S Iswaran
Singapore
“The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has incorporated the requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 regulation in its Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Air) Regulations 2022. The Regulations are applicable to Singapore-registered ships and all other ships while they are in Singapore waters.”
“The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) plans to progressively roll out the charging infrastructure for electric harbour craft operations in the Port of Singapore from 2025.”
“Since 2018, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has imposed minimum bicycle parking provisions covering different types of developments. The requirements are determined by multiple factors, including the developments’ use, location and gross floor area (GFA).”
“I had addressed similar Parliamentary Questions by Mr Gerald Giam on 29 November 2022 and 10 January 2023, as well as in my Ministerial Statement on 8 May 2023. The Member can refer to these past answers and statement as there has been no material change in the allocation of Certificates of Entitlement.”
“To encourage the uptake of electric cars, the Government has rolled out the Electric Vehicle Early Adoption Incentive and enhanced Vehicular Emissions Scheme. When taken together, it provides up to $45,000 off the Additional Registration Fee of an electric car upon registration.”
“The Land Transport Authority studies all potential changes to the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) system carefully, including conducting sensitivity analysis where appropriate.”
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“Since September last year, CAG has also installed ultraviolet-C (UV-C) sanitation equipment in the airport terminal air-conditioning systems to provide an additional layer of defence. Mr Dennis Tan, Mr Leon Perera, Mr Saktiandi Supaat and Mr Shawn Huang asked about upcoming VTL moves and the outlook for our air and maritime hubs in 2022. Our maritime hub has weathered the COVID-19 crisis relatively well, with container throughput at our port likely to reach an all-time high in 2021. Maritime businesses also continued to establish and expand operations here. We expect the favourable outlook for trade and shipping to continue in 2022. According to industry projections, global seaborne trade is expected to grow 3.5% in 2022, slightly below the estimate of 3.6% last year. We are working with our tripartite partners to seize these opportunities, continue growing our maritime sector and create more good jobs for Singaporeans. On the other hand, air travel is expected to take several years to recover to pre-pandemic levels. Notwithstanding this, we remain confident of the long-term potential of air travel and are resolutely committed to working with Changi Airport Group and airline partners to rebuild and reclaim Singapore's status as an international air hub. Compared to 3% at the start of 2021, passenger traffic at Changi increased to about 15% of pre-COVID-19 levels by the end of December 2021, largely aided by our VTL schemes. A study by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Oxford Economics has projected international passenger volume at the end of 2022 to recover to about 55% of 2019 levels, which is up from about 20% at the end of last year. Therefore, barring unexpected setbacks like Omicron, we anticipate further recovery in 2022.”
“For higher-risk frontline airport workers, an employer-supervised ART was introduced on the third day in addition to their seven-day PCR RRT. Further, all Singapore aircrew arriving from affected regions are required to undergo an on-arrival PCR test and post-arrival PCR tests on Days Three and Seven. These protocols will be adjusted, as they have in the past, in accordance with the latest public health risk assessments. Mr Saktiandi Supaat and Dr Tan Wu Meng asked about airflow and COVID-19 transmissibility at the airport. Since the onset of the pandemic, Changi Airport Group (CAG) has progressively upgraded the air ventilation system at the airport. For instance, CAG has upgraded the filters in the air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation (ACMV) system to Merv-14 filters, which are able to remove about 85% of particles of 0.3 to 1.0 micron in size. In other words, they can filter out particles smaller than the size of a respiratory particle containing the COVID-19 virus. With the emergence of the more transmissible Delta variant in May last year, CAAS, CAG, MOH, the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) conducted an airflow study to identify spaces at the airport where ventilation and filtration could be further stepped up. Since then, 350 High Efficiency Particulate Absorbing (HEPA) portable air purifiers have been installed throughout the airport terminals at locations, such as staff canteens, rest areas and health screening stations. These HEPA air purifiers are also used in hospitals, and they help to reduce the risk of airborne transmission of COVID-19.”
“In the first week of December 2021, in consultation with MOH, we introduced additional supervised self-administered antigen rapid tests (ARTs) for VTL travellers on Day Three and Day Seven after arrival. This is on top of the pre-departure and on-arrival test requirements. VTL travellers were also required to undergo self-administered ARTs on Days Two, Four, Five and Six of their arrival before going about their daily activities. Those who test positive are required to undergo a confirmatory PCR test. So, basically, pre-departure, on arrival and then from Day Two to Day Seven, there is daily ART self-administered, but on Days Three and Seven, they have to do it under supervision. And these have to be reported and, if there is a positive ART result, then they go for a PCR test. Collectively, these adjustments to our border and other measures have allowed us time to study and better understand the Omicron variant, to strengthen our defences, including our healthcare capacity, and to get more people vaccinated and boosted, as we have heard. We will continue to work closely with MOH to regularly review our border measures. As part of learning to live with the virus and its variants, we must press on with our efforts to restore our connectivity with the world while safeguarding public health. Our goal is to restore quarantine-free travel with more countries and regions, as allowed for by the public health assessment. Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked about the additional measures to protect airport workers from Omicron. Since 2 December 2021, we have enhanced the personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing protocols. All frontline airport workers are now placed on a seven-day PCR Rostered Routine Testing (RRT) regime.”
