Law Ministry to revise means test for legal aid
The Law Ministry will revise the means test for legal aid to ensure those who really need such help, get it.
Sim Ann
SINGAPORE: The Law Ministry will revise the means test for legal aid to ensure those who really need such help, get it.
Speaking in Parliament, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Sim Ann said the last revision of the means test was in 2007 and the current review will be completed soon.
On MP Edwin Tong's suggestion to exclude life insurance policies from the means test, and to revise the income criteria, Ms Sim said the ministry will consider doing so.
She added that amendments will be tabled in mid-2012.
The ministry will also be expanding the Legal Aid Steering Committee (LASC) chaired by former Senior Minister of State for Law Ho Peng Kee.
On regulating moneylenders, Ms Sim said the ministry has been studying how to further strengthen the regulatory framework.
It will be tighten the Moneylenders Act to strengthen the regulation of the industry and the protection of borrowers.
These include giving more power to the Registry of Moneylenders and safeguarding borrowers' information from unlicensed moneylenders.
Details are expected to be announced later this week.
