Chan Chee Seng
Singapore
“If these practices are not being taken seriously by occupants of high-rise buildings, they will be repeated until the Singapore Fire Service is thoroughly satisfied. Finally, I would like to assure the House that the Singapore Fire Service keeps abreast of technological advances in the fighting of high-rise fires.”
“Only the Kallang Creche has been transferred to SILO to run. In the case of the staff in the Kallang Creche, they were absorbed into the other 10 creches to fill vacancies. As for the transfer of the other creches to the NTUC, this is still under consideration and has not been implemented yet.”
“I would like to clarify matters today by posing two questions. The first question is whether we should encourage the habit of reliance on others? The second question is whether we should encourage the people to be self-reliant in order to be able to help or look after themselves?”
“The Social Welfare Department will improve its classification procedure so as to provide information of employable disabled persons and to assist disabled persons to remain in employment through intensive counselling before employment and follow-up services after job placement In 1974 the Social Welfare Department cooperated with the Mini…”
“Volunteer counsellors and advisers could be engaged from within the community to man them, with expert assistance from a small number of professional social welfare staff.”
“Anyway, I agree with the Member that we must look after our old people properly and give them good food and to prepare the food as palatable as possible. We must realise that there are about 270 inmates in the Bushey Park Home. When they were admitted, some of them were feeble, while others were sick.”
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“In fact, long before publicity was made in the press on this particular Home, the Social Welfare Department has during the past years been giving assistance to this Home in its usual quiet and unannounced manner. Every month Social Welfare officers visit this Home. The department has been consulting the relevant authorities on ways and means to improve the condition of living of the inmates. It has even gone out of its way to get voluntary social workers interested in this Home to give a helping hand. In fact, before publicity was given in the press, the department consulted the Singapore Council of Social Services, which is the co-ordinating body for such private voluntary welfare organisations, and the Ministry on the possible need to make alternative arrangements for eventual placement of the old inmates. The report that the monk is running the home single-handed is not true, as he has employed seven workers to attend to the needs of the old inmates and to keep the place clean and tidy. The recent outburst of publicity after so many years of the Home's existence is probably due to the realisation by the monk in charge that the Home is in its last few months of existence, in view of the forthcoming acquisition of the land for urban renewal purposes. Because of the imminent closure of this Home, the Ministry of Social Affairs has recently issued a press statement advising members of the public, who wish to make voluntary donations to this Home, to send their donations to the Singapore Council of Social Services indicating that the money should be used for the benefit of the old people of this Home.”
“In other circumstances, a proposed visit to entertain only a particular ethnic or racial group within a home has been discouraged, as such acts of discrimination or favouritism could upset the law and order in the homes which have many inmates of other races. Entertainment for the inmates of the homes should not be confined to any particular racial group because we cater for all the inmates in the homes. Examples of such cross-sectional entertainment are a grand dinner recently given by a commercial organisation to all the inmates of the Woodlands Home for the Aged and an annual Chinese New Year party when all inmates, irrespective of race or ethnic group, were entertained together. The Government welcomes welfare service by community groups but not racialist welfare. On the question of the particular old people's home, I assume the Member is referring to the Poh Thong See Buddhist Old People's Home in Aljunied Road. I must say that the Social Welfare Department has never refused to give a helping hand to the inmates of this particular Home, as alleged by a Member. On the contrary, I am satisfied that our Social Welfare Department has in the past done all it can to help the inmates of this particular Home. Out of the 80 inmates of the Home, 51 are paying cases, i.e, they are financially supported by their own relatives and dependants who pay monthly maintenance charges ranging from $60 to $180 per head to the monk in charge. The department has been helping the remaining cases, which are eligible, with public assistance allowances ranging from $28 to $50 per month and with other forms of help wherever possible. It is wrong to assume that the Social Welfare Department only acts after publicity is given in the press of any such stories.”
