2024年4月3日，新加坡贸工部兼文化、社区及青年部政务部长陈圣辉，回答议员黄文鸿有关发展补助、培训补助、基本支持补助和特殊补的问题。
以下内容为新加坡眼根据国会英文资料翻译整理：
议员黄文鸿还提到在取消注册官对合作社发行债券和债务凭证的批准要求的情况下，哪些保障措施可以用来防止出现筹集的资金被滥用或资金管理不善的问题。
我想向议员黄文鸿保证，国家文化、社区及青年部意识到合作社在运营中需要更多灵活性。在债券和债务凭证的发行方面，由于合作社已经受到相关法律的约束，因此不需要额外的由注册官批准。在进行此类发行时，合作社的管理层必须向潜在投资者解释债券和债务凭证的结构，以及这些资金的用途。作为一个基于成员的组织，在资金管理方面，合作社的管理委员会对其成员最终负责。如果发现任何合作社资金管理不善，注册官将根据《合作社法》采取行动。
第五，议员们提出了关于支持和发展合作社的问题。为此，我感谢议员们认识到合作社在我们社会中发挥的重要作用，以及国家文化、社区及青年部和国家合作社联合会在合作社行业发展中提供的支持。
议员朱倍庆建议研究如何帮助中小企业利用生产率补助来实现现代化。正如我提到的，合作社可以获得合作社基金（CCF）的补助。国家文化、社区及青年部和国家合作社联合会保持密切合作，以确保补助的相关性。在过去五年中，合作社基金向合作社发放了约270万美元的补助。合作社基金给与了符合条件的新合作社的启动资金补助，同时，合作社还可以申请发展补助、培训补助、基本支持补助和特殊补助，以应对新出现的风险和需求。
国家文化、社区及青年部还对国家合作社联合会组织的会议和活动给与支持，增进对数据保护、可持续发展和网络安全等主题的认识。
议员李坚辉建议建立共享秘书服务以协助资源有限的合作社。他还建议提供一个共享服务解决网络安全威胁和新技术采用等问题。议员叶汉荣询问政府是否可以帮助较小的合作社实现数字化。
我想议员知道，由于合作社需求的多样性，很难标准化共享服务的工作范围。我们通常会提供合作社基金发展补助，这使合作社能够灵活地聘请合适的服务商来满足其独特的运营需求，并根据其具体要求来定制这些计划。尽管如此，我认为这是一个非常好的建议，因此，我们愿意适时在合作社觉得有用的情况下，与国家合作社联合会一起会探索集中服务。
我们还与国家合作社联合会合作提高人们对网络安全等新问题的认识，并提供合作社基金网络安全补助，共同资助推荐的基于订阅的解决方案，以管控李议员和叶议员提到的网络安全风险。
以下是英文质询内容：
Mr Don Wee also touched on removing the requirement for Registrar’s approval for the issuance of bonds and debentures by co-ops. He asked what safeguards will be in place to prevent misuse or mismanagement of funds raised through such instruments.
Sir, I would like to assure Mr Don Wee that MCCY is mindful that co-ops need more flexibility in their operations. Since co-ops are already subjected to relevant laws on issuance of bonds and debentures, there is no need for an additional layer of Registrar’s approval. When making such issuances, the co-op’s management must explain to potential investors the structure of the bonds and debentures, and how these proceeds will be used. As a membership-based organisation, the co-op’s COM is ultimately accountable to its members for the management of the co-op’s funds. Should any co-op be found to have mismanaged its funds, the Registrar will take action under the Act.
Fifth, Members asked questions about support for and development of the sector. To this end, I thank Members for recognising the important role that co-ops play in our society as well as the support that both MCCY and SNCF provides in the development of our co-op sector.
Mr Desmond Choo suggested studying how to help co-ops modernise and use productivity grants that are available for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). As I mentioned, co-ops can access grants from the CCF. MCCY also works closely with SNCF to ensure the grants remain relevant. Over the last five years, CCF disbursed about $2.7 million in grants to co-ops. In addition to grants to assist eligible new co-ops with start-up costs, co-ops can also apply for development grants, training grants, basic support grants and special grants, that address emerging risks and needs.
MCCY has also supported conferences and events organised by SNCF to raise awareness of topics such as data protection, sustainability and cybersecurity.
Mr Mark Lee suggested exploring the feasibility of a shared secretariat service to assist co-ops with limited resources. He also suggested a shared service that could address concerns such as cybersecurity threats and the adoption of new technologies. Mr Yip Hong Weng also asked if Government could help smaller co-ops digitalise.
Members will know that it is challenging to standardise the scope of works for shared services given the diverse needs of co-ops across the co-op sector and spectrum. Our general approach is to provide the CCF Development Grant, which gives co-ops flexibility to engage suitable service providers to meet their own unique operational needs and to tailor these programmes to their specific requirements. Nevertheless, I think it is a very good suggestion and so, we are open to exploring with SNCF and the sector on centralised services where it is appropriate and where co-ops find it useful.
We also work with SNCF to raise awareness of emerging issues such as cybersecurity, as well as offer a CCF Cybersecurity Grant which co-funds a recommended subscription-based solution to manage cybersecurity risks that Mr Lee and Mr Yip mentioned earlier.
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