Mah Bow Tan
Singapore
“The previous generation of Singaporeans overcame huge odds together to create this improbable nation which we call home. Let this generation work as one to define our country for the next lap of our journey. Sir, on this note, I fully support the amended Motion. Page: 143”
“Like all upgrading programmes, there is a certain budget, and a certain pace at which we will build. We have completed the LUP and now we are going on towards the HIP. The Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) is ongoing.”
“For those who cannot afford home ownership, we will provide rental flats. For the rest where there is hardship involved, that is where the safety net comes in. I do not think we should make the safety net so wide as to bring in everybody.”
“Building a studio apartment is no different from building any other HDB flat. If a person applies now and the building works start now, he can get it in two-and-a-half years to three years. We have stepped up the building of studio apartments over the last couple of years.”
“Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Health (a) how many people have signed an Advance Medical Directive (AMD) and how many have revoked them since; and (b) whether there is a need to review the current rules on AMDs which do not require a person who has revoked the AMD to inform the Registrar, thus causing uncertainty for hospitals t…”
“Parents who wish to exert more control over the maximum mobile service charges incurred by their children may consider service options such as mobile pre-paid cards. IDA is aware of the public's concerns on mobile subscriptions, and will continually review policies and look into measures to further protect the interest of consumers.”
The complete record
Every one of 3,030 lines we hold for Mah Bow Tan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 15 of 61.
“Ms Ellen Lee asked the Minister for Transport, for 2006, (a) what is the frequency of incidents similar to the recent incident where a lady commuter injured her leg whilst boarding an MRT train; (b) what is the number of claims for compensation by those injured; and (c) what is the number of claims that have been settled. Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat: In 2006, there were five incidents of commuters who had their legs caught in the platform gap while boarding the train. Claims and compensation for such incidents are matters to be dealt with by the public transport operators. We understand from SMRT and SBST that they have not received any claims for compensation arising from these incidents, although the operators have borne the medical cost in some cases as a matter of goodwill. ACCIDENTS INVOLVING TAXIS 11. Ms Ellen Lee asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, in view of the increase in the number of vehicles and fatal accident cases, (a) what is the number of accidents involving taxis for 2006; (b) what other measures has the Traffic Police taken against taxi drivers involved in road accidents apart from prosecution, composition fines and demerit points; and (c) how many taxi licences have been revoked and reinstated in 2006.”
“From 2002 to 2006, 360 HDB households* voluntarily surrendered their flats to HDB due to default in HDB mortgage loan payments. There were also 895 cases of mortgagee sale of HDB flats by banks. No tenant under the Public Rental Scheme was evicted due to rental arrears, although some have been advised to transfer to smaller rental flats to reduce their rent. Of the 360 households who voluntarily surrendered their flats to HDB, 200 (56%) have been allocated rental flats while the rest found their own housing arrangements. Among the 895 households affected by mortgagee sale action, 273 appealed to HDB for some form of help. Of these, 131(48%) were offered a rental flat while another 13(5%) who met credit assessment guidelines were provided a concessionary loan to purchase another flat. There are strict eligibility criteria for the Public Rental Scheme to ensure that our heavily subsidised rental flats are allocated to those without housing options. For example, households who sold their flats are not eligible for subsidised rental flats for 30 months from the date of flat sale. If they have enjoyed 2 housing subsidies, they will be permanently debarred from a rental flat. However, HDB does exercise flexibility in applying these eligibility rules. The key principle is that citizen households who are truly needy and with no alternative housing option will be considered for a rental flat. Among the factors HDB takes into consideration in its evaluation are the number of children that the household has to support, and the presence of dependants who incur regular medical expenses. *Excludes 210 cases of abandoned flats, and flats whose lessees have migrated or passed away. ACCIDENTS WHILST BOARDING MRT TRAINS (Claims for compensation) 9.”
“As the majority of the repossessed flats are the smaller types which are currently popular with flat buyers, the banks have generally been able to sell them off at market prices. As information on banks’ arrears cases, including outstanding loan and interest rates charged, is confidential, HDB does not have data on them. As at 31st December 2006, about 7% of HDB mortgagors are in arrears of three months or more. HDB has in place various financial assistance measures to help flat owners who have difficulties servicing their mortgage loans.”
“In summary, I would like to assure the Member that the various agencies in Singapore are monitoring the situation closely. REPOSSESSION OF HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLATS BY BANKS 5. Mr Hri Kumar asked the Minister for National Development from 2003 to 2006, what is (i) the number of HDB units that had been repossessed by banks and the current rate of repossession; (ii) the number of repossessed units currently being held by the banks; (iii) the average time taken by the banks to dispose of the repossessed units; (iv) the average outstanding amount owed to banks and the average interest rates charged on these outstandings; (v) the number of persons currently in arrears in loan repayments to HDB and the banks; and whether the bank's repossessed units are disposed at market prices and, if not, what is the range of discount to the market price. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, as at 31st December 2006, the banks have completed the mortgagee sale of 895 HDB flats financed by bank loans. This works out to about 1% of the 89,000 HDB flats financed with bank loans since the start of bank origination in January 2003. The rate of bank repossession has fluctuated over the past three years. In recent months, the rate is about 60 cases a month, but the number is on the decline in tandem with the improving economic condition and employment situation. The banks normally take about six months to sell off HDB flats which they have repossessed. Currently, they have about 550 repossessed HDB flats in hand.”
