DPM Heng to make ministerial statement for upcoming debate on Covid-19 measures

DEPUTY Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat will deliver a ministerial statement next Monday on Singapore's progress in tackling Covid-19, the country's fiscal position, and strategies to emerge stronger.

The statement will provide the context for a Supplementary Supply Bill to be tabled in Parliament, in order to implement previously-announced re-allocations of government funds.

Mr Heng, who is also Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, will deliver the statement in Parliament at 1.30pm, the Ministry of Finance said on Wednesday.

In an earlier ministerial statement in August, Mr Heng had announced additional Covid-19 support measures, for which government funds would need to be re-allocated from their original uses. This was shortly after the general election in July, before Parliament re-opened.

"We had announced the additional support then, before the opening of Parliament, as some of the support schemes - such as the Jobs Support Scheme - were ending in August. In making the announcement then, we have provided much needed certainty to businesses and workers," said Mr Heng in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

In the upcoming Parliament sitting on Monday, a Supplementary Supply Bill will be tabled for this re-allocation of funds, and will be debated by Parliament. Mr Heng said his new ministerial statement will provide context for that debate.

The full ministerial statement will be published on the Singapore Budget website after delivery.