“- even though it has been increased as recent as January last year. As an interim measure, we are now looking into the problem of giving further assistance to 7,042 public assistance cases to help them cope with the rising cost of living. A study is being undertaken to see in what way we can increase the family income by finding employment for the recipient himself or for members of his family. Consideration will be given to provide some form of assistance, if necessary, for those who because of their age and incapacity are unfit for employment, including the very old. Members of Parliament may rest assured that everything possible will be done to alleviate the hardship experienced by those people as a result of the rise in prices of essential goods. Sir, regarding the guideline and permit for entertainment of inmates of welfare homes of the Social Welfare Department, no permit is issued for purposes of visiting and entertaining inmates of welfare homes by community groups. What community groups are required to do, if they wish to visit a creche or a certain home, is to contact the Social Welfare Department for permission, not a permit, to do so. Normally such permission is readily granted. It is the policy of the department to welcome and encourage more people to visit the welfare homes to bring cheer to the inmates. The department has not refused any organisation a visit to the welfare homes, except in circumstances where such visits would embarrass the inmates of a particular home or upset law and order in the home. Proposed visits that might have been refused by the department would be visits by young males with long hair to a girls' home, or male visitors whose intention to visit a girls' home for ex-prostitutes was doubtful.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, all these speeches by Members have deeply touched our hearts. We definitely share the deep concern of Members. But one principal guideline that we must know is that public assistance is meant to assist and not to be sufficient. However, for the less fortunate citizen who has to depend on public assistance given by the Social Welfare Department, in view of the present inflationary condition in Singapore, my Ministry is now exploring the possibility of an upward revision of the public assistance rates - An hon. Member: Hear, hear!”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there is as yet no definite proposal to build a creche in the Sembawang Constituency as priority has to be given to those areas with the highest concentration of population such as Toa Payoh, Queenstown, Kallang Basin, Katong, Woodlands, Telok Blangah and Bedok, where there are no creches. I can, however, assure the Member for Sembawang that the need for establishing creches in other areas of Singapore will be kept under constant review, and more creches will be provided when needs can be clearly established. The Government would also welcome the setting up of creches by those industrial concerns with large female labour forces, and to this end the Social Welfare Department has been directed to give every assistance possible to any firm that wishes to start a creche service. HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD (Priority of flats for retired public officers) 8. Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon asked the Minister for Law and National Development, since the introduction of the grant of priority for the sale or rental of Housing and Development Board flats to retired public officers, (a) how many such persons have been successful in being allocated flats; (b) how many of them have had their applications turned down and the reasons therefor; and (c) if the Housing and Development Board will consider according the priority to retiring public officers one year prior to their retirement.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the number of persons receiving public assistance varies from month to month and shows a decreasing trend. During the year ending 28th February, 1973, the figure ranges from 14,948 in February, 1973 to 17,825 persons in March 1972. This works out to an average of 16,420 persons. The number of families or households receiving public assistance allowance ranges from 7,474 in February 1973 to 8,134 in March 1972, giving an average of 7,753 families receiving public assistance. The total amount of aid paid during the year ending 28th February, 1973, was $2,441,202.30. CRECHE IN SEMBAWANG (Building of) 7. Mr Teong Eng Siong asked the Minister for Social Affairs, with the progress of industrialisation in the Sembawang Constituency, if there is any proposal to build a creche in that Constituency, so as to induce more housewives to work in the factories.”
“Sir, building a fire station is not like building a creche. So we definitely need time to ponder and to plan over it. Members of Parliament may wish to know that the proposed fire station in Jurong Town will occupy 87,100 square feet of land at Residential Neighbourhood II, Jurong Town. The building will be a two-storey structure with a firemen's lecture room, rest room and recruits' dormitory at the first floor and a three-bay appliance room on the ground floor. The office and the control room will adjoin the appliance room. There will be a drill yard and a 97-foot drill cum hose tower. There will also be a single storey structure within the precinct of the fire station to house the lecture room, the rest room and the smoke chamber for the training of recruits. The fire station will be constructed of reinforced concrete and has been designed for the possible future extension of the appliance room from a three-bay to a five-bay station. The proposed Jurong fire station will be a district fire station supported operationally either by Bukit Timah fire station or Alexandra fire station, in the first instance. The fire appliances and the ambulance for the fire station are already available and will be transferred to the proposed fire station when it is completed. The Public Works Department has advised that the construction of the proposed fire station is expected to be completed by the end of July 1974. The fire station will be commissioned soon after. I hope the Member will be very happy when the fire station is completed.”
“The new Home will have facilities for both indoor and Outdoor training with a view to cultivating and instilling in the able-bodied destitutes a work habit for outside employment rather than allowing them to remain a continuing charge on public funds. The able-bodied and the workable destitutes committed to this Home would be given vocational training such as carpentry, rattan craft and other light cottage industries as well as farming, vegetable and fruit gardening, flower cultivation and rearing of pigs and poultry. 5.45 p.m. In establishing this Home, the most pressing requirement other than funds is a piece of land of 10 acres for the purpose. If and when the land is readily available from the Land Office or the Bases Economic Conversion Department, and if the provision of public utility services such as sewerage, water and light would not pose a difficult problem, the construction of the Home should not, in normal circumstances, take too long and it is expected that, barring any unforeseen difficulties, the Home should be completed within the new financial year.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the present plan is to put up an additional Home for the Destitutes in order to ease the congestion existing in Bushey Park Home, and to enable the training programme for destitute persons to be effectively carried out. The Bushey Park Home which is a gazetted Home for the Destitutes is always overcrowded, having an average daily population of 270 persons, while its optimum capacity is for about 250 persons. This population figure of destitutes does not include another 100 male destitutes and 120 female destitutes who have, due to lack of accommodation at Bushey Park Home, to be temporarily accommodated in other Welfare Homes not meant for them. As such, it is essentially vital to build as soon as possible an additional Home for Destitute Persons to relieve the congestion at Bushey Park Home and to train those destitutes who are fit and strong enough to be employable, for eventual employment so that they can become useful citizens of Singapore. Due to the compact, congested nature of the Bushey Park Home, it is not possible nor practical to conduct effectively any training or rehabilitation programme for the inmates. The desired new Home will have five dormitory blocks, a Medical Block, Recreation Block, Kitchen/Dining Block, Workshops, Staff Quarters and other ancillary buildings. It is hoped that a 10-acre piece of land will soon be made available by the Government for this project, since the dormitories, workshops and other buildings will occupy about four acres with the remaining six acres to be utilised for farming and other training and rehabilitative activities.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister for Social Affairs would like to invite the Member for Anson to taste the food for himself to see whether or not the food is tasty. It must be tasty, or otherwise the inmates would not eat the food.”
