I-1. Attendance rate by Party

We entrust MPs with representing our interests and making decisions on our behalf. Knowing attendance rates allows us to hold our representatives accountable and judge their commitment to their duties.

Here is our methodology for calculating the attendance rates by Party: 

1. Gather the official list of MPs who were present from Hansard. 
2. Divide the number of MPs present by the total number of MPs belonging to that Party. 
3. Multiply this result by 100 to express it as a percentage. 
4. Calculate the simple average by adding up the attendance percentages for each sitting and divide by the total number of sittings considered. 

Do note that attendance data based on the Hansard only tracks attendance at roll call. MPs may not be present throughout the entire Parliament session. Some citizens have observed in photos and livestream videos that Parliament sessions can be largely empty, except during important votes or debates.

II-1. Average number of questions asked per MP

A higher average number of questions can indicate a proactive parliament, Parties, and/or MPs actively scrutinising government actions and policies. This helps ensure transparency and holds the government accountable to the public. 

Here is our methodology for calculating the average number of PQs asked per MP: 

1. Gather the official list of oral and written parliamentary questions (PQs) for the parliamentary sittings within the month from Hansard. 
2. Divide the sum of PQs asked by all MPs within each Party, across all sittings within the month, by the number of MPs within each Party excluding any appointment holders. 

Ministers, Minister of States, and Parliamentary Secretaries traditionally do not ask PQs as they represent the Executive branch, which is responsible for implementing government policies and decisions. Asking questions of themselves within the legislative branch could create a conflict of interest or blur the lines between the two branches. 

The Speaker and Deputy Speakers are responsible for ensuring the smooth and orderly conduct of parliamentary proceedings. Hence, they do not ask PQs or participate in debates, but rather enforce the rules and ensure everyone gets a fair chance to speak.

II-2. Percentage of PQs asked vs. seats share 

Every Party, regardless of size, should have the opportunity to raise issues and hold the government accountable. Measuring the spread of questions across Parties, against their seat shares in parliament, informs us whether the Parties are given the opportunities to do so and are actively utilising them.

Here is our methodology for calculating the percentages: 

1. Gather the official list of oral and written parliamentary questions (PQs) for the parliamentary sittings within the month from Hansard. 
2. To obtain the percentage of PQs asked per Party, divide the sum of PQs from all MPs per Party by the total number of PQs from all MPs. Multiply this result by 100 to express it as a percentage. 
3. To obtain the percentage of seats share per Party, divide the number of MPs per party by the total number of MPs excluding appointment holders. Multiply this result by 100 to express it as a percentage.
4. To calculate the delta between the percentages, minus the percentage of PQs asked per Party by the percentage of seat share per Party. 

Deltas below zero indicate that the Party is speaking below their proportion of seat share in Parliament. Conversely, deltas above zero signal that the Party is punching above their weight.  

Ministers, Minister of States, and Parliamentary Secretaries traditionally do not ask PQs as they represent the Executive branch, which is responsible for implementing government policies and decisions. Asking questions of themselves within the legislative branch could create a conflict of interest or blur the lines between the two branches. 

The Speaker and Deputy Speakers are responsible for ensuring the smooth and orderly conduct of parliamentary proceedings. Hence, they do not ask PQs or participate in debates, but rather enforce the rules and ensure everyone gets a fair chance to speak.

II-3. No. of PQs asked by Party and MP

A higher average number of questions can indicate a proactive parliament, Parties, and/or MPs actively scrutinising government actions and policies. This helps ensure transparency and holds the government accountable to the public. 

Our methodology is as follows:

1. Gather the official list of oral and written parliamentary questions (PQs) for the parliamentary sittings within the month from Hansard. 
2. Sum the total number of PQs asked by each MP. 

Ministers, Minister of States, and Parliamentary Secretaries traditionally do not ask PQs as they represent the Executive branch, which is responsible for implementing government policies and decisions. Asking questions of themselves within the legislative branch could create a conflict of interest or blur the lines between the two branches. 

The Speaker and Deputy Speakers are responsible for ensuring the smooth and orderly conduct of parliamentary proceedings. Hence, they do not ask PQs or participate in debates, but rather enforce the rules and ensure everyone gets a fair chance to speak.

II-4. No. of PQs put to each Ministry by Party

Tracking the number of parliamentary questions (PQs) directed towards each Ministry may offer valuable insights into public concerns, ministerial performance, and potential policy issues. For instance, a surge in questions directed towards one particular Ministry might indicate public dissatisfaction with its performance or emerging problems requiring attention. Some Ministries may consistently receive fewer questions than others, as they could be dealing with less publicly engaging topics and/or highly technical subjects that might require specialised knowledge, which could deter MPs from engaging. 

Our methodology is as follows:

1. Gather the official list of oral and written PQs for the parliamentary sittings within the month from Hansard. 
2. Sum the total number of PQs asked by MPs to each Ministry. 

III-1. Bills introduced

The official list of Bills introduced at every parliamentary sitting can be found at Hansard: https://www.parliament.gov.sg/parliamentary-business/bills-introduced. 

III-2. Bills passed

The official list of Bills passed at every parliamentary sitting can be found at Hansard: https://www.parliament.gov.sg/parliamentary-business/bills-introduced. 

III-3. No. of MPs who spoke on Bill at second reading

The second reading is the first major opportunity for MPs to debate the general merits and principles of a Bill. The number of speakers can indicate the level of interest and engagement the Bill has generated among MPs. More participation suggests a complex or controversial Bill that has drawn significant attention. Also, more participation signals that the Bill is properly scrutinised and that potential concerns are being addressed.

Our methodology is as follows:

1. Gather the official list of Bills that were debated at second reading at every Parliamentary sitting from Hansard: https://www.parliament.gov.sg/parliamentary-business/bills-introduced. 
2. Extract the official report of the second reading of each Bill from Hansard. 
3. Sum the total number of MPs who spoke at the second reading of each Bill.