OFFICIAL DATA READILY AVAILABLE

WHEN it comes to the availability of reliable official statistics, Singapore is in the league of developed countries like the United States.

It has also done well in international studies that measure how transparent governments are, said Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts, Dr Balaji Sadasivan.

He highlighted these points to Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong, who had asked the Government to be more proactive with information and to pass a law to guarantee citizens the right of access to information.

He cited examples of how he found it hard to get official numbers.

For instance, the Home Affairs Ministry told him it was unable to give him citizenship and permanent residency figures, while the Manpower Ministry did not differentiate between citizens and resident foreigners when tracking employment figures.

Dr Balaji disagreed.

The Manpower Ministry regularly gives employment figures. In fact, it released two papers yesterday, one of which showed how citizens had benefited from the bumper job market.

Also, the Department of Statistics and the National Archives were rich sources of current and historical data, while government agencies also gave constant updates on health and education figures, he said.

PUSH FOR CREATIVE DESIGNS ON TRACK

LOOK out for creatively designed recycling bins at Changi Airport later this year. They will be the products of the winning entry of a contest last year for people to re-design public amenities.

The bins were cited by Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Vivian Balakrishnan as an example of how good design is a cause the Government wants to champion.

It is going to encourage more companies to work with local designers to create 'more attractive products'.

Singapore has already improved in world rankings that track how competitive a country's design industry is, and its designers are winning more international awards, said Dr Balakrishnan.

NATIONAL ART GALLERY TO OPEN IN 2013

SINGAPORE'S first National Art Gallery will open its doors in 2013.

Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lee Boon Yang said yesterday that his ministry would soon appoint the winning architectural team for the project.

He gave this update when talking about how the Government is building up a collection of important Singapore artworks.

It has 7,500 pieces, with 4,000 from pioneer artists such as Chen Wen Hsi, Liu Kang, Georgette Chen and Chen Chong Swee.

Dr Lee was responding to Mr Chan Soo Sen (Joo Chiat) who said works by pioneer artists could inspire future generations of artists.

Dr Lee added that the National Art Gallery would also research and present premier works from South-east Asia, as well as host collections from overseas.

The gallery is being opened later than expected as the Government does not want to add to the already crowded schedule in the construction industry.