“In addition to the free food, free accommodation, free medical treatment, free clothing and payment of allowances under the Earning Scheme and the supply of other basic needs in the Home, the old folks in the Welfare Home enjoy also other privileges such as occasional parties and gifts given by well-wishers, voluntary workers and organised groups. Mr P. Govindaswamy: Sir, the reply of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs is very unsatisfactory. There are rice, vegetables and everything else but they should try and cook the food more tastily. Cooking is done for 600 people, and even if it is for 1,000 people, there should be no difference. The cook must taste the food first, and if he is satisfied that the food is tasty, then it can be given to the old people. I am not asking for a chef from a restaurant to do the cooking in the Home!”
“All attempts have been made to improve the preparation of meals to make them as delicious as possible and to this end, the Department has even engaged a well-known chef from a Chinese restaurant in Singapore to give regular advanced cooking lessons to the cooks as well as to some of the residents in order to enable them to improve the palatability and standard of the food prepared. Every inmate of the 600 residents in the old folks Home administered by the Social Welfare Department is given a basic pocket money of $2 per month. In addition, more pocket money for them is being provided under a special Earning Scheme, the scale of which is either $10 per person for those helping in the farm, workshop, kitchen or other duties which require some skills, or $5 for light duties such as doing the household chores or in keeping the dormitories clean. These payments of $10, $5 and $2 as pocket money for the residents in the Home for the Aged serve as an incentive for the residents to engage themselves in some light but productive and useful work. In addition to the payment of allowances provided for, the old folks in the Home also participate in other profit-sharing projects to earn some pocket money for themselves. In keeping with the Government's policy that nothing is for free, every resident in the Welfare Home, subject to his or her being certified fit by the Medical Officer, is encouraged and required to engage in some form of work within or without the Home and is paid remuneration in respect of such work at such rate as may from time to time be determined by the Department.”
“We are, of course, aware that there are some recipients who, despite the excellent arrangements made for them to receive their allowances, are in the habit of calling at their respective payment centres much earlier than necessary before payment time. These are the few persons who have created their own queueing up and prolonged their own waiting time. Efforts are continuously made to persuade and advise these recipients who call much earlier than necessary, to come in accordance with their payment date or time to collect their allowances. As regards food for the aged, every attempt has been made to improve the quality of food in the Home for the Aged people. The dietary scale for the old folks in the Home for the Aged is drawn up in consultation with the Department of Social Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Singapore, and the Medical Officers attached to the Home for the Aged. The scale of food supplied to the old folks is adequate and balanced and includes a wide selection of foodstuffs with essential nutrients and sufficient variety in daily menus. Preparation of daily meals in the Home is undertaken by professional cooks employed by the Department. The Social Welfare officials make regular checks on the meals in the Home to ensure that they are palatable and of a good standard. However, it must be appreciated that preparing food for 600 persons in a Home like the Woodlands Home for the Aged is not an easy matter and the food certainly cannot be expected to be as delicious and palatable as those prepared in private homes or in restaurants.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the system of payment of public assistance allowance has already been vastly improved and there should not, under normal circumstances, be any queueing up by the public assistance recipients to receive their allowances, nor should there be any prolonged waiting time. There are at present 7,474 households on public assistance. Payments of public assistance allowances to the heads of these households are and can be made at payment centres nearest their homes for the convenience of the recipients. Places where public assistance allowances are paid to the recipients include the Public Assistance Section Head Office at Havelock Road, its branch offices at Joo Chiat and Bukit Panjang, four community centres and 39 post offices all over Singapore. Furthermore, outdoor payment teams of the Public Assistance Section of the Social Welfare Department make regular calls to pay those recipients at some of the islands around Singapore, in hospitals, Institutions, Homes and even at the private residence of those recipients who, due to their immobility, are not able to report to the nearest payment centre to collect their allowances. With these numerous decentralised payment centres scattered all over Singapore and made available for public assistance recipients to collect their allowances monthly, and in view of the fact that payment date for each individual household is allocated one month in advance, the purpose of which is to space out payments throughout the month, there is really no necessity for public assistance recipients to queue up for their allowances or to wait for a long time to get their allowances.”
“No, Mr Speaker, Sir. Question put, and agreed to. `Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.-[Mr Chan Chee Seng]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. NATURE RESERVES (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 3.30 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, let me answer the question asked by the Member for Kim Keat regarding the number of creches that we have. I can say that we have 11 creches now. This year we are planning to build two more creches, one at Toa Payoh and the other at Kallang Basin. In other areas, for instance, Jurong Town, Katong, Queens-town, Woodlands, if there is a need, we will of course set up more creches. So if the Member for Sembawang has any need for more creches, he can put in his proposal to me. The Member for Bras Basah mentioned about certain private creches charging, expensive fees. We can say that we are not exercising any control over these high charges, because it is a matter of supply and demand. So if parents want to send their children to such creches, it is their own business. If the charges of these private creches are too high, while the Government's creches charge too cheaply, perhaps these private creches will have to close down. The Member for Telok Blangah has said that the opening hours of the creches are rather short, so that certain mothers find it inconvenient because when they go back to fetch their children the creches are already closed. Perhaps we can suggest a 24-hour service in which the staff work in shifts so that working mothers can fetch their children from these creches at all times. The Member for Kim Seng asked whether the definition of "creche" includes kindergartens. This is a matter of age. The children are under six years of age, and it is run as a creche and not a kindergarten.”