“We also decided to maintain the daily quota for VTL (Air) travellers at 10,000, rather than increase it to 15,000, as we had earlier intended. On 22 December, given the rapid and global spread of the Omicron variant, we froze the sale of new VTL flight and bus tickets for entry into Singapore from 23 December 2021 to 20 January 2022. We also imposed a 50% limit on the daily number of VTL travellers from 21 January this year. Mr Lim Biow Chuan has asked whether this freeze was necessary, given our approach of living with COVID-19. As I have outlined, the freeze was part of a series of calibrated moves informed by the latest public health risk assessment as well as developments around the world. It was essential to balance the need to manage the risk of imported Omicron cases while minimising disruption to travellers who had already made VTL bookings to enter Singapore. Ms Foo Mee Har had asked earlier about the breakdown of imported cases for Omicron. In summary, about 2,600 cases were imported. The key sources were the United States at 16%, United Kingdom at 16% and India at 11%. This broadly corresponds to the VTL traveller volume and, as most Members will appreciate, it is also influenced by the incidence of Omicron in these countries. I would add that, of the composition of this figure, less than 10% were actually short-term visitors. So, the bulk is actually Singapore Citizens (SCs), Permanent Residents (PRs) and long-term visit pass (LTVP) holders who are returning to Singapore from overseas. Ms Poh Li San, Mr Gan Thiam Poh and Mr Seah Kian Peng asked about the additional enhanced measures for VTL travellers.”
“I will also address questions raised by Mr Seah Kian Peng1 and Mr Gan Thiam Poh for the Sittings on 11 and 12 January. Sir, over the past two years, the Ministry of Transport MOT) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) have worked closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and other Government agencies to reopen our borders in a careful and calibrated manner. Mr Saktiandi Supaat and Mr Dennis Tan have asked how we have reviewed our border measures in light of the Omicron variant, including what global and domestic indicators we monitor to inform our measures. Essentially, it is a composite of both domestic and external factors. Let me elaborate in the context of what we have done over the past several months. In September last year, with a substantial proportion of the Singapore population vaccinated, we launched the Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs). Two months later, on 26 November, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated Omicron as a "Variant of Concern". Then, scientists around the world were still trying to ascertain Omicron's transmissibility and virulence relative to Delta and the efficacy of existing vaccines against this new variant. As a precautionary move, based on reports of the spread of Omicron in Sub-saharan Africa, we restricted the entry and transit of non-residents from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe from 28 November; and from Ghana, Malawi and Nigeria from 5 December. Residents returning from these countries were subjected to a 10-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) at dedicated facilities. We halted the expansion of the VTL scheme and deferred the launch of the already-announced VTLs to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I have your permission to take Question Nos 19 to 26 together, please?”
“Operators who meet the targets receive incentive payments, while operators who fail to do so will see their fees reduced. Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, public transport ridership has fallen, and fare revenues have decreased sharply. Nevertheless, the operators have largely preserved service capacity and headways. In addition, public transport operators have incurred additional costs to put in place enhanced measures to keep commuters safe. During this time, we have supported the operators through broad-based measures provided to affected businesses across different sectors, such as the Jobs Support Scheme (JSS). The grants given to the public transport operators have helped to ensure that our commuters, especially essential workers, can continue to travel to their workplaces, and arrive on time and safely. Any changes to the industry models should be made with long term considerations in mind. We have to balance the value of competition with the benefits of economies of scale through consolidation. For the bus industry, the number of public transport operators has increased from two to four after the introduction of the BCM. The rail industry also now has two operators. The increased competition has spurred operators to improve service standards and submit more competitive tender bids. New travel patterns have emerged amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, with flexible working arrangements becoming more common. We will continue to monitor how travel patterns evolve post-pandemic to assess the long-term impact on public transport ridership, and study if any adjustments are required to ensure financial sustainability as our public transport system continues to deliver high service standards.”
“For the rail industry, LTA has been working closely with rail operators since 2011 to enhance rail reliability, which has exceeded our target of one million mean train kilometres between failures (MKBF) since 2019. These efforts have however come at a significant cost, especially as rail operating assets such as the signalling and power systems continue to age. As the fares paid by commuters are insufficient to cover operating costs, public transport operators have been registering losses for their rail operations even pre-COVID. However, this is not sustainable. Public transport should be financially sustainable to ensure operators can continue to provide reliable train services to commuters. To support the operators in achieving and sustaining high reliability levels, we implemented an incentive system, termed the Rail Reliability Incentive, from 2020 to 2023. To qualify for the incentive, rail operators are held to a set of targets on operational performance and safety, including a minimum MKBF of 500,000 train kilometres. Operators obtain the full grant quantum if they achieve one million MKBF or better. As a result, we have seen the operators sustain their performance of above one million MKBF since 2019. For the bus industry, the Bus Contracting Model (BCM) was introduced in 2016 to make bus services more responsive to commuter needs and to inject more competition into the industry. We do not provide targeted grants under BCM, but instead pay operators service fees to operate the bus services at required service levels. We have also introduced the Bus Service Reliability Framework to incentivise bus operators to improve the timeliness of bus arrivals.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I have addressed them in my reply to Question Nos 9 and 10 for written answer on the Order Paper for 2 November 2021 Parliament Sitting. [Please refer to "Enforcement against Cyclists Caught without Wearing Helmet or Involved in Accident while Riding in Expressways and Tunnels and Safety Measures in Place", Official Report, 2 November 2021, Vol 95, Issue 42, Written Answers to Questions section.]”