“In the light of recent discussions about the impact of global warming on sea levels and the impact on small states, or small island states particularly, I think the Member's concern is understandable. But let me assure her that various agencies in Singapore recognise that this is a concern and are monitoring the situation. In fact, for her information, all our reclaimed land in Singapore is reclaimed to a certain level above sea level, ie, above the highest tide. I believe it is something like 128 cm. She cited some figures that, perhaps, the sea level will rise 140 cm. But based on what we currently know today, and I guess that is as much as we all know, even the most pessimistic of scientists believe that if global warming does cause the sea level to rise, the rise will be in the order of magnitude of, say, 60 to 80 cm. Given current information and technical wisdom, we are able to withstand any such impact. But for the longer term, we will continue to monitor the situation and we also need to better understand what is going on and how the potential climate change will impact Singapore. So, for this reason, I would like to inform her that there is an inter-agency group working on this. Several agencies - including the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, National Environment Agency, Ministry of National Development (MND) - are studying the localised impact of climate change on Singapore. We also have another inter-agency taskforce that is led by MND and its job is to review the existing infrastructural developments in Singapore and to see how we can adapt them to any changes in the sea levels. For example, we will review our foreshore areas and work out new measures, if necessary, to address any impact of climate change.”
“I think this is a genuine concern. It is an anxiety that we all feel, with so many immigrants coming in, what will that do to our ethnic mix, our social cohesion and stability. But let us remind ourselves that this is not something new. This is not a new phenomenon. We are a nation of immigrants. Our forefathers came from many parts of Asia and even beyond. Even today, as in the past, we keep our doors open for immigrants. In 1970, our population was around 2 million. Today, our population is close to 4.5 million. But in spite of this major influx of new immigrants as well as, of course, from natural births, our social stability and cohesion has, I submit, not been affected. In fact, it has been strengthened over the years. There is no doubt, of course, that immigration will bring more diversity. There is no doubt that there will be a challenge for us to maintain this social stability and cohesion, and multi-racial harmony. But I think that we need to continue to remain true to our key principles - principles like meritocracy and multi-racialism. Of course, when we talk about meritocracy, we should continue to make sure that the less well-off in our society are looked after. If we continue to remain true to our principle of multi-racialism, even as we practise diverse religions, and if we continue to strengthen those institutions that promote and strengthen social cohesion - our schools, our public housing estates, our grassroots network for they also help to maintain this glue that binds us together, national service - I see no reason why, as in the past 40 years, we cannot continue to maintain a stable and a socially harmonious society even as we welcome new immigrants into Singapore.”
“I think the two are not mutually exclusive. It does not mean that since we have vacant land, we do not need to reclaim. Or that if we reclaim, we do not use our vacant land. In fact, in the Concept Plan review, we have taken into account our future needs. So all the so-called currently vacant land, either land that is not used at the moment or land that is reserved, has been taken into account in the planning to meet future needs. We safeguard this land for industrial, recreational, commercial, housing uses and so on. Of course, such developments will not take place straightaway. They will take place as and when needed. When I say that reclamation and use of vacant land are not mutually exclusive, what I mean is that sometimes the vacant land that we have available today cannot be used for some of the purposes that we need to reclaim for. Let me just give an example - waterfront land. We need waterfront land for some industrial uses or for industries that require waterfront access. So for such purposes, we will still continue to reclaim land, even if we have vacant land nearby. In the longer term, I see that we will still need to reclaim land and we will continue to do so where our development needs so require. But, of course, we will always do this within our own territorial waters so that there is no question of affecting boundaries, and so on.”
“Singapore does not target a specific population number or a population growth. What we are looking for is a viable and self-sustaining population profile – one which will help us to grow a bigger economic pie, and also sustain a livelier and a more vibrant society. The 6.5 million population is what we use as a planning parameter. It is what we base our plans and methodology on. It takes into account the current demographic trend. I believe it is a realistic number for planners because they need something to base their projections and plans on, so that we are ready for future growth opportunities. For Concept Plan 2001, we had adopted a long-term population parameter of 5.5 million as a basis for planning. If Members will recall, at that time, our population was 3.9 million. Today, our population is close to 4.5 million. It is thus timely to revise the long-term population parameter to something higher than 5.5 million. So we have decided that 6.5 million is a realistic number for the next 40 to 50 years. Whether and when we achieve this figure will depend on many factors, but our long-term land-use planning will help to ensure that we are prepared for such a population in future, if it does come about.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Concept Plan is the long-term land use and transportation planning framework for Singapore. By "long-term", I am talking about the next 40 to 50 years. It is a rolling plan. In other words, we review it regularly, every 10 years, taking into account changing economic and population trends and the land use needs. The Concept Plan ensures that we use our land resource efficiently and effectively, so that our quality of life is not affected, and indeed improve even as we continue to develop. In view of fast-changing developments in recent years, URA and other Government agencies carried out a mid-term review of the Concept Plan 2001. The review concluded that we have sufficient land to cater to our land needs in the future, if we use this limited resource judiciously and wisely. With higher projected population and new growth sectors, land demand for housing, industry, transport and other uses will increase. We will need to optimise land use. We will have to explore new ways of creating space, whether it is through reclamation, building upwards, or building downwards using subterranean space. We will also need to invest in the necessary infrastructure, such as roads and rail networks, and power and utilities to meet future needs. While trade-offs among uses will intensify, we will be able to meet the needs of economic growth and a projected population of 6.5 million in future if we plan ahead and we address these potential concerns now. Singapore will then remain a sustainable, liveable and vibrant environment that will continue to be attractive to talents and businesses by offering a high quality of life. On the population figure, let me stress that the 6.5 million population number is not a target.”