“In our increasingly urban society and youthful population, we believe that sports, as a regular habit and as a means of entertainment and enjoyment, should enthuse more and more as players and spectators and in this way not only contribute to a larger measure of fitness but also productivity and happiness. Urgent consideration is now being given to the drawing up of a Master Plan for Sports in Singapore for the next one or two decades, which, among other things, will provide for the requirements of the primary, secondary and tertiary levels in facilities and activities of sports for leisure as well as competition. We can look forward to the increasing realisation of a more rugged and productive society and a better life and a centre of excellence in Singapore through sports and recreation with the seeds that are being sown firmly and increasingly bearing fruit in the years to come. This task will be made much more successful and satisfying if it is realised that it is in the national interest that the public and private sectors, institutionally and individually, take to sports consciousness and performances in every way possible, since sports can do only a world of good. For the foreseeable future, sports in Singapore will essentially he amateur. In this connection I wish to exhort employers to encourage recognition and incentives for sportsmen, including the provision of adequate time for the requirements of training of their sportsmen for competitive and national sports. The Government will on its own do all that s possible to provide the base and the facilities and finances to realise through sports further progress in and glories for Singapore and to increasingly engage the leisure-time of people in the pleasures of sports. 5.30 p.m.”
“Such misfits in our society should be brought to task, and the quicker they realise that nothing in life is for free, the better it will be for the future of Singapore. We must be more conscious of the pressures which push some of our young people into consumption and other thought-habits, which are often not only inappropriate to our work ethics and life-style for nation building, but also antagonistic to sustained social and economic growth and which give birth to tensions which may undermine and destroy the fruits of hard endeavour. True, no society can completely insulate itself against adverse influences like hippism and the drug sub-culture, but it will be a grave dereliction of duty if we do not take firm measures at an early stage to counteract such influences. There is no doubt that our crucial task is to provide community programmes which can catch the imagination of our young people to ensure that they will not fritter their time away but are given the opportunity to participate in meaningful activities of benefit to the society and to themselves. Our youth must be encouraged to participate in healthy and fruitful past-times, As Members must be aware, our intention is to develop sports as a way of life in Singapore. Already, the foundation for mass participation in sports has been laid. The Government is committed to develop through mass-based and competitive programmes of sports activity for the purposeful occupation of leisure for pleasure by our people. Intra and inter constituency sports programmes will more and more be encouraged and provide the escape-valve for modern pressures and needs.”
“It is only those who are positively unable to work, on account of their very old age, sickness or their unfortunate circumstances, who may be excused from carrying out any serious job. But even then, in their own small way, they will be encouraged to do some handicraft work or some light labour within their means and ability to help them play their part in society. In this way, they will be able to subscribe productively to the nation that whilst we are subsidising them for their livelihood, they will at least be able to pay a small percentage of the actual cost. In the coming years, the emphasis in the expansion of social services will be on quality and participation. Plans have already been made to strengthen the existing system of social welfare services through the restructuring of existing welfare institutions and the provision of new facilities and services consonant with modern concepts of social planning. The Government will strengthen its programme of promoting the well-being of families, children and youths as well as protective measures for the aged, and for the physically, mentally and socially handicapped. Apart from the humanitarian objectives of such a programme, it is intended to organise social services in such a way as to ensure the conservation and development of human resources which are vital for economic expansion. I am grateful to the President for pointing out in his Address the existence of fortunately only a handful of our citizens who still believe that the State owes them a living, a good living. These are usually the youngsters who ape the bad habits of western culture, who don long hair, who lend themselves to drug abuse and who eke the easiest way out for a living by terrorising other people.”
“The Government's intention is to assist everyone to achieve the fullest degree of social and economic adjustments and usefulness of which he is capable. It is for this reason that an all-out effort has been made by the Social Welfare Department to assist the handicapped, the destitutes and other needy persons, to obtain gainful employment so that they need not continue to depend on public assistance. In this respect, the Social Welfare Department under our Ministry is going all out to establish more creches in the immediate future in order to enable more married mothers to leave their homes to work and to play their role in increasing the family income as well as the productivity of the nation. For example, a new creche will be added on to our long list of existing creches in Singapore, with the opening of the huge Toa Payoh Creche in the Toa Payoh Estate before the end of the year. More creches will he built in housing estates and areas with a high density of population, so that mothers can leave their babies and children safely in the creche and concentrate in their effort of increasing their own income and the national income. Within the welfare homes run by the Social Welfare Department, every effort is made to ensure that the inmates, who rely on public funds for their subsistence, will be able to contribute even though in a small way to society, so that they are not getting something for nothing. The workable among the aged, and the employable among the destitute persons, who are now looked after by the Social Welfare Department, will have to work or be trained to work in a manner that is commensurable and suitable to their physical and mental ability.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to join the hon. Members of the House, who have spoken just now, in their expression of thanks and gratitude to our President for his enlightening Address made at the opening of Parliament on 12th October, 1972. It is with pride that I endorse my strong support to the challenge posed by the President to make Singapore a centre for excellence in all fields important to our economic, cultural and social life. Our main concern now is to find ways and means to sustain and further develop the pace of growth that exists with the thriving economy of our Republic. Let it be our priority task for the next five years to endeavour in every way possible to achieve higher standards in everything, with the emphasis on quality whether in jobs, in social or recreational amenities, or homes. Our social policy must of necessity reflect our deep concern for the welfare of the less fortunate in our society. But it must at the same time be a policy in keeping with our tradition of enterprise and industry and our desire for excellence and achievement. In a society like ours, there is no place for the indolent. If we are to make progress and to prosper, everyone must work and make his personal contribution. No one should expect to get something for nothing. In the field of social welfare, I fully endorse the President's statement that in view of the extenuating circumstances in Singapore, we can ill-afford to adopt the characteristic of the welfare state syndrome in supplying everything free to everybody who wants it from cradle to grave. We would like to see a Singapore where everybody who can work shall work unless he or she is beset with sickness, severe disability or old age. We do not believe in merely doling out free gifts which will lead to much abuse.”