“There are five electric motorcycles, or e-motorcycles, currently registered in Singapore. We expect this number to grow over time, as more e-motorcycle models are made available globally. Unlike cars and light goods vehicles, the charging landscape for e-motorcycles remains nascent with a diverse variety of charging modes available. These include standardised charging connectors, proprietary charging connectors, or swappable batteries designed to be replaced upon being depleted. LTA has been engaging global and local e-motorcycle manufacturers to better understand these developing trends. Insights from these engagements, together with projected adoption trends and usage patterns, will guide us to develop a deployment strategy that balances safety with accessibility and affordability of e-motorcycle charging.”
“Between 2016 and 2020, an average of 14 reported cases of odometer tampering were reported annually. Odometer tampering is an unfair trade practice. Doing so with the intent to deceive potential buyers is also an offence under the Penal Code. Affected buyers may approach the Consumers' Association of Singapore (CASE) for assistance. CASE has published a Standard and Functional Evaluation (SAFE) Checklist to guide prospective buyers to understand the quality and condition of the pre-owned car.”
“With effect from 1 January 2022, the composition fines for egregious cycling offences, for example, failing to stop at red lights, riding on expressways and tunnels, not riding as near as practicable to the far-left edge of the road, will be increased to $150 to strengthen the deterrent effect. For serious cases where injury or harm is caused in an accident, the offending parties, whether cyclists or motorists, could be charged in Court and face higher fines and jail sentences if convicted. Road safety is a collective responsibility and we urge all road users to play their part to drive or ride in a responsible manner.”
“Cyclists are expected to follow various regulations when cycling on roads. This includes wearing a helmet and riding as near as practicable to the far-left edge of the road except when overtaking. These rules apply for all roads, including bus lanes. Between January 2018 and September 2021, 545 helmet-related offences were detected. The number of violations detected by the Traffic Police (TP) of cyclists riding on the right side of a motor vehicle, whether in a bus lane or otherwise, when not overtaking or preparing to make a right turn and for not riding at the far-left edge of the road was eight, 12, three and two for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 respectively, and two for the first nine months of this year. Cycling is prohibited on expressways and in tunnels for safety reasons. From January 2018 to September 2021, LTA detected more than 300 cyclists riding on expressways and in tunnels; all were issued with notices of traffic offence and composition fines. The vast majority of on-road cyclists comply with traffic rules and the Government will partner stakeholders to raise public awareness of safe and gracious road use practices. For example, LTA is working with TP, Singapore Road Safety Council, Singapore Cycling Federation and the Safe Cycling Taskforce to develop a checklist of safe riding practices, including the benefits of third-party liability insurance, that bicycle retailers can use to educate their customers. There are also signages indicating no entry to bicycles installed at more than 50 expressway and tunnel entry points islandwide and LTA has recently placed more prominent signages at hotspot locations. Public education goes hand in hand with enforcement. TP and LTA have stepped up enforcement against errant cyclists.”
“From 2016 to September 2021, 558 Tesla cars were registered in Singapore. Five hundred and fifty seven of these cars have Tesla's "Autopilot" Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) installed. Vehicles registered for use on Singapore roads must comply with internationally-recognised standards, such as those set out by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The version of Tesla’s “Autopilot” system approved for use in Singapore is compliant with UN Regulation No 79. Even after engaging Tesla’s "Autopilot" system, the car is not autonomous; drivers are still required to have their hands physically on the wheel at all times and take control, as needed, to maintain safety. There has been no reported road traffic accident in Singapore involving a Tesla car on "Autopilot" mode.”
“EV batteries are regulated under the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for e-waste, which came into effect on 1 July 2021. Under the EPR, companies that import EV batteries for supply in Singapore, whether as standalone batteries or as components of electric and hybrid vehicles, are responsible for the collection and end-of-life treatment of these batteries. These batteries are sent to licensed local e-waste recyclers or exported for treatment, where useful materials, such as cobalt, lithium, nickel and copper, are recovered. NEA is working with the local recycling industry to further build up Singapore’s capabilities to recycle EV batteries. The Government continues to monitor other technologies and solutions for handling used EV batteries. The Energy Market Authority (EMA) is building up industry capabilities to repurpose such batteries as energy storage systems for grid applications. Such repurposing will extend the batteries’ useful lifecycle. The repurposed batteries can help to address solar intermittency and strengthen the resilience of the grid.”