“Singles who need help to find a flat mate for a JSS rental flat can approach HDB for assistance. 1 Or a minimum of one citizen and one permanent resident. COMPETITION COMMISSION (Complaints and investigations) 4. Mr Siew Kum Hong asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) how many complaints and notifications for guidance has the Competition Commission received to date; (b) how many investigations has the Competition Commission initiated to date; and (c) what is the current status of these complaints, notifications for guidance and investigations.”
“Joint Singles Scheme for Home Ownership Flats The Joint Singles Scheme (JSS) allows two to four single Singapore citizens who are at least 35 years old to buy a resale HDB flat together. Over the last five years, there were about 1,400 resale HDB flats purchased by singles under JSS. Among the 3,000 singles who purchased these flats, there were equal proportions of male and female flat buyers. Close to 60% of the applicants were aged 35-45 years old, about 30% were aged 46-55 years, and the remaining 10% were aged 55 and above. HDB has in place a range of housing options for the elderly, including elderly singles. Elderly singles who are unable to find other eligible singles to share a resale flat with, are encouraged to stay with their relatives and friends for mutual support. However, should they choose to live on their own, they can also (a) purchase a resale flat alone under the Single Singapore Citizen (SSC) scheme; (b) purchase a Studio Apartment from HDB; or (c) rent a room or flat from the open market. Joint Singles Scheme for Subsidised Rental Flats HDB's subsidised rental flats are meant to provide affordable accommodation for lower income households in financial hardship and have no one to turn to for help. Under the JSS for rental flats, two single citizens1, who are at least 35 years old and have a combined monthly income of not more than $1,500, can apply to rent a 1-room flat from HDB at heavily subsidised rates. HDB allocated about 3,600 subsidised rental flats to singles under the JSS in the past five years. Among the 6,700 singles who were allocated rental flats, 65% were male and 35% were female. About 20% of the rental tenants were aged 35-45 years, 30% aged 45-55 years, and the remaining 50% above 55 years old.”
“Reverse mortgage is one of the options available to elderly HDB flat owners who wish to monetise their flats. To date, NTUC Income is the only financial institution offering a reverse mortgage scheme for HDB flat owners. Between its introduction in March 2006 and end of 2006, NTUC Income approved 12 applications for the reverse mortgage scheme. The typical monthly payout from a reverse mortgage is $141 for a 3-room flat, $208 for a 4-room flat and $274 for a 5-room flat based on a loan tenure of 28 years, ie, from age 62 to 90. NTUC Income has determined these payouts based on its evaluation of the costs and financial risks involved. HDB JOINT SINGLES SCHEME (Rental and resale of flats) 3. Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong asked the Minister for National Development if he will provide an update on the Joint Singles Scheme for rental and resale flats over the last 5 years, in particular (i) what is the number of singles taking up these flats; (ii) what is the profile of these singles in terms of gender and age; and (iii) what assistance is provided to elderly singles who are unable to find someone to share a rental or purchase flat with.”
“The plan to have employers purchase medical insurance for their foreign workers is linked to the Health Ministry's move to remove subsidies that employers currently enjoy when their foreign workers are hospitalised. For local workers, mandatory CPF Medisave contributions are already required for all workers. The contribution amounts, even for low wage workers, will be adequate to pay for premiums of MediShield policies, which provide far more extensive coverage than what the foreign workers will enjoy. Under our 3M framework, those requiring further assistance can obtain help from Medifund. INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC ADVISORY PANEL (Implementation of recommendation) 33. Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Education whether his Ministry will implement the recommendation of the International Academic Advisory Panel for the Government to put money aside in education accounts for Singaporeans so that they can use it for their education beyond secondary school level.”
