Parliament Secretariat
The Secretariat assists Parliament in its functions and in all matters connected with its procedures and practices. The Secretariat also organizes Parliament's business and proceedings, and the work undertaken by its Committees, the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly and other Parliamentary associations.
The Clerk of Parliament is the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the Secretariat and serves as the principal adviser on parliamentary procedures and practices. The Clerk guides and directs all departments within the Secretariat to provide specialist advice in relation to the House's proceedings and support services.
Parliamentary Clerks Department
The Clerks also maintain records of proceedings of the House and its Select Committees and examine Bills, questions for oral/written answer, Motions, petitions and other papers for presentation to ensure conformity with the House's rules prescribed in the Standing Orders.
Official Reports Department
At every sitting of Parliament, the reporters transcribe the debates in full. The draft or first copy of the Official Report is sent via email to Members of Parliament (MPs) for verification. The verified copy of the Official Report of Parliamentary debates is published on the Parliament website within 7 working days from the adjournment of a sitting. The Department also produces the verbatim reports of Parliament's Select Committee meetings.
Language Services Department
Interpretation of Parliamentary debates is provided so that Members and the public attending the debates can listen to an on-going speech, using headsets provided at their seats in any of the four languages that they are familiar with.
The job of a Language Service officer is often challenging, requiring good language, analytical and comprehension skills, as well as an up-to-date knowledge of current issues and news.
Inter-Parliamentary Relations Department
Security and Resilience Department
The department is responsible for the security of and order in the House and the operational resilence of the organisation. The department also undertakes the protocol and ceremonial roles of the Serjeant-at-Arms (SAA) who bears the Mace, which is the symbol of the Speaker's authority, and leads the Speaker's Procession into the Chamber at the commencement of each Sitting.
Corporate Services Department
The administrative unit of the Department handles administrative matters, including proper record management, maintenance of the Registry and file mustering/archival, despatch, valuation of gifts, air-ticketing for MPs; and provides support services for parliamentary sittings, committee/delegation meetings and Chamber preparation.
The finance unit provides financial support to the Parliament Secretariat and MPs. It manages the annual budget of the Secretariat and ensures compliance with Government policies and statutory requirements through its internal audit function.
Estates and Facilities Department
Communications and Engagement Department
Library/Research Department
From its humble beginnings serving only 32 Members in 1955, the Library Staff are now expected to be IT-savvy to be able to meet the more sophisticated and diversified information needs of current MPs. In this regard, the Library is equipped with up-to-date computer technology and access to vast electronic networks including Newslink and Lexis-Nexis.
The Parliament Library has accumulated over 20,000 volumes of books, journals, parliamentary publications and papers, legislation and a collection of press clippings to allow for the quick and accurate provision of research services and current news.