TWO NEW chairpersons have been selected to lead important committees in Parliament. MP Patrick Tay (Pioneer SMC) is the new Chair of the Estimates Committee (EC) for Parliament, while MP Jessica Tan (East Coast GRC) takes over as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The EC and the PAC are important Standing Select Committees which will serve for the duration of the Parliament term. Members consist of both PAP and WP MPs, ensuring that the committee is a bipartisan one, working together to ensure government accountability.
The Estimates Committee examines budget allocations and value for money
The Estimates Committee scrutinises government expenditure and budget estimates. MP Tay shared more about the EC’s duties when Petir interviewed him.
“One of the key roles involves financial scrutiny. Questioning about spending proposals, seeking explanations for budget allocations, examining value for money and reviewing past performance,” he said.
“The Committee produces reports with findings to make recommendations to the government for consideration,” added MP Tay.
In recent years, the EC’s November 2024 report monitored the financing of the Government statutory boards.
The Committee asked for expenditure breakdowns over the previous ten years, as well as querying increased expenditures for the Land Transport Authority and increased surpluses for Jurong Town Council.
The Committee also held statutory boards to account, for example, asking if the Tote Board’s reserves are proportional to its objectives.
Source: Canva, Parliament of Singapore
In the same report, the EC also pressed the Government to provide expected outcomes and timelines for new Age Well SG initiatives. It recommended that the Government “go upstream to support seniors to live longer in good health, especially seniors who may face social isolation which has significant impact on their vulnerability to health decline and related complications”.
MP Tay’s EC members for the 15th Parliament include PAP MPs Edward Chia (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC), Gabriel Lam (Sembawang GRC), Shawn Loh (Jalan Besar GRC), Nadia Ahmad Samdin (Ang Mo Kio GRC), (Sembawang GRC), Diana Pang (Marine Parade–Braddell Heights GRC) and Workers’ Party MP Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC).
The Public Accounts Committee thoroughly scrutinises the Auditor-General’s reports – and takes action
The PAC takes a whole-of-Government approach when scrutinising finances and any lapses in reporting, shared MP Tan.
“As Chair, together with my committee members, our role is to scrutinise and review the Auditor-General’s report, as well as to review, look at the lapses, work with the Ministries and agencies to understand the reason for the lapses,” said MP Tan about the PAC’s duties. “And more importantly: What’s being done and what plans can be put in place to address those lapses.
“A fairly unique role of the PAC is its holistic view,” added MP Tan. “It works with Ministries, as well as Government overall, to have a whole-of-Government approach in terms of how to improve systems.”
“The members of the PAC are all Members of Parliament, and from both sides of the House,” said MP Tan. “Both the ruling party and the Opposition. And what’s important is that the Committee then works together to give an impartial view of the Auditor-General’s report.”
PAC members for the 15th Parliament include PAP MPs Foo Cexiang (Tanjong Pagar GRC), Jackson Lam (Nee Soon GRC), Victor Lye (Ang Mo Kio GRC), Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) and Yip Hong Weng (Yio Chu Kang SMC) and Alex Yeo (Potong Pasir SMC), and Workers’ Party MP Dennis Tan (Hougang SMC)
Most recently, the PAC reviewed the Auditor-General’s 2023-2024 report. The Committee queried weaknesses in parenthood support grants at the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA).
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