First session of 13th Parliament to be held on Jan 15 next year

The first session of the 13th Parliament will sit on Jan 15, 2016. PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - The first session of the 13th Parliament will commence on Jan 15, 2016, at 3.30 pm.

The sitting will start with the election of the Speaker and the swearing-in of the Members of Parliament, said Ms Grace Fu, Leader of the House, in a press release on Thursday. (Oct 22)

At 8.30 pm that same evening, President Tony Tan Keng Yam will deliver his opening address in Parliament. In his address, the President will set out the priorities, policies and programmes of the Government for its five-year term.

The debate on the President's Address will be from Jan 25 to 29.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said he intends to nominate Madam Halimah Yacob to be the Speaker of Parliament. First appointed in January 2013, Madam Halimah was assisted by two deputies in enforcing parliamentary rules and ensuring the orderly conduct of parliamentary business.

No names have been given for the two Deputy Speakers but in the 12th Parliament, they were PAP MPs Charles Chong and Seah Kian Peng.

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