Here is a summary of the 5 parliamentary questions I filed in May 2018.
Summary:
- Medical Insurance Coverage when Foreign Domestic Worker is Put on Special Pass
- Sentencing Discretion for Intellectually-disabled Offenders
- Health Effects from Exposure to Phthalates and Plasticizers Linked to Hormone Disruption and Reproductive Harm
- Inmates Who Go through Divorce Proceedings during Incarceration or after Release
- Deducting Expenses from Assessable Income Tax for Taxi Drivers and Private-hire Car Drivers
Here are the PQs and their replies:
1. Parliamentary Question – Medical Insurance Coverage when Foreign Domestic Worker is Put on Special Pass
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the mandatory medical insurance purchased by an employer for a domestic worker continues when the worker is put on a special pass by the Ministry or the police; and (b) if not, who is responsible for the worker’s medical bills such as cost of consultation, prescription and procedures in those situations.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Manpower (Ms Low Yen Ling) (for the Minister for Manpower): Mr Speaker, Sir, Special Passes are issued to FDWs to legalise their stay in Singapore after their work permits have been cancelled.
When an employment contract ends, the employer is required to cancel the FDW’s work permit before she departs Singapore. A Special Pass is granted to cover the period between the cancellation of the work permit, and the FDW’s departure from Singapore for her home country. During this period, the employer is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the FDW, including medical treatment. So, I want ot assure Mr Ng that the mandatory medical insurance purchased by the employer continues to be in force.
In exceptional cases, an FDW may be required by MOM or the Police to further remain in Singapore to assist in investigations. For such cases, a Special Pass will also be issued to the FDW. MOM and the Police will assist the FDW who needs help with medical treatments, including paying for medical bills as required.
2. Parliamentary Question – Sentencing Discretion for Intellectually-disabled Offenders
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Minister will consider reviewing the Criminal Procedure Code to (i) provide the courts with sentencing discretion for offences mandating imprisonment and caning where the offender is intellectually disabled and (ii) expand the sentencing options for intellectually disabled offenders such as mandatory treatment orders.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Amrin Amin) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): We will study the issue. There are a number of considerations that we will need to balance.
First, intellectual disability occurs along a wide spectrum of severity. Persons with severe intellectual disability to the extent that they are incapable of understanding the nature and consequences of the act they had committed, are acquitted. However, in other cases, intellectual disability may not negate the culpability of the offender.
Second, we will need to take into account other sentencing considerations. Offences which attract mandatory imprisonment and caning are generally serious and involve violence, such as robbery and aggravated rape. Such offences cause great distress to victims and threaten public safety. As such, punishment, deterrence and public protection are key considerations in sentencing for such offences.
As for Mr Ng’s second question, mandatory treatment orders (MTOs) are imposed when an offender is suffering from a mental illness which is treatable, and which contributed to his offence. However, psychiatric assessments of offenders have found that those with merely intellectual disability are unsuitable for MTOs as their conditions were not assessed to be treatable.
Mr Speaker: Mr Louis Ng.
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon): I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. Can I just check the timeline for the review? And two, I understand that currently, programmes under the RT regimes have already been modified for the intellectually disabled inmates. But I think the limiting factor is the prison officer’s time as well as resource constraint. So, while we are undergoing this review, will the Singapore Prison Service consider providing more resources to the RT officers so that they can modify these programmes for the inmates who are currently in there with intellectual disability.
Mr Amrin Amin: We will conclude the review in good time. Generally, the prison service takes extra precautions to manage inmates who are diagnosed with intellectual disability. Those with mental illnesses and who require treatment are currently housed separately at the psychiatric housing unit. And those who are able assimilate with the mainstream population and are housed with them, they generally undergo the same rehabilitation programmes like other inmates. However, prison staff will monitor them closely to pick any incidents of bullying or difficulties in adjustment.
Mr Speaker: Mr Louis Ng.
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang: I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. But the concern really is that they are saying they do not have enough time and resources. So, I am just wondering whether on MHA’s side, we can pump in more resources so that the RT officers can have time to modify programmes for the intellectually disabled.
Mr Amrin Amin: I think the time and resources issue, that will be considered as part of the general review and we will certainly be keen to ensure that our inmates get the proper support to help with their rehabilitation process.
3. Parliamentary Question – Health Effects from Exposure to Phthalates and Plasticizers Linked to Hormone Disruption and Reproductive Harm
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry monitors health effects from exposure to phthalates and plasticizers that are linked to hormone disruption and reproductive harm, particularly in male infants; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider putting in place regulations for consumer goods that contain harmful plasticizers.