“Sir, I agree with the sentiments expressed by the Member for Mountbatten. Every effort is being made to ensure that the poor old people in the Homes are given a decent burial. The provision of $200 under subhead 2009 is also used to meet the cost of burial in those cases in which the dead bodies are sent to the hospital mortuary. It is the normal practice for such burials to be undertaken by an approved contractor at the same rates as those payable in hospital cases. Expenditure under this subhead during the last two financial years had not exceeded $100 per year. Therefore, the provision of 5200 is considered adequate. Financial grants for burials for other cases are normally paid from either the Cheang Hong Lim Burial Ground Charity Fund or the Silver Jubilee Fund. There is also a provision of $3,000 under subhead 2061, item (4), to cover burial subsidy for Malay families affected by development schemes. Thus the Social Welfare Department, in fact, has a Burial fund at its disposal to assist -needy families to defray their funeral expenses.”
“Under this new system, the residents are classified into-three groups, according to their conduct and industry in the homes and not according to sex. Grade I residents receive $10 per month; Grade II residents $5 per month, and Grade III residents $2 per month. In addition to that, an incentive scheme has also been introduced to enable the more industrious residents to share 50 per cent of the profits from the sales of manufactured articles and other products. In conclusion, I would like to extend an invitation to all Members of Parliament to visit the Woodlands Home for the Aged at any time to see for themselves the conditions existing therein.”
“Members of the Board of Visitors appointed to inspect and advise on the running of this Home are generally satisfied with the conditions and amenities in the Home. In fact, the Social Welfare Department has taken considerable pains to improve the amenities for the residents. For example, several television sets have recently been installed in the dormitories. A pergola and a decorative fountain have also been constructed for the enjoyment of the residents. Through the combined efforts of the staff and residents, the Home, together with its extensive grounds, has been kept quite clean and green. Flies and mosquitoes did present a problem before, in view of the fact that the Home is located in the vicinity of animal and vegetable farm lands. However, the Ministry of Health has already taken action on the farm lands adjacent to the Home, and the situation has improved considerably. The health authorities have also confirmed that there are no breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes in the Home. I am not aware that the allowance for any inmates of th-e Homes for the Aged has been reduced to $1. If the Member for Anson can give me the names of the inmates who have been paid an allowance of only SI per month. I will immediately have their cases investigated. Previously, aged residents its Social Welfare Homes were paid a fixed monthly allowance of $5 for male residents and $4 for female residents, irrespective of their conduct. The system has led to abuse in that many of the residents failed to comply with the regulations which are designed for the-welfare of all the residents. 7.45 p.m. In order to devise a system that encourages good discipline and order, a new payment system was introduced on the 1st August. 1969.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Sembawang wanted to know about the training schemes in our Social Welfare Homes. It will take too much time to describe all the training schemes that are being provided. The Member may wish to know that, apart from academic subjects, moral and religious instruction, physical training, participation in uniformed groups, a wide range of vocational and recreational types of general courses are also provided in the Social Welfare Homes. The types and levels of such courses- vary from institution to institution. In the Gimson School for Boys, for example, courses include motor mechanics, electric wiring, metal craft, carpentry, handicraft work, making of souvenirs and signboards, noodle-making and cooking (restaurant style). In the Mount Emily Girls' Home, on the other hand, such courses as commercial laundry, ladies' hair dressing and styling, sewing and embroidery work, cake-making, food catering and handicraft work, including the making of dolls, are provided. Suffice it for me to say, everything possible is being done to provide adequate and useful training for the boys and girls in Social Welfare Homes so as to enable them to fit into the world of employment upon their discharge from the Homes. In answer to the Member for Anson, it is indeed gratifying to hear that he is so deeply concerned with the welfare of the old people at the Woodlands Home for the Aged, which is now undergoing repairs and renovations. Four new dormitories, a large workshop, and a recreational hall have just been completed, and workmen are now building a new dining hall and making improvements to the existing kitchen. Repair of leakages in water cisterns, pipes and taps, has been completed.”
“At the present moment, the matter is being reviewed by the Ministry of Finance, an-d a decision is expected soon. An hon. Member: How Soon?”