“As the chart shows, during the difficult years of 2001 to 2003, foreigners served as a buffer and bore the brunt of job losses, while some jobs were still created for locals. When the economy picked up and was doing well, as it did from 2004 to 2006, both local and foreign employment rose to match labour demand that sustained the economic growth. As at December 2006, there were 756,300 foreigners in employment. Our flexible labour policy has allowed us to respond quickly to changing business cycles. Typically, sectors which require labour-intensive work and which locals find unattractive have a higher dependency on foreign workers. For example, the Construction sector has a high proportion of foreign workers - there are about 145,000 work permit holders in Construction sector forming about 60% of the workforce in that sector. * COMPULSORY MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR FOREIGN WORKERS 32. Ms Cham Hui Fong asked the Minister for Manpower (a) in light of the withdrawal of medical subsidies, if he will provide an update on the compulsory medical insurance for foreign workers; and (b) whether this basic medical insurance plan can be made compulsory for all local employees. Dr Ng Eng Hen: Many employers already have group insurance plans to cover all their employees - foreign and local. However, my Ministry is also presently working with insurers to provide an opt-in scheme that employers can choose to subscribe to for hospitalisation coverage of their foreign workers. Such a scheme may help to mitigate the insurance cost to employers through economies of scale. We will release details after we have evaluated the insurers' proposals.”
“In support of the home ownership policy, eligible citizen families are given an HDB concessionary loan to help them finance the purchase of their first HDB flat. In addition, to facilitate social mobility, citizen families who are upgrading to bigger flats are eligible for a second HDB loan. Second-timer households that are moving laterally or downgrading can generally use the proceeds from the sale of their existing flats to finance the purchase of their next flat. Alternatively, they can take up a mortgage loan from one of the banks. Nonetheless, since 2003, HDB has been exercising flexibility on a case-by-case basis to help downgraders with a second concessionary loan. In particular, HDB has been sympathetic in considering appeals from those facing severe financial hardship arising from retrenchment, business failure, prolonged illness or death of the sole breadwinner. To ensure that the new loan does not result in a financial burden that the household is unable to handle, the loans are subject to credit assessment by HDB. The granting of a second concessionary loan for downgraders is considered on a case-by-case basis (rather than a general policy) to ensure the Government’s limited housing subsidies are disbursed to those who are truly in need. FOREIGN WORKERS IN SINGAPORE 31. Mrs Josephine Teo asked the Minister for Manpower (a) if he will provide an update on the number of foreigners working in Singapore and the trends over the last five years; and (b) which sectors have a high dependency on foreign workers. Dr Ng Eng Hen: Please refer to the distributed chart* which shows the employment change for both local and foreign workers over the last nine years.”
“Flat owners are given a generous and attractive compensation and rehousing benefit package under SERS. They receive market compensation for their flats. In addition, they are allocated subsidised new flats at a replacement housing site in a good location. Eligible flat owners are also given a further 20% price discount for a replacement flat, of up to $30,000 for a family. With these generous benefits, the majority of SERS flat-owners are able to "trade-in" their old flat for a new replacement flat of the same flat-type, on a fresh 99-year lease, without the need to take up a loan*. Indeed, some flat owners even enjoy a net surplus. Given that flat owners are already compensated generously, any HDB concessionary loans taken for the purchase of a SERS replacement flat, often for the purpose of upgrading to a bigger flat type, will be treated as one concessionary loan consumed, for the purpose of future HDB loan eligibility. 2 Out of the 22 SERS sites announced since 2003 to-date, involving 12,300 units of sold flats, about 65% of the flat owners did not have outstanding housing loans for their existing flats when SERS was announced (range between 46% and 80%). HDB CONCESSIONARY LOANS FOR HDB LESSEES WHO DOWNGRADE 30. Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng asked the Minister for National Development in light of the grant of a second concessionary loan to HDB lessees who are upgrading to larger flats, will his Ministry consider granting concessionary loans to lessees who are downgrading due to financial difficulties.”
“From 2003 to 2006, there were about 89,000* HDB flats financed with bank loans. As at 31st December 2006, the banks completed the mortgagee sale for 895 cases. This works out to about 1% of the 89,000 HDB flats financed with bank loans. We do not have information on the average period of default by borrowers before the banks foreclose on the loans. However, we understand that banks normally monitor closely Non-Performing Loans where no payment has been made for more than 90 days. They would offer to reschedule repayments or other assistance measures when borrowers are facing difficulty servicing their loan instalments. 1 78,000 new and resale flats were purchased with bank loans while the remaining 11,000 were ex-HDB loans refinanced with bank loans. FAMILY CARE LEAVE (Promotion) 21. Assoc. Prof. Kalyani K Mehta asked the Minister for Manpower (a) if he will provide an update on the percentage of firms or organisations that provide paid family-care leave as part of their family-friendly and Work-Life Harmony best practices; and (b) whether the Ministry has any plans for actively promoting paid family-care leave in view of Singapore's ageing population.”
“Mr Siew Kum Hong asked the Minister for Trade and Industry, for each year from 2001 to 2005, what were the median and mean monthly household per capita income for (i) all resident households in Singapore; and (ii) each quintile of resident households broken down by income.”
