IMF AND WORLD BANK GROUP MEETINGS IN SINGAPORE (Use of green vehicles)

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IMF AND WORLD BANK GROUP MEETINGS IN SINGAPORE:

(Use of green vehicles): 4.

Dr Geh Min asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, in view

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of reports that an estimated 1,200 cars are needed for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group meetings in Singapore, (a) why are the organisers only considering luxury cars with high energy consumption rather than more energy efficient green vehicles; and (b) with dealers having to import cars which will subsequently be resold, whether this will be a good opportunity to promote the use of more green vehicles in Singapore.

The Minister of State for Finance (Mrs Lim Hwee Hua) (for the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance): Sir, let me, in reply to Dr Geh Min, begin by stating that the Government supports the adoption of green cars. In fact, we have recently enhanced the green car rebate from 20% of the ARF to 40% ARF.

In the case of S2006, we want to clarify that the organiser did not specifically rule out green cars. Instead, we invited car companies to submit their proposals to sponsor cars for heads of delegation. The evaluation of the proposal concluded that BMW had made the best offer. They agreed to sponsor the full cost of using their cars and allow the Government to fully discharge its obligation to provide vehicles for each official delegation.

Had we received a good offer of green cars for the S2006 meeting, we would have welcomed it. But it would have been unreasonable for us to impose additional costs on car companies to require them to provide only green cars, as they need to be able to have some assurance of being able to sell these cars after the event.

With the deal awarded to BMW for its 400 cars, the Organising Committee has secured enough vehicles for all official transportation requirements. Apart from these, all delegates will be provided local transport from the airport to the hotels and from the hotels to the meetings.

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Some delegates may seek to hire their own cars. We estimate that this could come up to 800. The Organising Committee is merely helping to facilitate the supply with the major car rental companies to meet this demand. We cannot dictate that the rental market import and supply green cars specially for this event. But if they do, that would be a bonus.

Dr Geh Min (Nominated Member): Sir, although the Ministry cannot dictate that green cars are provided, perhaps the Government should recognise that, at this point in time, many responsible world leaders and other members of a meeting, such as IMF, would prefer green cars. So, while I am not suggesting that all the cars provided should be green cars, should we not try and ensure that at least a certain percentage of green cars are available? There are many now on the market, and I believe we have quite a fleet of CNG Mercedes cabs as well. So, it should not be a problem to encourage or indicate that it would be a good idea to have some green cars.

Mr Speaker: What is your question, Dr Geh Min?

Dr Geh Min: Mr Speaker, my question is whether the organisers could look into providing an option of having some green cars.

Mrs Lim Hwee Hua: Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to reiterate that the Government has not excluded the provision of green cars as an option. The different proposals are free to include that. As to whether the Government should stipulate a certain percentage, I think that would really impose an additional cost on car companies, because it is not only a question of providing the cars for the duration of the event. They need to have the assurance of being able to dispose of the cars after the event as well, and this would go into the

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computation of all the costs of the proposals.

Assoc. Prof. Ong Soh Khim: Sir, one of the problems in including green cars is because of the supply of hydrogen. Hence, in the effort to promote using energy-efficient green cars which use hydrogen as a fuel, I would like to ask the Minister of State what are the relevant Ministries' efforts in finding commercially viable ways of supplying hydrogen safely on a larger scale and hydrogen-refilling projects in Singapore.

Mr Speaker: I am not sure whether what is asked has any connection with the Question. I do not think I will allow that. Next Question, please. Mr Steve Chia.