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The Government's proposals to inject more fairness into the vehicle quota system have whipped up a vigorous debate and initial signs point to more people supporting, rather than opposing, the suggested moves. Motor traders, transport experts and online readers of The Straits Times are largely in favour of the proposal to impose a surcharge on motorists who buy more than one car. Announced by Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew on Thursday, the idea was cheered by many yesterday. Said the president of the Motor Traders Association, Mr Cheah Kim Teck: "In a society like ours, there's just no need for anyone to own more than one car." Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/...ta-system-20130

Efforts to get Singaporeans to leave their cars at home and take the train and bus appear to be paying off. This was among the findings of a recent survey by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) that was announced on Monday. Lawyer Jinny Tan still drives to her workplace in the Chinatown area each morning but she opts for the train when she goes out for lunch. Ms Tan said she is open to using public transport more if one major complaint is addressed. "For mornings, it does get a bit crowded and you have to really wait for a few trains before you get on a train." The government has put in place measures to address these and other concerns. The LTA's latest Household Interview Travel Survey indicates these measures might be working. The survey found that more higher-income earners appear to be choosing buses and trains over personal vehicles. Higher income earners refer to those who earn a salary of S$8,000 or more a month. They contributed to a rise in the number of peak hour trips on public transport last year. In 2008, just over half of all such journeys were made during peak hours. It rose to nearly two in three last year. Experts believe the key to increasing these numbers is to show people how using public transportation can benefit them. The survey also found that more people used public transport if they lived near MRT stations. The government plans to have eight in 10 households live within a 10 minute walk of a train station by 2030. Observers said getting commuters from their homes to public transport is straightforward with covered walkways. The harder part is getting them from buses or trains to their workplace. Ang Hin Kee, a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, explained: "I think the challenge for the LTA is how it incorporates this last mile into a revision of their Masterplan so that for any commuters, it will be very convenient to get from their place of work to their place of residence." The survey also showed that total daily journeys on public transport increased by 13 per cent to 12.5 million last year. Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/more-singaporeans-leaving/839682.html

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-...00909115376037 'Jobs For The Brits' As Demo Hits Plant 11:07am UK, Monday September 07, 2009 Many people from outside Europe will find it harder to get jobs in the UK under a series of measures designed to favour "home-grown" workers. British firms will be required to advertise for a month in UK Jobcentres before posting the same vacancy overseas. The new rules will also double to a year the qualification period for skilled foreign workers to join multi-national companies. But key public service workers or those with a masters degree will still be encouraged. The measures, being introduced by Home Secretary Alan Johnson, are among 16 proposals put forward by the Migration Advisory Committee. --- SOLI AH NOT IN SG!

veri rare govt body lose... Judge rules in favour of Komoco Motors in case against LTA By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 18 May 2007 2017 hrs SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has come out on the losing side in a S$7 million court case. In a judicial review, Judge Judith Prakash has ruled in favour of Komoco Motors, which brings in Hyundai cars. Some 17,000 Hyundai cars were at the centre of the case which started some two and a half years ago. Importer Komoco Motors had been asked by the LTA to pay more ARF, amounting to some S$7 million. "There was a customs issue which required Komoco to pay additional duty on those cars and as a norm the Registrar of Vehicles - or LTA in this case - actually used the OMV figure from customs to determine how much ARF or additional registration fee to impose on those cars. "In this case, Komoco felt the OMV itself should not be extended based on certain extenuating circumstances," says Philip Fong, Partner, Harry Elias Partnership. So Komoco's lawyers say it was prepared to go to LTA, open its books, and give full disclosure as to why they should not have to pay in this particular case. A meeting took place in an attempt to settle the matter out of court. But to court, it went. "We actually complained that LTA should not piggy back on the decision of customs blindly and without exercising an independent mind," says Fong. The case went up for judicial review, which seldom happens in Singapore. This is when a court of law reviews the actions of an official or entity, that is usually part of the government. In making her judgement, which has just been released, Judge Judith Prakash said LTA's policy was not unreasonable or irrational. However, having instituted that policy, the Registrar should have heard the case with an open mind and considered whether an exception should have been made. She added that the Registrar had unlawfully delegated her authority to Customs, by refusing to consider whether or not exceptional circumstances applied. So the Judge ruled in favour of Komoco, with costs - Channel NewsAsia understands LTA may have to pay up to S$50,000. When approached by Channel NewsAsia, LTA said it is consulting its lawyers. - CNA/yy