“I do not think so. In our Ministry, we do not accept any old people in our Homes. If their families are well off, they jolly well look after their old people. However, Sir, there is indeed a reduction of $600,000 in the provision for public assistance for the next financial year. This is due to a reduction in the number of public assistance recipients. The number of public assistance cases has shown a steady decline from 27,435 cases in 1964 to 8,915 cases in 1971. Therefore, the provision of $2.8 million for public assistance allowance under item (1) of subhead 2061, Head 1002, in the 1972-73 Estimates is expected to be adequate, provided there is no change in the existing rates of public assistance allowances. As regards the rules governing the public assistance scheme, they are designed to assist those who are in real need of financial assistance. As the Member for Changi has so ably put it, the quantum of payment should neither be too liberal nor unduly generous as to encourage irresponsibility and indolence. The quantum of payment is based on the means test which takes- into consideration the status of the recipient according to the number of dependants he has. In administering the scheme, the Social Welfare Department has always seen to it that the genuine cases of hardship are given sympathetic consideration and, wherever necessary, additional allowances, payable under the other schemes, such as the Silver Jubilee Fund, will he given to such hardship cases. As regards the upward revision of the present rates of public assistance allowance, I am pleased to inform the House that steps have, in tact, been actively taken to revise the rates. An hon. Member: By how much?”
“Yes, the voice of the people. And that in taking care of the poorer sections of the people, the needy ones must be given a higher rate of public assistance. In fact, we are all for them. I almost thought that this theme is being spoken by my Minister and officials in my Ministry, because all the time we thought that the old people have been putting up in the Welfare Homes without much care or tribute from members of the public. They are left to the care of Welfare Homes and the Ministry of Social Affairs. Now, I know it is not the case. First and foremost, I must congratulate our old people in the Homes because they have many good honour-able Members who do think of them and are trying to fight very hard for them. The education system of Singapore is not that bad because we have all along believed that in other countries the rich people put their old folks in Homes. They have to pay in order to get somebody to look after their old people in the Homes. An hon. Member: It happens here too.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, having heard so much from the Members opposite talking about the old and the poor, I almost believed that in Singapore, which is an advanced country in South-east Asia, families are being broken down, as one Member has put it, because of high-rise buildings, and that because of modernisation families cast their older people away. But after listening to all of them, in fact, I am gaining back the confidence in believing that such a thing is not apparent and is not at all happening in Singapore because we have got so many Members who have a keen interest in the old, even though they are not their own relatives. Mr Sim Boon Woo: We are representatives of the people!”
“I think so, Sir. SHIPYARDS AND SLIPWAYS (Short-term leases to replace T.O.L.s) 3. Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Finance if he will ascertain from the Jurong Town Corporation whether shipyard and slipway owners will be offered short-term leasehold to replace the present Temporary Occupation Licences.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Social Welfare Department operates 11 creches at the moment. The Jurong Town Creches, which was officially opened on 19th June, 1971, is the first creches to be set up in a new township or housing estate. The Government has plans to set up creches in the other new towns, such as Toa Payoh, Queenstown, Telok Blangah and Woodlands, where the projected population justifies the setting up of a creches. There is, however, no plan at the moment to set up a creches in the Kallang Housing Estate as there is already a creches, the Lee Kuo Chuan Creches, at Guillemard Road nearby. Although the Lee Kuo Chuan Creches has accommodation for 80 children, its average attendance is only 55 and more children from the Kallang Housing Estate can be accepted for admission to this creches. As it is, already 22 children out of the 55 attending the creches are living in the Kallang Housing Estate. However, if there is a dire need to have a creches within the Kallang Housing Estate in the future when circumstances warrant it, consideration can always be given. Inche Abdul Aziz Karim (Kallang): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Lee Kuo Chuan Creches is not in the Kallang Basin Housing Estate but in Kallang Park, which is miles away from my constituency. Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the circumstances in the Kallang Basin Housing Estate warrant the setting up of a creches, and, if so, whether he will consider providing one in the very near future?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the N.S.P.B. has not engaged a coach because the Singapore Badminton Association already has a corps of experienced coaches to train the national team. All these coaches are volunteers. It may be desirable for the Singapore Badminton Association to consider engaging a professional coach at a later stage in order to bring up the standard of the players who are selected for the national team. Meanwhile, the present corps of coaches is also engaged in training several squads of selected badminton players who have the potential to make the grade for selection in the national team. HOUSING ESTATES (Setting up of creches) 2. Inche Abdul Aziz Karim asked the Minister for Social Affairs if consideration is being given to setting up creches in the various large housing estates, and if one will be set up in or near the Kallang Housing Estate.”
“Aftercare work is also being strengthened by the introduction of an employment placement service for the discharged residents. A rehabilitation service, including employment placement, has recently been introduced for handicapped persons. Consideration is also being given to extending the existing Fostering Scheme to provide for more foster homes for neglected children. Improvements are also being made in respect of adoption and family counselling work in the Social Welfare Department. The question of providing institutional facilities for non-destitute senior citizens on payment has been carefully studied by officials of my Ministry and the Social Welfare Department. As priority has to be given for the care of the needy aged, our present thinking is that the provision of homes to cater for the elderly citizens who belong to the average middle class and who can pay for such accommodation and services should best be left to the private sector. 2.56 p.m.”