“Disruptions to global supply chains arising from COVID-19 and adverse weather patterns have led to vessel delays and congestion in ports around the world. At the same time, air cargo capacity has also decreased and remains below pre-COVID-19 levels. These supply-side disruptions are occurring amidst a strong rebound in demand for both consumer goods and industrial supplies. Singapore is keeping a close watch on these global developments. The Government has worked closely with our businesses to support their efforts to mitigate supply chain disruptions. For essential goods, such as food, we have adopted a multi-pronged approach of import diversification, local production and stockpiling. Today, Singapore imports food from more than 170 countries. The diversification efforts are supported by our strong sea and air connectivity. The Port of Singapore is connected to 600 ports globally in 120 countries and operates 24/7 to facilitate the efficient movement of goods. There are daily sailings to every major port in the world, enabling traders and retailers to source from a wide range of countries. Changi Airport’s scheduled and chartered cargo flights have more than tripled compared to pre-pandemic levels, with over 990 weekly flights. Efforts to diversify supply and maintain connectivity have helped. According to MAS’ latest macroeconomic review released on 28 October 2021, Singapore’s merchandise trade flows have held up relatively well amid global supply chain disruptions and the flow of essential goods and supplies for consumption and production appears to have been largely unimpaired.”
“I thank the Member for his questions. I have addressed them in my reply to Question No 121 for oral answer on the Order Paper for 1 November 2021. [Please refer to "Utilisation Rate for Category D COEs and Proportion of Successful Bids by Commercial Entities and Individual Buyers", Official Report, 01 November 2021, Vol 95, Issue 41, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“Currently, there are on average 10 daily Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights from the 10 VTL countries we are already opened to. The current average load factor of these VTL flights is about 45%. Based on the airlines’ booking data, we expect the load factors to increase towards the end of the year. We are monitoring the demand and will make further adjustments if needed.”
“LTA provides system-generated vehicle registration numbers (VRN) at no cost to vehicle owners. Most vehicle owners (66%) accept these numbers. In response to requests, LTA decided in 2003 to allow existing owners to retain an existing VRN on used vehicles. The fee to transfer a VRN to a used car is pegged to the minimum bid amount of $1,000 for a new vehicle registration number and a replacement fee of $300. This ensures parity between retaining and bidding for a VRN which are both discretionary services. We acknowledge the difference in fees for existing car owners to retain their VRN on used cars as compared to new cars. We are considering a review of the fees.”
“The Government remains committed to tripling our cycling paths to around 1,300 kilometres by 2030, under the Islandwide Cycling Network programme. This will provide our towns, including Bukit Batok, with a wider active mobility network to support the uptake of active mobility in a way that is safe and convenient for all path users. For Bukit Batok, LTA aims to provide better connectivity to transport nodes such as Bukit Batok MRT station and the future Jurong Region Line Bukit Batok West MRT station, and amenities such as West Mall and Bukit Batok West Shopping Centre. More details will be shared when confirmed. LTA targets to call an engineering consultancy study by the end of this year to develop and evaluate the planned cycling paths in the Western region of Singapore, including Bukit Batok.”
“Commercial car-pooling services are prohibited during periods of tightened safe management measures such as the current Stabilisation Phase. Outside of these periods, drivers without vocational licences are allowed to provide commercial car-pooling services through licenced car-pool platforms, such as Grab and Ryde. The platform operators are required to ensure that drivers do not conduct more than two car-pool trips a day and that fares are charged on a cost recovery basis. It is illegal for these drivers to offer commercial car-pooling services through online communications platforms such as the Telegram app. The LTA has caught five drivers for providing illegal car-pooling services in the past two years. Members of the public may report persons who have conducted or facilitated illegal car-pooling activities to LTA for investigation.”
“For temporary Certificates of Entitlement (TCOEs) secured from January to April 2021, which have since expired, the utilisation rate is 99.9%. The TCOEs secured after April 2021 have not expired since they have a validity of six months. While 96% of the successful Category D COE bids are made by commercial entities, including motor dealers, most of these COEs are subsequently used to register motorcycles belonging to individuals. This is because many owners prefer to obtain their COEs through their dealers. Doing so allows the motorcycle buyers to benefit from being able to get their motorcycles immediately, by using the TCOEs that the dealer has already secured. The high TCOE utilisation rate suggests that the higher Category D COE prices are a result of higher demand for motorcycles. There is no evidence that it is caused by allowing both dealers and individuals to bid. To set a quota for individuals would be arbitrary and the smaller quotas in the COE sub-categories will likely result in greater market volatility and potential increases in COE prices. The Ministry understands the concerns on the impact of COE prices on motorcycle owners who ride for a living. I would like to assure the House that we are monitoring this situation closely and will take the appropriate measures, if warranted.”
