Parliamentary Questions I filed for October 2025
Education (MOE / SkillsFuture / MOE-K)
To ask the Minister for Education (a) what assessment has the Ministry made of the long-term impact of MOE Kindergarten expansion on the economic viability and diversity of Singapore’s kindergarten sector; and (b) what is the current status of the Kindergarten Partner Operator scheme.
To ask the Minister for Education (a) given that counsellor allocation relies on reported caseloads, how does the Ministry distinguish genuinely low need from demand suppressed by limited counsellor access; (b) what prospective metrics can identify unmet need; and (c) whether educators’ own mental health needs are incorporated in the allocation.
To ask the Minister for Education (a) what is the Ministry’s operational definition of bullying, distinct from hurtful behaviour, fights or one-off comments; (b) whether this definition is standardised and implemented across all schools; and (c) if so, how incidents are consistently classified, recorded and addressed.
To ask the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry will expand SkillsFuture Credit eligibility to include subscriptions for curated, high-quality AI productivity tools to facilitate hands-on learning; and (b) if not, why not.
To ask the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry will review counsellor reporting structures to enhance confidentiality and trust, including models where counsellors report to a dedicated mental health body rather than solely to principals; (b) whether training on counselling ethics can be provided for school principals; and (c) what steps will increase qualified professional-to-student ratios and safeguard counsellor autonomy.
Social & Family Development (MSF / ECDA)
To ask the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether the multi-stage process of the Assistive Technology Fund is fit for purpose for low-cost digital aids such as AirTags; (b) whether the Ministry will introduce a simplified fast-track process for such items; and (c) whether the low subsidy uptake for affordable devices such as AirTags indicates that the current system deters such applications.
Law & Dispute Resolution (MinLaw)
To ask the Minister for Law (a) for each of the last three years, how many compulsory Community Mediation Centre attendances were directed through (i) authorised officer mediation direction, (ii) Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal order, (iii) Magistrate’s Complaint, (iv) police referral and (v) Community Relations Unit mediation direction; (b) whether residents may appeal to the Ministry to compel mediation; and (c) if so, the number of such appeals and successful outcomes.
National Development, Housing & Community (MND / HDB / NParks / CRU)
To ask the Minister for National Development (a) what criteria distinguish a severe noise dispute qualifying for Community Relations Unit intervention; and (b) given that the one-year pilot in Tampines handled only five severe cases while not deploying noise sensors, what is the Ministry’s assessment of (i) the unit’s efficacy and (ii) whether its enforcement powers are operationally useful.
To ask the Minister for National Development (a) over the past five years, how many HDB flat applications involving a minor Singaporean child were cancelled after the death of the sole citizen parent with a breakdown by (i) before unit selection, (ii) after selection but before key collection and (iii) after key collection; and (b) what compassionate appeal mechanism exists for the surviving Permanent Resident parent.
To ask the Minister for National Development (a) under what conditions the protected-species status of a wildlife animal will be reconsidered when it causes repeated economic damage to private property; (b) what criteria are used to classify an animal as a pest animal; and (c) whether otters meet such criteria.
To ask the Minister for National Development, in view of estimates of 13,000 to 60,000 free-roaming cats, (a) what population figure underpins planning for the Trap-Neuter-Rehome/Release-Manage (TNRM) Programme; (b) how the current sterilisation rate compares with estimated annual kitten births; (c) when sterilisation will outpace reproduction; and (d) what is the target sterilisation percentage for community cats.
Finance & Tax Policy (PMO / MOF)
To ask the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) whether the Government has assessed the fiscal prudence of offsetting grants such as the Refundable Investment Credit, as recipient multinational enterprises may subsequently relocate jobs citing high costs; and (b) if not, whether the Government will repeal or suspend BEPS 2.0 Pillar Two if major jurisdictions like the United States and China abstain from joining the framework, to avoid competitiveness and tax-base erosion.
Health & Social Policies (MOH)
To ask the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) what public-health risks arise from non-prescribed performance-enhancing drug use such as human growth hormone, clenbuterol, trenbolone and anabolic steroids, particularly among youths; (b) what targeted education exists within gyms and Institutes of Higher Learning to counter normalisation; and (c) how these programmes’ effectiveness and behavioural outcomes are measured.
Transport & Infrastructure (MOT / LTA)
To ask the Acting Minister for Transport (a) in each of the past three years, how many kilometres of resurfaced roads were re-excavated and what was the estimated cost to taxpayers; (b) what binding powers the Road Opening Coordination Committee holds to compel a consolidated dig-once schedule; and (c) why the Common Services Tunnel model is not applicable to new HDB towns and major redevelopment zones.
Digital Development & Libraries (MDDI / NLB)
To ask the Minister for Digital Development and Information, in respect of Punggol’s Toy Library which offers educational toys for children to play with free of charge but does not lend toys, (a) what is the Ministry’s assessment of public demand for a national toy- and board-game-lending service to reduce costs and consumption; and (b) what feasibility studies have been conducted to examine integrating a toy-lending system into the National Library Board network.