“Apart from working out the strategies for timely social intervention and provision of services consonant with demonstrated needs, it is also intended to examine the desirability and feasibility of decentralising some of the existing welfare services for the convenience of those living in major residential areas. In the meantime, where the situation warrants it, existing services will be expanded or new services introduced. Already the number of creches operated by the Social Welfare Department has been increased to 11 - the latest being the Jurong Town Creche which was officially opened on 19th June, 1971. Another new creche in the shopping complex of Toa Payoh New Town is expected to be ready by early 1972. The Government is also considering the need for new creches in other townships such as Queenstown, Woodlands and Telok Blangah. Construction of the new Junior Approved School and Remand Home for the training and rehabilitation of young offenders is expected to be completed in September 1971. Two new dormitories in Woodlands Home with accommodation for 136 elderly female persons were officially opened On 2nd August, 1971, and two other similar dormitories will be built shortly to complete the extension project in this Home. With these extensions, the Woodlands Home for the Aged will have accommodation for 840 elderly persons. More realistic training facilities are also being introduced in all the Welfare Homes with a view to enabling the residents of these Homes to fit themselves appropriately into the world of work on their discharge from the Homes. As far as possible, residents will be provided with vocational training commensurate with their interests and aptitudes so as to equip them with the necessary skills to meet the needs of industries.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I consider it a great privilege to be able to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation and thanks to the President for his most timely statement touching on the work of the Ministry of Social Affairs. We heartily welcome and endorse His Excellency's statement. I will now elaborate on the points raised by the Member for Toa Payoh. My Ministry has maintained an ongoing review of existing social welfare facilities and programmes to ensure that their development is in keeping with national needs and aspirations. Towards this end, the Minister for Social Affairs and I have personally visited the various governmental and voluntary welfare organisations and have held a series of meetings and discussions with the officials concerned. While we are generally satisfied that existing welfare services do reflect the preventive, remedial and developmental functions in social welfare, there appear to be still a few areas of need which may justify the intensification of efforts or the introduction of new services, as, for example, the welfare of the very young and the very old. I should stress, however, that the material and manpower resources at present available do not permit a rapid expansion of existing social welfare programmes; rather the aim should be an ordered transformation of existing welfare services into well-organised operations involving a maximum of community participation. This clearly calls for a social development plan with well-defined objectives. It is proposed to set up a Training and Research Section within the Social Welfare Department which will concentrate on the production of a long-term plan for social welfare development.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the National Stadium will cost about $18 million for the building and the complex. On completion, the stadium will be able to accommodate 50,000 people. If necessary, we can expand the seating capacity in future to accommodate another 50,000 people. Work began in December 1969 and the whole project is expected to be completed by 1972. So far we have completed 52 per cent of the whole project. Recently we have asked for tenders for the installation of lighting, and other facilities. We have so far spent $4 million on the building itself, of which $1 million is spent on piling. About the $10 token vote, it is because the Toto company, Singapore Pools (Pte.) Ltd. has already provided $6 million for this project, and will give more in future, that the Government does not require any additional vote for this.”
“Sir, this is a good point. We will take it into consideration.”
“The fire station will be built some time in 1971-72.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the provision for the construction of a fire station at Jurong is set out quite clearly in the Development Estimates. We are going to spend $242,100 on building a fire station. It should be adequate for present purposes. The Member for Jurong wanted to know about the structure of this fire station. It will be a single-storey building. There will be three garages. Two will be used for the fire engines and the other for an ambulance. Our original intention was to use one garage for a fire-engine and two for ambulances. But now we have decided to have one ambulance and two fire engines. We are also going to construct quarters and a store for the fire station. The facilities of this fire station will be adequate for Jurong Constituency.”
“One of them obtained a Grade I certificate with distinctions in English and English Literature and had credits in Bible knowledge and History. Two of them had a Grade two certificate. This is a good example set by these prisoners. We do not like prisoners wasting their time in prison. We like them to improve themselves and when they get out of prison later on, they will have the necessary skills and knowledge.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to inform the Member for Sembawang that in our prisons every prisoner is given an opportunity to learn a trade. I would like to give some examples. First, if he has worked as a carpenter before, he can continue with this trade. Then there is metal work. Some are doing laundry work, sewing or rattan work and upholstery. We have all kinds of work. For example, when a juvenile delinquent enters a prison, the first thing we do is to find out why he has come to prison. If he is intelligent, we give him a more complicated job to do. If he is not very well educated, he will be given any work that he prefers. I cannot give the Member for Sembawang all the information. In 1956 we collected revenue to the tune of $287,000. But in 1970 we collected $1,221,135. We can see from these two figures that we have made progress. The Member's other question was, where can members of the public buy the handicraft works that have been made by the prisoners? They can get them from Changi Prison, or Penang Lane, or any of the Social Welfare homes. We have show-cases in these places and any Member who wants to buy anything made by the prisoners is invited to go there and buy it. Regarding academic studies in prison, this is really a very important matter. If our juvenile delinquents enter prison and are not given proper training, they might, after discharge, get in again. Sir, we have a definite plan for prisoners. The inmates do not just sit and waste their time. They learn a trade. The Member for Sembawang has also asked what we have achieved in Changi Prison. We have classes for languages as well as academic subjects. This year four of the prisoners who sat for the Cambridge School Certificate examination managed to obtain very good results.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Junior Approved School and Remand Home will comprise one two-storey block and one single-storey block of buildings which will provide living and training facilities for some 112 young offenders. Construction work on this project at Clementi Road was started in September 1970 and it is expected to be completed in mid-1971. The need for the home is well established and urgent, and there is no question of postponement of expenditure.”
