COMMISSION ON PARLIAMENT STAFF

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

That this Parliament, noting the Third Report of the Commission on Parliament Staff as contained in Paper Misc. 3 of 2001, accepts the recommendations of the Commission as contained in paragraph 6 thereof and resolves in accordance with such recommendations.

Sir, in accordance with Article 51(6) of the Constitution of Singapore, a Commission consisting of the Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for Finance, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission and myself was set up to consider a new Scheme of Service for the Serjeant-at-Arms and Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms.

The Commission has presented its Report to Parliament on 23rd April 2001. The Commission considered a proposal to create a new Scheme of Service for the Serjeant-at-Arms and Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms. The rationale for the proposal was that the duties of the Serjeant-at-Arms, especially in the area of security, have increased tremendously over the years, especially more so after moving into the new Parliament House in 1999. For instance, there was an increase in the number of visitors over the last five years from 9,390 in 1996 to 30,500 in the year 2000, and this number is expected to increase over the years.

It was recommended that the new Scheme of Service for the Serjeant-at-Arms and Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms be based on the existing Police Scheme of Service for Senior Station Inspector and Station Inspector respectively. The recommendations of the Commission are contained in paragraph 6 of the Report.

The House is asked to accept the recommendations of the Commission.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Parliament, noting the Third Report of the Commission on Parliament Staff as contained in Paper Misc. 3 of 2001, accepts the recommendations of the Commission as contained in paragraph 6 thereof and resolves in accordance with such recommendations.