SPOR 2016: Lives of Singaporeans Continue to Improve amidst a Challenging Environment

Government committed to provide opportunities for all by renewing Singapore’s economy, transforming industries, and enhancing lifelong employability 

1.       The Ministry of Finance published the fourth edition of the Singapore Public Sector Outcomes Review (SPOR) today (9 Dec). In the 2016 edition, the report takes stock of how Singapore has fared in key areas of national interest. It focuses on whole-of-government outcomes and indicators that reflect both current and emerging policy concerns and issues. It also reviews the Government’s increased efforts to partner and reach out to more Singaporeans on a variety of issues through various channels, in a common mission to shape our collective future.

Opportunities for All

2.       The report notes that a key focus for the Government has been to provide opportunities for all by renewing the economy, transforming industries, and enhancing lifelong employability.

3.       More companies are now heeding the government’s call to innovate and improve productivity. In 2015, SPRING supported some 22,000 projects, double the number supported in 2014. Collectively, these efforts are expected to contribute about $6.9 billion in cumulative value-add and create about 19,000 new jobs, of which 75% are projected to be skilled jobs, when fully implemented over the next 3 years.

 4.       SPRING Singapore Deputy Chief Executive, Ted Tan said, “Singapore’s economy is now at an important inflexion point. Innovation and productivity will be the key for our future economic growth and competitiveness. SPRING will continue to work with partners to help our local enterprises grow whilst ensuring that smaller SMEs remain relevant. This will put us in a good position to seize new opportunities that arise.”

 A More Caring Society

5.       In terms of healthcare affordability, with the Pioneer Generation Package, the number of Pioneers who felt assured that healthcare costs would remain affordable has increased from 77% in 2014 to 87% in 2015, according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Communications and Information. Over 90% of Pioneers enjoyed subsidies for their visits to specialist outpatient clinics, polyclinics or CHAS clinics, between September 2014 and December 2015. We will continue to expand healthcare capacity and manpower in a sustainable manner, while placing emphasis on healthy living and the prevention of illnesses.

Endearing Home, Connected City

6.       Home ownership has remained high at about 92% over the past four years. The Debt Servicing Ratio of new 4-room HDB flats in non-mature estates, which form the bulk of new flat supply, dropped from 25% in 2014 to 22% in 2015. This is an indication that public housing has become more affordable for first-time home buyers due to recent policy changes, such as the increase in housing grants.

7.       In 2015, trains clocked 133,000 train-km before encountering a delay of more than five minutes, a distance that is 40% more than the 93,000 train-km recorded in 2014. But we can do better, both in terms of achieving a higher mean distance travelled before encountering a delay, and minimising the number of service delays lasting more than 30 minutes.

 A Safe, Secure and Credible Singapore

8.       There was a slight increase of about 3% in the overall crime rate per 100,000 population in 2015 compared to 2014, largely due to the rising number of online commercial crimes. Nonetheless, the overall law and order situation in Singapore remains under control.

9.       Singaporeans continue to hold high regard for efforts in defence and national security. In a 2015 survey conducted by Blackbox Research, 97% of Singaporean respondents said the Government has done well in this area.

Partnering Singaporeans in Nation-Building

10.     Individual Singaporeans and families continue to be at the heart of national population policies. We welcomed 33,725 Singaporean babies in 2015, the highest in more than a decade. Overall, the resident total fertility rate remained relatively stable in 2014 and 2015. From 1 January 2017, fathers will be entitled to a second week of mandated government-paid paternity leave while unwed mothers will be entitled to 16 weeks of maternity leave.

 11.     In 2015, we celebrated the 50^th anniversary of Singapore's independence as one people. The SG50 Celebration Fund supported more than 450 ground-up projects that brought the nation together. Notable milestones in the arts and cultural sector that year included the inscription of Singapore Botanic Gardens as a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as the opening of National Gallery Singapore and the Indian Heritage Centre. The past two years have been filled with sporting highlights - Singaporeans rallied behind our Team Singapore athletes at the 28^th SEA Games and 8^th ASEAN Para Games in 2015. In 2016, Singapore’s first gold medal at the Olympic Games and medals at the Paralympic Games were great moments of national pride.

 12.     Singaporeans have developed a stronger sense of national identity and belonging to the nation. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Ms Yeoh Chee Yan, said, “In the past two years, we came together as one nation on many occasions. We celebrated with family and friends during our Golden Jubilee SG50; we cheered on our athletes at major sporting events. We participated in SGfuture, deepening partnership between Government and citizens, so that we can shape our future together. MCCY seeks to help Singaporeans pursue their aspirations for a meaningful life. Together, we can build a gracious and caring society we are proud to call home.”

 13.     Commenting on SPOR report, Head of the Civil Service Peter Ong said, “The Singapore Public Sector Outcomes Review provides a good opportunity for us to look back on our performance over the last two years, as we chart our directions for the future. Over the last two years, we have made some progress to make public service delivery better and more convenient for our citizens. For instance, citizens who choose to use MyInfo platform only need to provide their personal data to the Government once. In the next chapter of our Singapore story, we will work towards building a future-ready Public Service that will partner each and every Singaporean to build a better home for all.”

Background

14.     SPOR is prepared by the Ministry of Finance with inputs from all ministries. Published every two years, SPOR provides a perspective on how the public sector and Singapore have fared in a broad range of areas of national interest. SPOR 2016 is available at [http://www.mof.gov.sg/Resources/Singapore-Public-Sector-Outcomes-Review-SPOR]