|
MinLaw’s mission is to ensure a sound legal infrastructure, optimise land resources and promote intellectual property to support our economic and social goals.
MinLaw aims to achieve the following outcomes:
- A sound and progressive legal framework;
- A more harmonious and less litigious society with support for mediation;
- A debt recovery system which supports entrepreneurship and financial discipline;
- A Public Trustee system with stakeholders confident of their rights to assets;
- Robust regimes for moneylending and pawnbroking;
- Accessibility to justice for persons of limited means;
- Singapore as an international arbitration hub;
- Adequate land resources appropriately priced and optimised to help meet national needs; and
- A robust regime for the creation, protection and exploitation of intellectual property.
A total budget of $250 million has been allocated to MinLaw in FY2007.
A sound and progressive legal framework
To ensure that our legal system remains relevant and responsive to the needs of Singapore, MinLaw will work closely with the Attorney-General’s Chambers to further strengthen the legal infrastructure. We will also work with other Government agencies to ensure that legislation keeps pace with socio-economic developments and are updated.
Harmonious and Less Litigious Society with Support for Mediation
MinLaw will promote the use of mediation to resolve community-based disputes, raise public awareness of community mediation, and inculcate mediation as a skill. We will work to enhance our community mediation capacity and capabilities, including that of our Community Mediation Centres and mediators. At the same time, we will carry out outreach activities to increase public awareness of the benefits of mediation to resolve community and social disputes. We will also conduct training to equip community leaders and students with mediation skills to handle relational conflicts.
$1.2 million has been allocated to the Community Mediation Unit in FY2007 for these efforts.
Debt Recovery System which Supports Entrepreneurship and Financial Discipline
Our insolvency regime aims to protect and balance the interests of both the creditors and debtors. The Insolvency & Public Trustee Office (IPTO) will efficiently and effectively administer the approximately 25,000 individual and 1,000 corporate insolvency cases respectively in line with this aim. MinLaw and IPTO will also explore an alternative scheme to provide financially distressed individuals the option to repay their loan, instead of being made a bankrupt, while protecting the interests of creditors.
In FY2007, IPTO has been allocated $7 million to perform the work.
Public Trustee System with Stakeholders Confident of their Rights to Assets and Compensation
Our Public Trustee system aims to ensure that stakeholders’ rights to assets and compensation are safeguarded. In line with this, IPTO will ensure the expeditious distribution of the assets of the estates of deceased persons to lawful beneficiaries and that the victims of motor accidents are appropriately compensated.
$2 million has been allocated to IPTO in FY2007 to carry out these duties.
Robust Moneylending and Pawnbroking Regimes
The Registry of Moneylenders and Pawnbrokers will regulate moneylenders and pawnbrokers to protect the interests of borrowers and pawnees. The moneylending regime will be strengthened, and the Moneylending Rules will be amended to ensure alignment with the financial institutions on the provision of unsecured personal credit and to combat money-laundering and terrorism-financing. The pawnbroking regime will also be reviewed.
To carry out these tasks, the Registry of Moneylenders and Pawnbrokers has been allocated $0.4 million.
Accessibility to Justice for Persons of Limited Means
To ensure that justice is accessible to all, the Legal Aid Bureau (LAB) will provide quality legal advice, assistance and aid on civil matters to persons of limited means.
$5 million has been allocated in FY2007 to LAB to fulfil this responsibility.
Singapore as an International Arbitration Hub
MinLaw will promote Singapore as a choice location for the conduct of international arbitration work. We will begin work on the setting up of an integrated dispute resolution complex, encourage key international arbitration institutions to set up base here, and work with the Economic Development Board as well as other local and foreign institutions and law firms to attract more international arbitration work to Singapore.
For these initiatives, $16 million will be allocated in FY2007.
Land Resources Optimised to Meet National Needs
MinLaw and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) will play an active role in optimising our land resources. We will ensure that State land and buildings are properly managed and maintained to meet Singapore’s economic and social needs. We will also actively promote the use of State land and properties, including innovative uses, to meet the needs of industries, businesses and the community. This includes devising and improving schemes for leasing out State land and properties.
In FY2007, $190 million has been allocated for these programmes.
Robust Regime for Intellectual Property
MinLaw and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore will ensure a robust and sound IP rights regime that spurs innovation and supports the growth of knowledge-intensive industries in Singapore. We will also promote IP-savviness among Singapore businesses, in effectively managing IP as a strategic business asset. In addition, MinLaw will further develop the local IP services industry, such as in patent drafting, IP strategy advisory services and IP education and training, to meet the demands in Singapore and the region. |