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang: Phthalates are common substances added to plastics to improve their flexibility and durability. MOH does not routinely monitor the health effects from exposure to phthalate among male infants, but we monitor global data and studies on the impact of exposure to phthalates on an ongoing basis. The findings of some studies have suggested that there is some potential for harm in humans, particularly when ingested, although the evidence is not conclusive. Nevertheless, Singapore has established regulations, based on international standards, to reduce exposure to phthalates as a precautionary measure.
Enterprise Singapore regulates the use of phthalates in general consumer goods under the Consumer Protection (Consumer Goods Safety Requirements) Regulations (CGSR). The Regulations are aligned with applicable international, regional or national safety standards, and Enterprise Singapore monitors compliance through post-market surveillance. Additional regulatory requirements are imposed for toys and childcare articles in particular, including that on allowable concentrations of specified phthalates.
The Health Sciences Authority administers the Health Products (Cosmetic Products — ASEAN Cosmetic Directive) Regulations and bans the use of plasticizers that are harmful to consumers in cosmetic products.
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore administers the Food Regulations to ensure the safety of plastic food packaging, including plastic milk bottles. Through routine surveillance, any food with phthalate amounts above allowable limits would not be allowed for sale.
4. Parliamentary Question – Inmates Who Go through Divorce Proceedings during Incarceration or after Release
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Home Affairs for each of the past three years (a) how many inmates go through divorce proceedings while in the Drug Rehabilitation Centres, or while undergoing incarceration under the Long-Term Imprisonment 1 and Long-Term Imprisonment 2 regimes respectively; (b) how many go through divorce proceedings within two years of release respectively; and (c) what is the recidivism rate of inmates who have undergone divorce during incarceration and following release respectively.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) does not maintain records of inmates undergoing divorce proceedings, nor after they are released.
Regardless of marital status, inmates undergo programmes based on their risk of re-offending and their needs. These include family programmes to address transitional issues for inmates and their families, and to equip them with knowledge and skills that will help strengthen their relationships with each other. More than 4,000 inmates benefitted from family programmes in 2017. SPS aims to work with community partners to extend family programmes to more inmates.
5. Parliamentary Question – Deducting Expenses from Assessable Income Tax for Taxi Drivers and Private-hire Car Drivers
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Finance (a) what is the rationale behind allowing taxi drivers but not private-hire vehicle drivers to deduct expenses such as vehicle rental fees, fuel and ERP from their assessable income tax; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider allowing tax deductibility of these expenses for private-hire vehicle drivers based on the mileage clocked on private-hire driving.
The Second Minister for Finance (Mr Lawrence Wong) (for the Minister for Finance): Mr Speaker, Sir, tax deduction of expenses incurred for a private car is currently not allowed. This is applied consistently to both corporate and individual taxpayers. It is in support of our long-standing policies on car ownership. That is why private car drivers today are not allowed to claim tax deduction on any car-related expenses. Private-hire car drivers can, however, claim tax deduction on non-car-related expenses, such as commissions paid to third-party operators.
The current tax treatment that we have was introduced before the advent of companies like Grab and Uber. With the introduction of private-hire car services, the private-hire car drivers are essentially operating in the same space as taxis. We have noted the feedback from Members of this House and the National Private Hire Vehicles Association. We are carefully reviewing this matter to see how we can refine the tax policy to ensure they remain relevant and effective.
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon): I thank the Minister for the reply. I do agree that perhaps the tax regimes for taxi drivers and part-time private-hire drivers should be different. But I think for full-time private-hire drivers, it should be the same and I am just wondering whether the Minister would consider establishing, say, a minimum mileage clock, after which then the private-hire driver is considered full-time and can then enjoy the same tax regime as a taxi driver.
Mr Lawrence Wong: Mr Speaker, Sir, we are reviewing this holistically and it has also to be done in conjunction with MOT’s on-going review of the regulations on such private-hire car services. So, that is happening now. MOT and LTA are reviewing the regulations for this group of companies, how they should be regulated vis-a-vis taxi companies. When that is done and clearer, I think the tax treatment can also be adjusted accordingly.
Er Dr Lee Bee Wah: Sir, I would like to ask the Minister how long will the Ministry take for the review, that is, what timeline is, because this is quite a hot topic discussed on the ground.
Mr Lawrence Wong: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have to look to my colleagues from MOT. Because as I said earlier, the reviews are being done in parallel. I think the tax treatment must be consistent with also the regulatory treatment. I believe MOT and LTA have announced that they are doing this review on the regulations of private-hire car services and we at MOF are also looking at the tax treatment. And both are moving in parallel. Once the reviews are completed, we will be able to announce on the MOT side, the regulations; and on the MOF side, the tax treatment.
[End]
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Featured image source: Channel News Asia
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