“Indonesia announced the ban on the export of land sand on 23rd January 2007. While there are other regional sources from which we can procure land sand, it is more sustainable for the construction industry to switch to alternative construction methods and materials that rely less on the use of concrete and sand. Sustainable construction includes the use of steel, dry walls, glass and metal claddings. Such sustainable construction practices are not totally new to our local industry. Glass and metal claddings are commonly used for the facades of buildings here. Dry wall systems are gaining popularity in residential projects. In recent years, we have seen an increasing number of buildings being constructed with steel structures, such as the National Library, Supreme Court, Changi Terminal 3, One Raffles Quay, Fusionopolis. Nevertheless, given that concrete-based construction has been the predominant form of construction, BCA will work with the industry to ensure that the construction workforce has the necessary skill sets in sustainable construction, in particular, structural steel works. The architects and structural engineers are already trained in steel design and construction as part of their professional training, and could attend re-orientation courses, if necessary. BCA will also conduct training courses to equip the existing pool of technical and supervisory staff as well as workers with the relevant skill sets in steel construction. In addition, BCA will certify and facilitate the entry of new foreign workers skilled in steel construction. Column No : 1321 MEDIAN AND MEAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME (Figures for 2001 to 2005) 3.”
“However, given that Singapore is becoming more built up, it will be a challenge to find suitable sites for workers’ dormitories. Increasingly therefore, residents may find more foreign workers living in their midst, or dormitory sites located near to their premises. Notwithstanding the facilities provided within the dormitories, it is inevitable that foreign workers will go outside their dormitories and make use of common facilities within the area. We hope that Singaporeans will be more understanding and accommodating in this aspect. Foreign workers are here to contribute to our economic growth. Besides working here, they may be living near us or eating next to us in the hawker centres. We should accept their presence in our midst. Employers and dormitory operators must also play a part in educating the foreign workers on our culture and way of life. Better provision of facilities and greater controls, as well as greater mutual understanding, will go a long way to addressing the housing and recreational needs of foreign workers in Singapore. Column No : 1317 EMPLOYMENT ACT (Review to safeguard maternity needs of pregnant female employees) 62. Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Manpower whether he will review and amend the Employment Act to better safeguard the maternity benefits of pregnant female employees in the event of retrenchment or unfair dismissal.”
“The Member is right that demand for foreign workers, to augment the local workforce, is rising in tandem with our continuing economic growth, particularly in sectors such as construction. Housing our foreign workers in proper accommodation is a multi-faceted issue which requires the efforts of many different ministries and agencies. Hence, a Foreign Worker Housing Coordinating Committee, co-chaired by MOM and MND, and involving the various agencies, had been set up since early 2006 to look into this issue. There are currently a variety of housing options available to foreign workers. For example, workers from factories, services sector, and marine sector may stay in residential areas or within approved dormitories set up within factory premises or on independent sites. Foreign construction workers may stay in quarters within the construction site, or in workers' dormitories. To meet the housing needs of more foreign workers, we are in the process of releasing more sites for operators to build workers' dormitories, especially for foreign construction workers. Guidelines have also been reviewed to allow off-site workers to reside in workers’ dormitories located within an industrial or warehouse development. In releasing new sites for workers’ dormitories, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) will require successful tenderers to provide a range of amenities within the dormitory sites. Apart from adequate living space for the workers, the dormitories will be required to have mini-marts, barber, remittance services etc. These amenities will make the dormitories attractive and self-contained, insofar as daily living and recreational needs are concerned.”
“Column No : 1309 CONSTRUCTION OF NORTH-SOUTH EXPRESSWAY 46. Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Transport whether the proposed North-South Expressway will be constructed and, if so, when will the construction commence.”
“Reverse mortgage is one of the options available to elderly HDB flat owners who wish to monetise their HDB flats. It is an option which is offered by financial institutions, with the approval of HDB. To date, NTUC Income is the only financial institution offering a reverse mortgage scheme for HDB flat owners. Dr Fatimah is right in that the take-up rate for reverse mortgage scheme has been low. One of the reasons could be unfamiliarity with the scheme, which was introduced only recently in 2006. Another reason could be a desire among elderly lessees to bequeath their flat to their children. This was revealed by a survey conducted by HDB. Therefore, I believe that time is needed before reverse mortgage is better understood and accepted among the elderly. Dr Fatimah has asked whether the eligibility criteria of the scheme should be changed. The main criteria stipulated by HDB are one, the minimum age of 62 for the youngest lessee and two, the loan tenure should cover the youngest lessee up to age 90. These are put in place to minimise the risk of elderly lessees losing their homes as a result of outliving the loan term. HDB will explore with relevant organizations and agencies to further improve awareness of reverse mortgage and other monetisation options among elderly Singaporeans. Such options include selling the flat to stay with their family, downgrading to a smaller flat including a Studio Apartment, or subletting either the entire flat or individual room(s). Ultimately, our objective is to put in place a wide range of housing options for the elderly to support a comfortable and meaningful retirement. Each elderly household can then decide how best to unlock the value in their flat, based on their respective needs and preferences.”
