ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO THE CHAIR

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO THE CHAIR:

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, we have now come to the end of the Budget

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debates for this year. It has been a gruelling 11 days for all of us. This year's session is a very significant one, not so much because of what the Budget offers, but more because of the announcements made on changes to, and reviews to be made on, policies which were hitherto sacred cows (or bulls, as some would like to have it!).

As for the debate proceedings, I am happy to report that my deputies and I have had to "guillotine" fewer speeches this year, despite the increased number of amendments. To be sure, there are still a few - to borrow a term from Mr Wong Kan Seng - "repeat offenders". But for most of the hon. Members, they seem to have no problems in putting their points and questions across effectively without having to resort to long, rambling speeches!

Finally, I cannot close this sitting without thanking my Deputy Speakers, the Leader of the House and the Whip for their assistance and guidance, and all my staff for all their efforts. I would like to close by thanking all hon. Members for their cooperation, understanding and forbearance, but, most of all, I would like to thank all Members for their participation and contributions to this year's debate. [ Applause. ]

The Leader of the House (Mr Wong Kan Seng): Sir, on behalf of Members, I would like to thank you as well as your deputies very much for chairing this year's Committee of Supply. We have a long sitting from 11.00 am to 6.30 pm every day over 11 days. This is a record set by the inflation of amendments over the years.

We had 484 amendments in 2001, 518 in 2002, 707 in 2003 and 769 in 2004. To contain this trend, we have to find a better way of doing this next year, which means that we have to explore what we should do to ensure that we

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have better time management so that every Member will have a chance to develop his points substantially, while not being cut off when the Speaker, or the Chairman, is not in a good mood.

We have to come to some compromise. There are many occasions for MPs to make comments and speeches, not just in this Chamber, but also outside. There are motions which they can move and questions which they can ask. So there is no need to ask all the questions during the Committee of Supply, just as there is no need for the Ministers to give policy speeches during the Committee of Supply. There are more opportunities for Ministers to make policy statements than anybody else. And I think they can exercise that right on some other time rather than to make them only during the Committee of Supply, so that we have a more interesting debate and discussions during our Committee of Supply.

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Having said that, Sir, once again, may I thank you and your deputies for your patience and indulgence for hearing us out, and for sitting through long hours, and sometimes hearing long and boring speeches.

Sir, I beg to move,

That Parliament do now adjourn to Monday, 19th April, 2004.