“The bus contracting model was introduced in 2016 to make bus services more responsive to commuter needs and introduce more competition in the bus industry. We have made good progress in achieving these goals. The number of public transport operators increased from two to four. This increased competition has spurred operators to improve their efficiency, with average tender prices falling by 15% after five rounds of competitive tendering by LTA. We have also seen an improvement to bus service quality and shorter waiting times for commuters. Bus satisfaction levels have improved from 7.2 out of 10 in 2015 to 7.8 out of 10 in 2020. We have been refining the bus contracting model over the years. For example, as operators became more proficient in running bus packages, we raised the baselines of the Bus Service Reliability Framework to spur operators to become even more efficient. In 2019, we tendered out two packages together to allow operators to offer more competitive pricing. LTA will continue to review service levels and contractual provisions for future bus tenders to ensure that they remain relevant and sustainable. With the transition to cleaner energy public buses, such as hybrid and electric buses, LTA will be including the necessary provisions in the contracts for each bus package. Transition to cleaner energy buses can be smoothly integrated into the bus contracting model as we progressively retire our diesel bus fleet. The decision on whether to operate on-demand buses is a separate matter that will depend on the commercial viability of such a model. This is separate from the decision to switch to cleaner energy buses.”
“The issue of custom fitting commercial lorries, be it to install seat belts and/or foldable benches, requires detailed study. Unlike the SAF trucks that are designed and built to specific military requirements, the lorries on our roads are standard commercial vehicles. The original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) must first ascertain that any customisations are safe and do not inadvertently create more safety risks. In the 2008 tripartite review on lorry transportation, the OEMs had shared with Government agencies that fitting seat belts in the rear decks of lorries could result in safety risks, as their commercial lorries are not designed with suitable anchorage points to be fitted with seat belts. We recognise that vehicular construction and technologies have evolved since. Therefore, LTA has been engaging the industry on the feasibility and safety of customising new lorries with seat belts in the rear deck and we will share more details once ready.”
“The Changi Airport Group (CAG) has established a dedicated facility at Changi Airport to support the on-arrival testing (OAT) requirements for travellers coming to Singapore. The facility has to cater to large volumes of travellers arriving during peak hours and also has dedicated manpower deployed around the clock to accommodate the arrival times of travellers throughout the day. The service standard for OAT results is within 12 hours from the time of testing. Based on CAG’s experience thus far, travellers typically receive their results sooner, usually within eight hours. CAG conducts regular cost reviews to ensure that the pricing for the OAT is competitive. Since OAT was introduced in June 2020, CAG has lowered the testing fee twice, from the initial cost of S$300 to the current cost of S$160. As part of its latest cost review, CAG has called for and awarded a new tender for the provision of lab testing services. With effect from 18 November 2021, CAG will lower the OAT fee further to S$125. More details are available on CAG’s website. We continue to work with the MOH and other agencies to review our border measures and testing protocols for travellers, including the number and type of tests required, to facilitate the safe resumption of international air travel while safeguarding public health.”
“We hope to conclude these discussions soon and restore our connectivity with them. We will announce details when ready. I would like to emphasise that in these early stages of reopening our borders, it is more important that we do it well rather than scale up fast. We have therefore expanded the VTL scheme step-by-step, informed by the public health assessment of the country's or region’s COVID-19 situation, and also the operational risks and implications. This includes whether key safeguards under the VTL scheme can be effectively implemented, such as whether travellers from the VTL countries can present digitally verifiable and authenticated proof of vaccination as a precondition for entry. We work closely with MOH to regularly review safeguards such as the testing protocols based on the latest scientific evidence and testing technology. Even as we seek to reopen our border and restore connectivity with the rest of the world, safeguarding public health is our utmost priority. Mr Saktiandi has asked whether the VTL approach is transitory and what my Ministry’s plans are for reopening our borders thereafter. Sir, the VTL scheme is a pathfinder to restoring general air travel, enabling us to establish the protocols for safe reopening to vaccinated travellers. We will progressively expand the scheme as we gain experience and confidence in reopening our borders safely. Ultimately, our goal is to restore safe two-way quarantine-free travel with countries and regions from around the world. As part of "Living with COVID-19", we must be resolute and press on with the reopening of our borders, while staying vigilant with the essential public health safeguards. It is crucial to rebuilding and reclaiming our status as an international aviation hub. Much obliged, Speaker. 12.34 pm”
“In total, we have launched VTLs with 13 countries, which is a fraction of the countries that Changi Airport was connected to pre-COVID-19. Collectively, they accounted for about 15% of Changi’s annual passenger arrivals pre-COVID-19. Mr Henry Kwek, Mr Saktiandi and Mr Louis Chua have asked about the quota and designated flights for the VTLs, and how these are distributed. We set an overall quota for the VTL scheme as a safeguard to manage the public health risk. The quota is allocated to airlines operating flights to and from VTL countries based on the plans they submit. The allocation for each country and airline can vary based on demand, but the total will be kept within the overall quota. The airlines can only carry eligible passengers on the designated VTL flights. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) monitors the airlines closely to ensure their adherence to the stipulated measures and allocated quota. The quota for the first 10 VTL countries is 2,500. When the VTLs with Australia, Switzerland and the Republic of Korea commence later this month, the total daily quota for all 13 countries on the VTL scheme will be increased to 4,000. This is about 5% of the total daily arrivals at Changi pre-COVID-19. There will be about 19 daily VTL flights from these 13 countries, with an average VTL quota of 200 per flight. We will monitor the incidence rate and the proportion of imported cases closely, review the demand, before deciding on any further increases in the quotas. Mr Ang Wei Neng, Mr Shawn Hwang and Mr Dennis Tan have asked about our plans to extend the VTLs to more countries and our criteria for doing so. We are in discussions with several partners, including our regional neighbours, to reopen safely to each other.”