“Eligible first-timer families can enjoy a public housing subsidy by buying a new HDB flat sold by HDB at a subsidised price, or buying a resale HDB flat or a Design Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) flat with a CPF Housing Grant. While those who have previously enjoyed a public housing subsidy are allowed to purchase another subsidised new flat from HDB, the resale levy is imposed to reduce the subsidy on the second flat. This is to ensure a fairer allocation of public housing subsidies, so that more help can be targeted at new families who need to buy their first flat to set up home. By doing so, HDB avoids giving the same household multiple subsidies of the same high quantum. Therefore, the objective of the resale levy is to reduce the subsidy of the second flat bought from HDB. It is not a capital gains tax and it does not matter whether the first flat was sold at a profit or loss. However, flat owners do not need to pay the resale levy if they are not buying a second subsidised flat from HDB. They can keep the full proceeds from the sale of their first subsidised flat, if they buy a resale HDB flat from the open market. Column No : 1307 REVERSE MORTGAGE SCHEME FOR HDB FLAT OWNERS (Review of eligibility criteria) 45. Dr Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for National Development (a) why is the take-up rate for the reverse mortgage scheme offered to HDB flat owners extremely low; and (b) whether it will be necessary to review the criteria for eligibility of the scheme.”
“They may not be suitable for all establishments or all companies, like banks, for example. Some banks may not want to, but there are others who will find such spaces suitable and, hopefully, they will take up these spaces. So, in terms of overall quantum, yes, there is an imbalance and there is a shortage at the moment. But I see and expect this shortage will be resolved within three years at the outset and after that, a more balanced situation will prevail. Between now and then, we will try to put up more spaces for the commercial and office sectors in existing Government premises. Column No : 1230 PURSUIT OF SHORVON BIOMEDICAL ETHICS CASE (Rationale) 8. Dr Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Health what is the rationale behind the Singapore Medical Council’s pursuit of the Shorvon biomedical ethics case to the British courts and whether this case will have any long-term effects on Singapore’s standing and reputation as a regional/international centre for biomedical research.”
“Yes, I think the Member is correct in noting that the price increase in the commercial property market is actually much higher than in the residential market. This is as a result of a very short-term imbalance between the demand for such spaces and the supply. Unfortunately, during the times when the economy was not doing well, developers did not take up the land that was offered for sale for commercial properties. They actually left it to a time when the market started to pick up. But as the Member would be aware, there is a gestation period, a certain lead time, before such spaces can be prepared. For example, the BFC was triggered for sale a couple of years ago. It started construction, but it will not be ready till 2009/2010. In the meantime, between now and then, there will be a short-term imbalance, a short-term shortage, and this is the reason why prices are moving up. What the Government is doing is, first of all, to make sure that over the longer term, there will be sufficient supply of space for offices and for people who want to come to Singapore to set up business. That is the reason why in the recent Government land sales programme, a site has already been earmarked for use as office space and it will be sold on the confirmed list. In other words, it will be sold whether the developers put a reserve price on it or not. But this would only come onstream 2010 and beyond. What do we do between now and then? First of all, the Government has moved to make available spaces for temporary occupation. Some of the Government buildings that have been vacated, for example, Pearl's Hill, some of the schools, etc, have been made available by the Singapore Land Authority for use as commercial and office space.”
“These flats may not be new flats per se or they may not be new flats in the areas that they want, but there will be flats available, both new as well as resale flats. And the Government will continue to make sure that this is so.”
“The statistics for the public housing sector suggest that the rise in HDB flat prices has been steady but not as sharp as in the private housing market. For example, last year, the increase was about 2%. So, there is no cause for concern as far as the public housing sector is concerned. Indeed, there is sufficient supply of housing in the public sector. There are still flats that are available for sale and anybody who wishes to buy a flat and is not choosy about where that flat needs to be or the flat type can actually walk in to HDB tomorrow and get a flat. And that is the reason why HDB conducted this walk-in selection exercise (or WIS). Yes, there was a little bit of a frenzy last month when rumours went around that there were flats for sale in the mature market. As Members would know, flats in the mature market are always in demand. What HDB did not communicate adequately was the fact that these flats in the mature market are actually not so popular flats because they had been offered for sale before and they were not taken up. That is why HDB felt that a walk-in selection exercise would be proper for this particular sale. I think they underestimated the power of the rumour mill and as a result of that, many people queued up in anticipation that these flats were what they wanted. They will learn lessons from this particular episode. They are now reviewing the sale exercise. Instead of doing it by walk-in selection, perhaps, if it is seen to be popular, they should be doing it by other means, like a balloting exercise. But let me assure the House that there are sufficient flats available in the market today and there will continue to be flats available for new home owners.”
“But the Government is monitoring the situation and making sure that the property market stays healthy. I have indicated in my answer that the purchase of a property by anybody, whether it is for owner occupation, whether it is for speculation or whether it is for what people call "specu-investment", I think all those decisions must be taken very seriously and very carefully. And that is the reason why I have asked for more information to be released so that people can really make proper prudent decisions for themselves and not just rely on newspaper reports or on what people with vested interest in this market tell them.”
