Singapore budget: committed to going green

Teo Xuanwei, Today Online 23 Feb 10;

Despite inconclusive climate change talks in December, the Republic is nonetheless pushing ahead with more spending for a greener Singapore. Within the Government's expenditure estimates, which were released yesterday, green schemes featured notably as part of the new spending commitments in the year ahead.

The Environment and Water Resources Ministry will be spending more, for example, on research programmes in environment technology and on grants for firms developing energy-efficient technologies in the upcoming financial year.

But in terms of funding for the individual ministries, the Information, Communications and the Arts Ministry is getting the largest hike compared to last year - a 33-per-cent increase. It will be getting $1.01 billion.

This is largely due to the development of the Next Generation National Broadbank Network, which will cost an estimated $258.03 million.

For the National Development Ministry, $1.09 billion is expected to be spent on public housing expenditure, which includes the lift upgrading and main upgrading programmes and the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme.

The largest share of Government spending will go to Mindef (24.7 per cent or $11.46 billion) and the Education Ministry (20.8 per cent or $9.66 billion). Salaries for political appointments - ministers, ministers of state and parliamentary secretaries - are estimated to be $58.28 million, or 8.8 per cent higher than last year. TEO XUANWEI