SINGAPORE — Despite the absence of big social spending programmes in this year’s Budget, social issues including healthcare and housing are set to receive the greatest airing when Parliament begins the week-long Committee of Supply (COS) debate.

The COS debate, where Members of Parliament (MP) discuss the plans and budgets of the various ministries, is scheduled to start today. The highest number of “cuts” — which allow MPs to raise questions, feedback or suggestions over the ministries’ programmes — was filed for the Ministry of Health (49), followed by Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (45) and Ministry of National Development (43). In all, 483 cuts were filed, almost 11 per cent higher than the 436 cuts last year. In 2014, there were 450 cuts.

Topics to be raised during the MOH debate include enhancing community and primary care, health programmes for seniors, manpower challenges in the sector, as well as protection against epidemics and local disease outbreaks.

The MCCY debate will feature issues ranging from support for the Muslim-Malay community, the arts and sports to encouraging volunteerism and developing resilience among youth.

MPs also want to know the MND’s plans for helping low-income and vulnerable families secure a roof over their heads and developing a car-lite city. Other topics on the agenda include better delivery of services through the Municipal Services Office, lift maintenance in housing estates and rejuvenation of the heartlands.

Observers TODAY spoke to noted Singapore’s rapidly ageing population and the rising Government expenditure on healthcare over the years. Some S$11 billion has been set aside for MOH under the Budget in the coming financial year — a 19 per cent increase compared to the previous FY. Government healthcare spending is projected to exceed S$13 billion in 2020.

With greater funding and access to different healthcare programmes, Singapore University Management law don Eugene Tan said MPs would be shifting their focus to the implementation of initiatives in previous years such as MediShield Life.

National University of Singapore sociologist Tan Ern Ser said the issues raised in the COS debates would reflect Singaporeans’ priorities. He said: “Even as we deal with the economy to ensure that we have sufficient funds, we need to determine our social priorities and identify what the needs are, so as to maximise welfare and optimise use of our resources and funds.”

Meanwhile, concerns about the economic restructuring and jobs continue to be aired during the second day of the Budget debate yesterday, which saw 25 MPs speaking on a range of topics including the impact of automation on jobs and the SkillsFuture movement to help workers’ upgrade their skills.

For the COS debate, the Ministry of Trade and Industry received 35 cuts while the Ministry of Manpower, which dominated last year’s debate with 53 cuts, had 26.

Amid recent spotlight on terrorism and national security, MPs have filed 33 cuts for the Ministry of Home Affairs on topics such as counter-terrorism and manpower needs of security forces. The drug situation, cyber-crime and the employment of ex-offenders will also be discussed.