“As far as the first question is concerned, as shown by the statistics that have been distributed to the House, I think the reports in the press are somewhat exaggerated. Even in the Core Central Region, which is the area where the so-called super luxury developments are located, the increase for last year was 17% (quarter on quarter). So it is not as high as the newspaper reports seemed to suggest. Having said that, of course, there is a big difference between the increase in the Core Central Region and the rest of Singapore, and this is again amply demonstrated by the statistics that have been distributed. There is also a lot of what the Member calls "flipping". The number of sub-sales is close to 10% whereas it is about 2% or 3% in the other areas. So, yes, there is a difference in the level of activity in the property market in this section as opposed to the rest of Singapore. Why is that so? I think it is quite clear that, first of all, the supply and demand pattern is quite different in this area as opposed to the rest. For a start, the interest in properties in this segment of the market is very much higher among the international or overseas buyers, although I must say that the purchases by overseas buyers is not very different from what it was in the last few years. That is one of the reasons why the prices in this area have moved up much faster than the rest. Yes, it is a very visible sector of the market. It is an area which attracts international attention. But precisely because it attracts international attention, the prices here are moving. Is a property "bubble" forming? If you look at the number of sub-sales, I would say there is really no cause for concern at the moment.”
“So the current situation, even for the Core Central Region, it is less than 10%. Sir, based on these statistics, it is evident that prices and take-up of private housing are rising sharply but only in the Core Central Region. In other parts of Singapore, the increase is steady and is supported by economic fundamentals. The Government will continue to monitor the private property market closely and ensure that there is sufficient supply of private housing to meet demand through the Government Land Sales Programme. To provide the public and the industry with more information, I have asked URA to break down the property market data into regions, for new as well as sub-sales and for completed as well as uncompleted projects, because the price movements in each of these sub-categories are quite markedly different. With the release of more data, I hope members of the public will be able to assess the market on their own, and make informed and prudent decisions. I would like to remind the public that buying a property is a major commitment, which they should make only after careful consideration of their financial situation and affordability of the property, and after a careful assessment of the market.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, let me first provide the Member with some statistics on the level of activity in the property market. Could the Clerk please distribute the tables to the House? [Copies of Tables distributed to hon. Members. ] Sir, if Members would refer to these tables which are being distributed now, they can see that prices of private residential properties overall rose by 10.2% in 2006, compared to 3.9% in 2005. This is in Table 1. While the prices of non-landed private residential properties rose by 11.1% in 2006 as a whole, prices of these properties in the Core Central Region (CCR) increased faster, by about 17% in 2006, compared to 3% in Rest of Central Region (RCR) and 4.2% Outside Central Region (OCR). This is given in Table 2 as well as in chart form in Chart 1. For the fourth quarter of 2006, there were 426 sub-sales of private properties island-wide. Sub-sale, by definition, is the sale of a unit by someone who has already signed an agreement to purchase a unit from the developer or somebody who subsequently purchases a unit and resells it before the completion of the property, ie, before the issuance of the CIS (Certificate of Statutory Completion). So these sub-sales in fourth quarter 2006 represented about 5.4% of the total number of private housing transactions in the quarter. If I break it down further, in the Core Central Region (CCR), this is where the higher-priced residential projects are located, sub-sales accounted for 9.7% of all private housing transactions, again for 4Q2006, compared to 3.5% in Rest of Central Region (RCR) and 2.3% in Outside Central Region (OCR). If you look at Chart 2 and Table 3, these figures are below the proportion of sub-sales in 1996, which reached a high of 28% of all private housing transactions.”
“Mr Charles Chong asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) what impact does the mining of sand on the outer islands of Indonesia and Singapore’s land reclamation works have on the maritime boundaries between Singapore and Indonesia; and (b) how will the maritime boundary between Singapore and Malaysia be affected by Singapore’s land reclamation works.”
“Sir, yes, the Ministry has decided to fix the price of sand at a rate which is slightly below the current market rate. The reason why we have decided to do so is because we want to ensure not just stability of supply but also price stability for one month, so that all the various parties can come together and renegotiate and redo their sums in order to get the work going. The work on the ground can proceed, but the price for ready-mix concrete is still being negotiated in some instances. Can the Government fix the price of ready-mix concrete? The answer is that it would be difficult for us to do so. We can only fix the price of one of the components in ready-mix concrete. The other components, eg, granite, etc, are matters which are outside the purview of this particular situation. So, it is not possible for the Government to fix the price of concrete and at the same time force the concrete suppliers to adhere to that price. We are not a party to the contract. We are not able to fix the price of all the other raw materials that go into concrete. We have brought the supplier industry's associations, the contractors' associations and the developers' associations together to make them all understand that, as far as this particular disruption is concerned, there are measures to mitigate and resolve this problem but, in the short term, they would have to get together and renegotiate some of the pricing and their contracts. The Government is giving them some time to do so by ensuring some stability and, if it is necessary, the Government will also help to facilitate these negotiations. But we are not in a position to fix the prices of all the materials that go into the construction process. Column No : 1213 MINING OF SAND (Impact on maritime boundaries) 4.”
