Science Council of Singapore Act

(CHAPTER 287)

(Original Enactment: Act 13 of 1967)

REVISED EDITION 1985

(30th March 1987)

An Act for the establishment of a Science Council of Singapore.

[21st July 1967]

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Science Council of Singapore Act.

Interpretation

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —

“Council” means the Science Council of Singapore constituted under section 3;

“members” includes the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman, a temporary Chairman, a temporary Deputy Chairman and any temporary member of the Council.

Establishment and incorporation of Science Council of Singapore

3. There is hereby constituted a body corporate to be known as the Science Council of Singapore which —

(a)	shall have perpetual succession;
(b)	shall have a common seal; and
(c)	may sue and be sued in its corporate name and perform such other acts as bodies corporate may by law perform.

Constitution of Council

4.—(1) The Council shall consist of —

(a)	a Chairman;
(b)	a Deputy Chairman; and
(c)	fifteen other members,

all of whom shall be appointed by the Minister.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the members of the Council shall hold office for such term and subject to such conditions as the Minister may determine.

(3) The Minister may appoint any person to be a temporary member of the Council during the temporary incapacity from illness or otherwise, or during the temporary absence from Singapore, of any member of the Council.

(4) The Minister may appoint any member of the Council to be a temporary Chairman or temporary Deputy Chairman during the temporary incapacity from illness or otherwise, or during the temporary absence from Singapore, of the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman, as the case may be.

(5) The Minister may, at any time, accept the resignation of any member of the Council.

(6) The Minister may, at any time, remove any member of the Council from office without assigning any reason therefor.

Meetings of Council

5.—(1) The Council may meet at such times and places as it determines but shall hold a meeting at least once in 3 months.

(2) At a meeting of the Council 9 members shall constitute a quorum.

(3) The Chairman or, in his absence, the Deputy Chairman shall preside at meetings of the Council.

(4) In the event of the votes on any question being equal the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman, as the case may be, shall have a casting vote in addition to his original vote.

(5) The Council may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership.

Appointment of officers and employees

6.—(1) The Council may appoint such officers and employees as may be necessary to assist the Council in carrying out its functions.

(2) All officers and employees of the Council shall be under the administrative control of the Council and shall be appointed on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Council.

(3) The Council may delegate to any of its members, officers or employees such of its powers and functions as the Council may think fit.

Public servants

7. All members, officers and employees of the Council shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of the Penal Code [Cap. 224].

Functions of Council

8. The functions of the Council shall be to make reports and recommendations to the Minister on —

(a)	scientific and technological research and development in Singapore;
(b)	the effective training and utilisation of scientific and technological manpower in Singapore; and
(c)	the establishment of official relations with other scientific organisations.

Reference to Council

9.—(1) The Minister may refer to the Council for its consideration and advice such matters relating to science and technology in Singapore or otherwise relating to the operation of this Act as he thinks fit.

(2) The Council shall investigate and report to the Minister on all matters referred to it pursuant to subsection (1) and shall make such recommendations on them to the Minister as it considers appropriate.

Initiation of studies, etc.

10. The Council may on its own initiative, or if directed to do so by the Minister, conduct such studies, inquiries and other undertakings as may be necessary with respect to any matter within sections 8 and 9 or any other matter relating to the carrying out of its functions under those sections, and shall report to, advise or make recommendations to the Minister with respect thereto as the circumstances require.

Powers of Council

11.—(1) The Council shall have power to do all things that are necessary or convenient to be done for or in connection with the performance of its functions and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, may —

(a)	appoint committees consisting of persons who may or may not be members of the Council and delegate to the committees such of its powers and functions as the council determines; and
(b)	receive donations and contributions from any source and raise funds by all lawful means.

(2) The Council may, with the approval of the Minister, make rules to regulate the proceedings of the Council and generally to carry out the purposes of this Act.

Funds

12. For the purposes of enabling the Council to carry out its functions the Minister may, from time to time, make grants to the Council of such sums of money as he may determine.

Report

13.—(1) As soon as possible after 1st April but not later than 30th June in every year, unless otherwise authorised in writing by the Minister, the Council shall prepare a report of its activities in the preceding year and shall send a copy of the report to the Minister who shall present a copy of every such report to Parliament.

[15/72]

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the Minister may at any time request the Council to furnish him with any information concerning any matter affecting the Council, and the Council shall furnish him with the information required, and afford him or his representatives all necessary facilities for the verification of the information furnished.

Accounts

14.—(1) The Council shall keep proper accounts and other records of its activities and proceedings and shall prepare in respect of each year ending on 31st March a statement of accounts.

[15/72]

(2) The accounts of the Council shall be audited by qualified auditors appointed annually by the Council.

(3) As soon as the accounts of the Council have been audited, the Council shall send a copy of the statement of accounts to the Minister, together with a copy of any report made by the auditors on that statement or on the accounts of the Council.

(4) The Minister shall present a copy of every such statement of accounts and auditors’ report to Parliament.

Directions

15.—(1) The Minister may give to the Council such directions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as to the exercise and performance by the Council of its functions under this Act, and the Council shall give effect to such directions.

(2) The annual report for any year shall set out any directions given by the Minister under subsection (1) and shall contain a report of any action taken by the Council during that year pursuant to the directions.

Search within Legislation