Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Helping Self-Employed Persons or Small Business Owners With Vehicle-Related Cost Increases

Ms Carrie Tan asked the Minister for Transport

a.     how many heavy goods vehicles and light goods vehicles are registered under self-employed persons currently; and

b.     given the rise in cost of living and cost of business, whether the Ministry will consider temporary measures to reduce vehicle-related costs for self-employed persons or small business owners, such as reducing the COE prices or providing subsidies for such vehicles.

Reply by Minister for Transport S Iswaran:

1.     The vast majority of goods vehicles are registered by businesses. That said, as the Land Transport Authority does not collect employment data for the purpose of vehicle registration, we are unable to determine whether these vehicle owners are self-employed or otherwise.

2.     Self-employed persons and small business owners are a diverse group and have different business costs and needs. Instead of having vehicle-specific subsidies, the Government has broad-based measures to support businesses. Business owners can visit the GoBusiness portal (gobusiness.gov.sg) for more information on the relevant Government schemes available.