INTOXICATING SUBSTANCES (AMENDMENT) BILL

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INTOXICATING SUBSTANCES (AMENDMENT) BILL: Order for Second Reading read.

7.02 pm

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Wong Kan Seng): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Introduction

Sir, the inhalant abuse situation in Singapore remains very much under control. Examples of inhalant abuse include the sniffing of glue and paint thinners. Looking at the inhalant abuse situation over the past decade, we see that the number of abusers arrested has come down from a high of 423 in 1996 to about 140 last year. Although last year's figure is higher than the record low of 82 abusers arrested in 2001, it is only about one-third of the level in 1996. As at end 2005, the inhalant abuser population in approved centres has dwindled to only three. Nevertheless, we will continue to monitor the situation on the ground and take enforcement action where necessary.

Although the numbers are small, we will need to ensure that inhalant abusers are not treated differently from other drug abusers. As such, we are amending the Intoxicating Substances Act (INSA) so that it is consistent with the amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) that I had covered earlier. These amendments to the INSA will also help to enhance the administrative and operational efficiency of the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB).

Key amendment to the INSA

Sir, the key amendment to the Intoxicating Substances Act is the DNA profiling of inhalant abusers. I had mentioned in my speech on the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill that the MDA will be amended to provide for the taking and keeping of body samples for DNA profiling, finger impressions and photographs of drug abusers committed to DRCs and drug supervisees.

As inhalant abusers can be involved in other crimes, just like other drug abusers, it is important that the DNA profiles, finger impressions and photographs of inhalant abusers are also collected and stored for purposes of investigation. Hence, clause 6 of the INSA Bill inserts new sections 26A to 26D into the INSA to provide for the taking and keeping of body samples for DNA profiling, finger impressions and photographs of inhalant abusers.

Other amendments to the INSA

Sir, I will now move on to the other amendments to the INSA.

As we are amending the MDA so that CNB is not limited to relying only on HSA for conducting drug analysis, we are similarly amending the INSA so that CNB would not be restricted to using HSA for conducting analysis of the blood to detect inhalant abuse. Clauses 3 and 4 of the INSA Bill thus amend sections 14 and 15 of the Act respectively to allow CNB to employ the services of other laboratories, other than HSA, to conduct analysis of the blood to detect inhalant abuse.

Next, Sir, the Director of CNB currently does not have the power under INSA to impose a supervision order on a person discharged from a prison or DRC other than the "approved centres". Clause 5 amends section 16 to provide the Director of CNB with such powers. This is to cater for cases where an inhalant abuser could be serving sentence in a prison or DRC other than "approved centres" for other criminal charges. Supervision of these inhalant abusers will help to ensure that they do not go back to inhalant abuse after their release.

Conclusion

To conclude, the Ministry of Home Affairs will continue to monitor the inhalant abuse situation and deal with abusers. The amendments to the INSA will bring it in line with the MDA and help to enhance the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the CNB.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Wong Kan Seng].

Bill considered in Committee.

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr S Iswaran) in the Chair]

The Chairman: The citation year "2005" will be changed to "2006" as indicated in the Order Paper Supplement.

Clauses 1 to 6 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.

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