Declaration of gifts and meal invitations by civil servants and political officeholders

Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on the declaration of gifts and meal invitations by civil servants and political officeholders

Parliament Sitting: 8 May 2024

Ms Hazel Poa: To ask the Prime Minister (a) in 2023, what is the number of gifts declared by civil servants and political officeholders respectively to their Permanent Secretaries that is valued (i) above $50 and (ii) below $50; (b) what is the mean and maximum value of these gifts; (c) how many officers have chosen to retain the gifts; (d) what is the number of meal invitations declared to their Permanent Secretaries; and (e) how many meal invitation requests have been denied.

Written Reply by Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service

1. Civil servants and political officeholders must not ask for gifts or favours, especially when they are in a position to influence or affect any decision involving the other party. If it is not possible or it is impractical to decline gifts or meals, officers should declare and account for it according to established processes.

2. For gifts that are less than $50, the officer may be allowed to retain the gift without payment after taking into account considerations such as conflict of interest. For gifts that are $50 or more, an officer may be allowed to retain the gift if he pays its value to the government.  

3. In 2023, there were about 3,450 gift declarations made by civil servants and political officeholders. Of these, officers were allowed to retain 60%. About 14% of the declarations were for gifts valued $50 or more. We do not collect data on meal invitations centrally.