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Science Council of Singapore Bill

Bill No. 9/1967

Read the first time on 24th May 1967.

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

Be it enacted by the President with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Singapore, as follows: —

Short title and commencement

1. This Act may be cited as the Science Council of Singapore Act, 1967, and shall come into operation on such date as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.

Interpretation

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

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

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

Establishment and incorporation of the Science Council of Singapore

3. There shall be constituted a body to be known as the “Science Council of Singapore” which shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal, and may sue and be sued in its said name and perform such other acts as bodies corporate may by law perform.

Constitution of the 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 appointed by the Minister 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.

(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 appointed by him.

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

Meetings of the Council

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

(2) At a meeting of the Council nine 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 servants

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

(2) All officers and servants 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 servants such of its powers and functions as the Council may think fit.

Public servants

7. All members, officers and servants of the Council shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of the Penal Code (Cap. 119).

Functions of the 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) of this section and shall make such recommendations to the Minister in respect thereof as it deems 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 of this Act or with respect to any other matter relating to the carrying out of its functions under the said sections, and shall report to, advise or make recommendations to the Minister with respect thereto as the circumstances require.

Powers of the 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 such 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 may be after the 1st day of January but not later than the 31st day of March 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 such report to the Minister who shall present a copy of every such report to Parliament.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, 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 the 31st day of December a statement of accounts.

(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) of this section and shall contain a report of any action taken by the Council during that year pursuant to such directions.