“I also would like to address similar questions on this subject that have been filed by Mr Saktiandi Supaat1, Mr Louis Chua2, Mr Gerald Giam3, Mr Shawn Huang4 and Mr Dennis5 Tan for subsequent Sittings. I want to start by taking stock of where we are in terms of border reopening. Members would be aware that MOH has established a risk-based categorisation of countries and regions. This framework is based on its public health assessment of a country or region’s COVID-19 situation, including its infection rate and vaccination coverage. Countries and regions in Category I are of the lowest risk. Currently, this includes Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. These are countries and regions which continue to adopt a "zero-COVID" approach, and which therefore continue to have very low COVID-19 incidence rates. To Mr Ang Wei Neng’s question, we have already opened our borders to all travellers from these countries unilaterally. They can enter Singapore quarantine-free and only need to undergo an on-arrival PCR test. To Mr Gerald Giam’s question, we do not require the visitors who arrive from these Category I countries and regions to be vaccinated. Countries and regions in Category II are of a similar incidence rate to Singapore or lower. Since 8 September 2020, we have reopened to vaccinated travellers from some of these countries in a cautious and calibrated manner through the Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs). We started the VTL scheme with two countries, namely Brunei Darussalam and Germany, and have since extended it to eight others. We have also announced the commencement of VTLs with Australia and Switzerland from 8 November, and with the Republic of Korea from 15 November.”
“Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to take Question Nos 42 and 43 on the vaccinated travel lane, together?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I have your indulgence. My reply would take a little bit longer than the allotted time.”
“From January to September 2021, approximately 800 to 1,200 motorcycles were registered each month. Mass market Class 2B motorcycles account for about 65% to 75% of the registrations. Class 2A and Class 2 motorcycles make up about 10% to 20% and 5% to 10% of the registrations respectively.”
“The $100 million Rail Manpower Development Package (RMDP) was launched in November 2019 to help the rail workforce gear up for the future rail network. LTA has been working closely with the rail operators and NTWU to implement the five-year package, comprising three key initiatives. First, the Rail Manpower Development Incentive (RMDI) to expand and accelerate training of rail workers in emerging areas such as data analytics and condition-based monitoring. To date, more than 2,300 workers have completed their RMDI training, on top of their regular training. LTA expects more than 3,000 rail workers to benefit by the end of the five-year period. Second, LTA and the rail operators co-fund SGRail Industry Scholarships, Industrial Attachments and In-Service Sponsorships to build up Singapore’s rail engineering talent pipeline. To date, 15 Polytechnic and undergraduate Scholarships as well as 30 In-Service Sponsorships have been awarded. More than 150 students have been on industrial attachments with the rail operators. Third, co-investments in hardware to enhance training efficiency and effectiveness. These will support technical hands-on training by rail operators, at Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and/or the Singapore Rail Academy. The application exercise for the training hardware investment is currently ongoing and will close in October 2021. As our rail network expands at an unprecedented pace over the next decade, we will need a larger skilled workforce to support the expanded rail network. LTA will continue to work closely with the rail operators and NTWU to equip our rail workers with the necessary skills as the industry digitalises and transforms.”
“For the first eight months of 2021, there were 550,500 daily point-to-point trips on average, of which around 42% were taxi trips and around 58% were private hire car (PHC) trips. The Government takes into consideration vehicle safety and road worthiness when determining whether to impose a statutory lifespan. A statutory lifespan of eight years has been imposed on taxis due to their high mileage compared to private cars including PHCs. Taxis have, on average, around twice the mileage of PHCs. There is thus no intention to impose a statutory lifespan for PHCs. Nonetheless, under the point-to-point regulatory framework implemented in 2020, all PHCs are required to undergo annual vehicle inspections to ensure road worthiness, compared to once every two years for cars between three and 10 years old. We will continue to monitor the safety outcomes and review our regulations as necessary.”
“As shared with the Member in Parliament last month, many employers have installed rain covers, which complement the mandatory canopies, to better shelter their workers from inclement weather. We do not track the percentage of lorries ferrying workers in the rear decks which use rain covers. Such rain covers are detachable and can be easily installed or uninstalled. Hence, it is not practical or meaningful to collect or track such information. We will take the Member’s suggestion to require lorries ferrying persons in the rear deck to be fitted with rain covers into consideration, together with other suggestions that have been raised by various stakeholders, as part of our continuing efforts to safeguard the welfare of workers. In the meantime, we strongly encourage all employers to do their part, including rescheduling trips when there are heavy rains.”
