whereas specifically, the salary and allowances of the Speaker are now to be expressed as a ratio of the minimum point of MR4, the salary range corresponding to the old salary grade, ie, Staff Grade IV plus 1%. In terms of quantum, there is no reduction in the monthly salary and allowances.

The review also saw the introduction of the Gross Domestic Product (or GDP) Bonus, which was introduced to provide a direct link between the remuneration of officers and the performance of the Singapore economy. It is proposed that the GDP Bonus also be extended to the Speaker, as is the practice for other Statutory Appointments, such as the President, the Attorney-General, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission and the Auditor-General.

Thus, Parliament is requested to approve the new formula that pegs the Speaker's salary and allowances to the minimum point of MR4, as well as for the introduction of the GDP Bonus for the Speaker.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That pursuant to Article 41 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, the Speaker shall be paid with effect from 1st July 2000:

(1) a monthly salary and allowances equal to 40 per cent of 1.64 times the salary and allowances payable to a Senior Administrative Officer on the minimum point of the Ministerial Range 4 (MR4) as specified in the Senior Administrative Officers' Scheme of Service;

(2) a non-pensionable annual fixed bonus pegged at the norm Performance Bonus rate of a Senior Administrative Officer on the minimum point of the Ministerial Range 4 (MR4) as specified in the Senior Administrative Officers' Scheme of Service; and

(3) a GDP Bonus pegged at the GDP Bonus rates payable to a Senior Administrative Officer on the minimum point of the Ministerial Range 4 (MR4) as specified in the Senior Administrative Officers' Scheme of Service.