ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2005 TO 31ST MARCH, 2006 (Paper Cmd. 2 of 2005)

ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2005 TO 31ST MARCH, 2006:

(Paper Cmd. 2 of 2005): Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [1st Allotted Day].

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

The Chairman: Main and Development Estimates of Expenditure of Singapore for the financial year 1st April 2005 to 31st March 2006, contained in Paper Cmd. 2 of 2005.

For convenience, I shall take the totals for each Head of Expenditure in the Main and Development Estimates as they appear in the last columns of the schedules of estimated expenditure under the Main and Development Estimates Outlays for FY 2005 on pages 14 and 15 respectively of the Command Paper.

A total of 362 amendments to the Estimates of Expenditure have been submitted this year. The guillotine times to the discussion of the Heads of Expenditure under Standing Order 92(7)(a)

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have taken into consideration the earlier commencement time of the Committee of Supply for each allotted day. I must remind honourable Members that the times for discussion of the Heads of Expenditure include the replies from the front bench. With the assistance of the digital timer displayed in the Chamber, I trust that honourable Members will be able to adhere to the speech times indicated against their amendments. As usual, I would urge honourable Members - both from the back and front benches - to be observant of their speech time limits, as I will be very assiduous in my time-keeping.

I shall deal first with the Heads of Expenditure in respect of which amendments stand on the Order Paper Supplement.