“I thank the Member for her question. I have addressed it in my reply to Question No 71 for oral answer on the Order Paper for 13 September 2021. [Please refer to "Names of Companies Involved in Case where Former LTA Deputy Group Director was Jailed for Taking Bribes", Official Report, 13 September 2021, Vol 95, Issue 37, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer Not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“When dockless bicycle sharing services first entered Singapore, they offered Singaporeans another convenient travel option. At that time, LTA deliberately adopted a light touch regulatory approach towards this new innovative business model. Many users have used the services for their commuting needs. However, the proliferation of the services also led to indiscriminate parking and many stranded bicycles. To address these disamenities, we started licensing bicycle-sharing operators in 2018 under the Parking Places Act. That was when oBike made the commercial decision to close its operations. In February 2020, the Shared Mobility Enterprises Act was passed to enhance the licensing regime for shared mobility devices. Under the regime, licensees are required to have plans to remove their devices in a timely manner should they exit the market. They are also required to furnish a performance bond to LTA to ensure compliance with their licence conditions, or be used to offset the impact of a sudden exit. Whilst all current licensees do not require deposits from consumers, the enhanced regulations also allow LTA to prohibit bicycle-sharing licensees from doing so should the need arise. This strengthened regulatory framework provides a foundation for sustainable and responsible device-sharing operations in Singapore. In addition, companies and consumers with claims against any operator can seek redress through the civil courts. Consumers may also seek assistance from the Consumer Association of Singapore (CASE).”
“All new bus captains undergo a five-day Enhanced Vocational Licence Training Programme (“EVLTP”) at the Singapore Bus Academy, which includes a module on safe driving techniques. This is followed by an additional five to six weeks of on-the-road training conducted by the public transport operators before the bus captains are deployed to drive public buses. After deployment, bus captains attend regular safety briefings and go through refresher courses on safe driving techniques at least once a year. In all these sessions, bus captains are taught how to drive smoothly, including techniques for accelerating and braking. Public transport operators have also invested in telematics systems onboard buses to monitor bus captains’ driving behaviour. Those who require improvement are sent for remedial training. The number of accidents per 100,000 bus-km has fallen from 0.16 in January to August 2017, to 0.10 for the same period in 2021. The average monthly public feedback on jerky driving has also fallen from 18 in 2017 to 14 in 2021. Accidents involving bus captains are attributable to a range of factors including the sudden unexpected behaviour of other road users attempting to overtake and cut into bus lanes. We cannot, therefore, infer a correlation between these incidents and jerky driving by bus captains.”
“The Bus Service Reliability Framework (BSRF) was introduced in 2016 to incentivise public bus operators to improve the timeliness of bus arrivals for the benefit of commuters. The target arrival times are set as a range, to provide bus captains with some flexibility under different traffic conditions. In the past few weeks, more bus captains have been absent from work because of the COVID-19 clusters at our bus interchanges. LTA and the public bus operators have worked closely to minimise the impact on bus operations, while ensuring our bus captains continue to have enough rest time between their shifts. The tighter manpower situation has led to longer waiting times for some bus services. The situation has improved slightly as infection numbers decrease and more bus captains come back to work, but it remains fluid. LTA will exercise flexibility in assessing the performance of bus operators during this challenging period.”
“The recent COVID-19 clusters at the bus interchanges have resulted in a tighter manpower situation. To ensure that the remaining bus captains have enough rest time between their shifts, LTA and operators adjusted the frequency of bus services from early September 2021. Though the situation has improved slightly, as infection numbers decrease and more bus captains come back to work, it remains fluid. As of 30 September 2021, the waiting times for most of our bus services have been maintained without impacting commuters. Four express and city direct services have been suspended; the affected commuters are able to complete their journeys via alternative rail or bus services. Our public transport operators are actively recruiting bus captains. Some former private bus drivers and point-to-point drivers have joined them. The new hires go through training conducted by LTA and the public bus operators before they are deployed.”
“LTA is prioritising the installation of Red Amber Green (RAG) signals at traffic junctions around schools to safeguard students’ safety. To date, more than 60% of the junctions within 100 metres of a school have been fitted with RAG signals. Beyond the 100-metre radius, LTA is also expediting the implementation of RAG signals at traffic junctions that are heavily utilised by students, such as those near transport nodes. In addition to implementing RAG signals to safeguard students’ safety, the School Zone scheme includes traffic calming measures such as lighted alert signs, pedestrian crossings, road humps and road markings to encourage safe driving behaviour within the school vicinity.”
“They deserve our continued appreciation and support as we strive towards a COVID-resilient nation. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and work closely with PTOs and NTWU to support our public transport workers.”