“I am not saying that the attitude of the Member for Whampoa is not right. He thinks that everyone should talk English. I am not prepared to quarrel with him. Even if the Member speaks in English, I can understand him quite well. I am not really concerned whether he speaks in English or in Mandarin.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we know that the Member for Whampoa is a specialist. He should know very clearly that if there is no tuberculosis patient, there is no need to allocate any money. We know that the number of T.B. patients is decreasing every year, and a large sum of money from the Ministry of Finance does not serve any purpose. This is quite obvious and natural.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we have allocated $80,000 for the Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association for the ensuing fiscal year, although it spent only $65,000 last year. We therefore consider that the sum of $80,000 for the next financial year to be adequate. The standard of medical health in Singapore has improved. We give credit to the Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association for their work. We do not require a bigger sum than $80,000.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have not heard of this. If the Member has any case and will forward it to us, we will take it up. The policy for the Social Welfare Department has so far not been changed.”
“(c) The Jurong Town Creche, when completed in mid-1971, will cater for 120 children of working parents. The Fostering Scheme for Infants and Children will be expanded to take in more babies and children who are in need of foster care. The provision for this has been increased from $107,000 to $114,000. (d) Rent subsidy for Malay families affected by urban redevelopment will be paid to an increased number of families. The provision for this has been increased from $35,000 to $80,000.”
“As regards the subhead on assistance to displaced and distressed persons, I should explain that this vote is utilised to provide emergency cash relief to victims of civil calamities and other categories of persons who may be placed in an emergency situation. It is not possible to estimate the amount of funds required for such purposes. Hence the provision of a token vote of $10. Whenever expenditure is incurred under this item, payment will, in the first instance, be made out of the public assistance vote, and should it be found insufficient, an application will be made to the Ministry of Finance for supplementary provision. I tend to agree with the view expressed by the Member for Whampoa that the poor and the illiterate are inarticulate, and I am glad to know that he champions their cause. My Ministry is not unaware of this fact. We are doing everything possible to help this segment of our population. There is no doubt as to what needs to be done in respect of social welfare. In fact, during the last few years the department has been actively engaged not only in consolidating some of its services but also in expanding some of the existing services, as well as introducing new ones. It will be tedious for me to enumerate the whole list of improvements that have been made during the past few years. Suffice it for me to give a few examples of improvements that will take place in the coming financial year to illustrate my point. (a) The Woodlands Home for the Aged is currently being extended with the construction of a few dormitories and dining halls. This will increase the bed capacity in this home from 500 to 704. (b) The Junior Approved School and Remand Home, when completed in mid-1971, will provide accommodation and training facilities for 112 young offenders.”
“There are many types of supporting services which the Social Welfare Department can give to enable individuals and families to function more effectively, and unless adequate funds are provided to enable the department to employ professional personnel, the work of the department may tend to become merely palliative. The Member for Whampoa is correct in saying that the existing rates of public assistance have remained unchanged since 1962. But he will no doubt agree with me that the years subsequent to 1962 have been rather difficult years for the Government and that it is only now that our economy has entered a more promising phase, although we are by no means totally out of the wood yet. It is true that the existing rates of public assistance are on the low side, but I should mention that, in addition to the public assistance allowance, a disability allowance of $10 per month is payable to the head of a household who is certified as permanently disabled and incapable of engaging in gainful employment. Bus fares are also given to recipients who have to attend hospital for medical treatment. Supplementary payments in the form of educational grants, meal subsidies, old-age allowances, funeral grants and other special allowances may also be made from other charitable funds to needy families, e.g., the Silver Jubilee Fund, the Lee Foundation, etc. The sum of $250,000 provided for the T.B., treatment allowances under subhead 2064 will be adequate to meet all applications for assistance under the Treatment Allowances Scheme. There is no point in providing funds that will not be required during the coming year, and it is anticipated that the number of T.B. cases will continue to decline in the years ahead. 6.15 p.m.”
“On the contrary, there will be an expansion of some of these services. Members will note that the bulk of the reduction in the expenditure estimates of the Social Welfare Department fall under the following items: (a) Public Assistance Provision reduced from $5.2 million to $3.4 million. This is mainly due to the improving unemployment situation and fewer applications for public assistance, and not to any change in policy or in the rates of payment. (b) T.B. Treatment Allowance Provision reduced from $450,000 to $250,000. This is mainly due to improving standards of living and better medical control and treatment of disease. (c) Teachers in voluntary institutions The provision of $252,910 for the salaries of 32 teachers in voluntary institutions has been entered under the expenditure estimates of the Ministry of Education and therefore there will be no reduction in expenditure. These three items alone account for a reduction of $2.3 million in expenditure estimates for the Social Welfare Department. Members will therefore agree that, although there is an overall reduction of $1.8 million in the provision for the Social Welfare Department, the department will in fact have approximately half a million dollars more to spend on its other services, apart from public assistance and T.B., treatment allowances. We agree that the disbursements of only $4.9 million under "Other charges, annually recurrent" require personal emoluments of $2.2 million. I would suggest that it is not a good criterion for assessing existing social welfare services by relating personal emoluments to "Other charges, annually recurrent". In the provision of the social welfare services, assistance given to needy families in the form of personal services is as important as the giving of cash allowances.”