Mr Pritam Singh asked the Prime Minister (a) how will the Government assure the public that the Minister for Law and the Minister for Foreign Affairs were not in receipt of any privileged information pertaining to the lease of 26 and 31 Ridout Road respectively; and (b) whether there are any rules, conventions or policies to ensure that Cabinet Ministers do not take advantage of privileged information received in the course of their official or non-official duties in regard to the lease of Government properties.
Mr Pritam Singh asked the Prime Minister what are the Government’s reasons for not calling a press conference in May 2023 to address the public allegations in regard to the lease of 26 and 31 Ridout Road to the Minister for Law and the Minister for Foreign Affairs respectively.
Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for Law what was the guide rent set by SLA for the lease of 26 and 31 Ridout Road when they were leased out to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Law respectively.
Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for Law what was the guide rent set by SLA for the lease of 26 and 31 Ridout Road when they were leased out to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Law respectively.
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Prime Minister (a) whether there is any actual or perceived conflict of interest on the part of the Minister for Law and the Minister for Foreign Affairs in their respective leasing of 26 and 31 Ridout Road; and (b) if there is any perceived or actual conflict, what actions will be taken to ensure compliance with section 3.7 of the Code of Conduct for Ministers, which requires relinquishing or disposing of the financial interest where there is a conflict between private interest and public duty, or with any other provision of the said Code.
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Prime Minister (a) what steps were taken to address any conflict of interest which may conceivably arise under section 3.2 of the Code of Conduct for Ministers (Code) when applications were made to rent 26 and 31 Ridout Road bungalows respectively by the Ministers from the SLA; (b) what are the reporting requirements under the Code and whether these were complied with; and (c) whether the rental applications are made in names other than the Ministers.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Law whether the Government has plans to redevelop more of the land that are currently occupied by black and white colonial bungalows for more productive uses like public housing, industry or commerce.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Law (a) whether the bidding process of black and white bungalows managed by SLA is audited by the Auditor-General’s Office annually; (b) if not, in which year was the latest audit conducted; (c) what sampling methodology was used for the latest audit conducted; and (d) whether bids by Government officials, Members of Parliament and related parties are always included as part of this sample.
Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Law (a) how is the bidding process publicised by SLA for its black and white bungalows; and (b) in view of the long periods when some SLA bungalows have been vacant, what has SLA done to address those vacancies.
Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Law (a) how long was the bidding open for 26 Ridout Road after Minister Shanmugam’s bid was received as compared with the normal procedure for such bids; and (b) whether there is any prescribed process for declaring any related party transactions or conflicts of interests when bidding and how was that process observed for 26 Ridout Road.
Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Law (a) how are maintenance and upgrading costs for black and white bungalows owned by SLA divided between tenant and SLA; and (b) what are the annual costs of maintenance and upgrading borne by SLA at 26 and 31 Ridout Road respectively from 2013 to 2022, inclusive of both years.
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Law (a) what are the parameters and guidelines used to decide whether to grant conservation status or when deciding not to develop the large pieces of undeveloped land on plots containing residential black and white houses owned and managed by SLA; (b) how much consideration is given to factors such as the severe land space constraints in Singapore; and (c) what is the total area of undeveloped land tagged to such properties.
The Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security (Mr Teo Chee Hean) (for the Prime Minister): Mr Deputy Speaker, as Minister Edwin Tong and I have given notice and will be making Statements later at today’s Sitting, may I have your permission to answer Oral Question Nos 1 to 23 in our Ministerial Statements later today?
Mr Deputy Speaker: Yes, please.
Mr Teo Chee Hean: Thank you.
Prime Minister’s Office & Ministry of Law
3 July 2023
https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/#/sprs3topic?reportid=oral-answer-3256
Office of the Leader of the Opposition 