“Following the recent COVID-19 infections at the bus interchanges, LTA and the Public Transport Operators (PTOs) have enhanced safe management measures to protect our public bus workers. We recognise that while these measures are necessary for public health and safety, they place additional strain on the physical and mental well-being of our workers. The well-being of our public transport workers is a key priority for the Government, PTOs and unions. The National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU) and union leaders play an important role in helping to raise and address the concerns of public transport workers. Since the start of the pandemic last year, LTA and the PTOs have worked closely with NTWU in implementing the safe management measures. There are also on-going initiatives with the Health Promotion Board (HPB) to provide customised workplace safety and health programmes, including health coaching and workshops on mental well-being. HPB also organises training for the management and supervisors of the PTOs to build a supportive workplace environment and promote mental well-being of our public transport workers. To date, over 4,000 public transport workers and management staff have benefitted from these programmes. In addition, PTO supervisors frequently engage the workers to listen to their concerns and take in their feedback. Workers who are stressed or troubled will be referred to medical professionals for psychological support and counselling. They may also call internal hotlines or access publicly available mental health resources such as Mindline.sg and other community-based hotlines for assistance. It has been a challenging time for our public transport workers, but they have shown resilience and kept our city moving.”
“Unlike cars, the quota for motorcycle Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) is relatively small. Further dividing the motorcycle COEs into multiple tiers would result in even smaller quotas for each sub-category and may result in significant volatility in their COE prices. We understand that the high motorcycle COE prices have raised concerns from Members of this House. LTA is monitoring the market situation closely and will respond as needed.”
“There are about 2,100 electric light vehicles, or EVs, and 2,100 charging points in Singapore today. Current utilisation rates per charger is thus likely to be low, since a typical electric car only requires a full charge once every five to seven days. Nevertheless, EV adoption has picked up pace, and utilisation rates are likely to increase. There is strong interest from owners of retail malls and non-landed private residences such as condominiums to install EV chargers. For the latter group, interest has grown since the launch of the EV Common Charger Grant in July, which defrays part of the cost of installing a charger. So far, more than 50 condominium management corporations and EV charging operators have reached out to LTA to enquire about the Grant and register their interest. Beyond the immediate term, the Government plans to require car parks in new developments to provide for sufficient electrical capacity to support EV charging, and ensure that a minimum number of charging points are installed. Given that EVs will form a significant part of our vehicle population in future, it is in the interest of building owners to make these provisions. These provisions should cater to the charging of all light vehicles including motorcycles, and take into account expected EV demand and daily charging needs. EV charging operators are also studying whether cars and motorcycles can share the same charging point. That will largely depend on the site-specific configuration of parking lots and the charging systems used by cars and motorcycles.”
“The Government is taking a careful and calibrated approach in re-opening our borders. We consider various public health and operational risk factors to determine which countries or regions to establish Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) with. We commenced our first VTLs with Germany and Brunei last month, and MOT is actively working on expanding the VTL scheme to more countries and will announce the details when ready. We will adjust the VTL protocols if necessary as the COVID-19 situation in Singapore and overseas evolves.”
“Due to the evolving COVID-19 situation, the Public Transport Council (PTC) is taking more time to carefully consider all relevant information as part of its annual fare review exercise. At last year’s fare review exercise, the PTC also announced that it would review the Network Capacity Factor (NCF), because the drop in ridership from the COVID-19 pandemic will significantly affect the NCF. The review is currently underway. The PTC will announce its decision for this year’s fare review exercise in due course. The current fare formula is valid until the fare review exercise in 2022. The review of the fare formula will be completed in 2023, for implementation for fare review exercises from 2023 onwards.”
“I thank the Member for his questions. I have addressed them in my reply to Question No. 56 for oral answer on the Order Paper for 14 September 2021.”
“In the first eight months of 2021, there were 292 violations detected of errant cyclists for helmet-related offences. The Traffic Police (TP) does not track pedal bicycles and power-assisted bicycles separately for this offence. The violations were detected through both regular joint enforcement operations conducted by TP and LTA and routine patrols. Our enforcement officers also take the opportunity to educate the offenders on safe riding practices. Most of the offenders or more than 75% were issued with a composition fine of $75. The maximum penalty for this offence is a $1,000 fine and/or imprisonment sentence of three months for first-time offenders. Repeat offenders could face a maximum penalty of a $2,000 fine and/or imprisonment sentence of six months.”
“I thank the Member for his questions. I have addressed them in my reply to Oral Question 140 on the Order Paper for the 13 September 2021 Parliament Sitting. [Please refer to "Proposal for New Category of COEs for Motorcycles Used for Delivery Work", Official Report, 13 November 2021, Vol 95, Issue 37, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer Not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“Over the past five years, the average number of accidents occurring at such junctions is about 430 per year. About 40% involve motorcyclists, about 25% involve pedestrians, about 7% involve cyclists and less than 0.5% involve personal mobility aid device users. Motorists are allowed to make discretionary right turns at traffic junctions without turning signals, when there is no opposing traffic or pedestrians crossing the road. At locations where there might be safety concerns, LTA has been progressively introducing Red Amber Green (RAG) signals for right turns. At such junctions, discretionary right turns are not allowed, even when there is no opposing traffic or pedestrians crossing the road. Motorists can only make a right turn when the RAG signal turns green. LTA targets to introduce RAG signals at 1,200 junctions. To date, RAG signals are operational at more than 600 junctions and the rest will be installed by 2024. Where it is not feasible to introduce RAG signals, LTA will look into other road safety features, such as warning signs and turning pockets.”