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Parliament begins Budget debate on Monday
Posted: 22 February 2008 2048 hrs

 
 
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SINGAPORE : Parliament will begin debate over this year's Budget on Monday.

MPs will discuss aspects of the Budget estimates of the various ministries for about two weeks after that.

On Monday, MPs have also tabled questions, including whether transport operators should be made to compensate passengers for a breakdown in service of more than an hour.

Inflation will be a main concern when the MPs debate the Budget in Parliament.

The Budget was unveiled by Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam in Parliament on February 15.

The Finance Minister spent a good part of his speech addressing the inflation issue, examining the factors contributing to higher prices and spelling out what the government will do to help Singaporeans cope.

The headline Consumer Price Index - or CPI - hit 4.4 percent in December but averaged 2 percent last year. However, the CPI is forecast to hit 4.5 percent to 5.5 percent this year.

Mr Tharman said the inflationary pressures arose mainly from high prices for food and oil due to the strong demand worldwide.

He added that the government would step up efforts to help Singaporeans cope, such as diversifying food sources. - CNA/ch

 

 



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