“Sir, I am sure the Minister for Foreign Affairs would be able to better answer this question. But I can tell the Member that as far as the environmental impact is concerned due to sand, based on what we know, the Indonesian sand suppliers, who are licensed by the Indonesian government, are obliged to plough some of the proceeds that they get from the sale of sand into environmental reconstruction, and that is already built into the price of the sand. We obviously share with Indonesia their concern about any environmental degradation, and we have already expressed our willingness to cooperate and work with them to see how we can further address these concerns. However, this offer was not taken up. Obviously, we are still prepared to do so.”
“It is now a question of them agreeing on the price that they are prepared to pay and this we will leave to the individual parties concerned. But if there is a need to, BCA will step in to try and facilitate a solution or an amicable resolution. I want to emphasise that it is not possible for the Government or BCA or MND to step in to referee each and every single situation. If there is evidence of somebody taking advantage of the situation, we would like to know about it and I would be grateful if the Member could enlighten the Ministry about those situations.”
“Sir, the construction activities at various sites in the first few days were disrupted as a result of the shortage. With the release of sand, I am told that most of the construction activities have come back to normal. There are a few exceptions and this is because the various parties concerned are still negotiating on the price. But as far as the delivery and availability of sand is concerned, yes, that is already ongoing. What they are doing now is to agree on the price. As far as the individual contracts are concerned, there are contractual obligations among the various parties - the developers, contractors and the suppliers. The Government recognises that for the public sector projects, such contractual obligations cannot be fully complied with, given the exceptional circumstances and given the fact that this is not a matter of supply and demand imbalance, but there has been a sudden and precipitate decision to stop the supply. As a result, the Government has agreed that, for all its existing public sector projects, it will co-share the cost of the increase due to the increase in price of sand with the various parties - the contractors as well as the suppliers. We have announced this and explained to the industry associations, and the Ministry of Finance is issuing a circular to this effect. I have also urged the developers who are part of this value-added chain to similarly take a sympathetic and fair view as far as their own contracts are concerned. Between the suppliers and the contractors, there are also contractual obligations and the Government is obviously in no position to examine each and every contract. However, we have moved and freed up the supply of sand, and we have got the sand to flow.”
“But I am more optimistic that, over the long term, we will also be able to reduce our dependence on sand and have a more sustainable construction industry, such that any future disruptions will not have any impact.”
“Sir, as far as the cost is concerned, even if we factor in the higher cost of sand as a result of higher transportation cost, we have estimated that the overall increase in the cost of construction will be somewhere between 1% and 3%, taking into account the new cost of sand. That, in turn, will translate into an overall increase in the project development cost of about 1% or less. In terms of the overall impact on the industry, as far as cost is concerned, I think it will be manageable. As for rebates for alternative construction methods and materials, obviously, the cost-benefits of using alternative materials will have to be assessed. So long as there is a cost-benefit, both in sourcing of the materials as well as in the overall cost in terms of time and labour usage, if that makes economic sense, then the industry will switch. I foresee that, with this current development, the cost-benefit analysis for alternative materials will be more favourable. BCA will, of course, facilitate this. They will take whatever measures that are necessary to provide assistance to the industry. Whether there will be rebates or not, it is left to the specific industry concerned. Finally, will it be a dampener on our economy? No, I do not think so. Critical projects are going on and we will make sure there is sufficient sand for these projects. Public infrastructure projects are being rolled out. HDB flats will continue to be built and all the major projects, like the IRs and other housing projects, will also continue. Because of the measures that we have put in place, I expect that there will not be significant short-term disruptions.”
“Sir, the Government has been building up its stockpile of sand over the last many years precisely to prepare for situations like this when there are short-term disruptions in sand supply. I want to assure the industry that the stockpile is sufficient. There are also new sources of supply being found with new supplies coming in, as I have explained in my answer. As far as the industry is concerned, whether it is for public sector projects, like the HDB, or for private sector construction projects, there will be sufficient supply of sand for the short term arising from release of sand from the stockpile. For the immediate and long term, I expect that, with the other measures that I have elaborated on just now, ie, diversification of sources of supply as well as reduction in the reliance on sand in the long term, we will have sufficient supply of sand for all our projects.”
“Based on the experience of countries like the UK, US and Japan, the use of concreting sand could be reduced by as much as 60% to 70%, through the adoption of non-concrete based construction. Sustainable construction practices are not entirely new to our local industry. Glass and metal claddings are commonly used for the facades of buildings. Dry wall systems are gaining popularity in residential projects. In recent years, we have seen an increasing number of buildings being constructed with steel structures, such as the National Library, Supreme Court, Changi Terminal 3, One Raffles Quay and Fusionopolis. Nevertheless, given that concrete-based construction has been the predominant form of construction, BCA will work with the industry to ensure that the construction workforce has the necessary skill sets in sustainable construction, in particular, structural steel works. The architects and structural engineers are already trained in steel design and construction as part of their professional training. BCA will conduct training courses to equip the existing pool of technical and supervisory staff as well as workers with the relevant skill sets in steel construction. In addition, BCA will certify and facilitate the entry of new foreign workers skilled in steel construction. I am confident that with the cooperation of the industry, we will successfully implement these measures, so that the Indonesian ban on land sand export will not have any significant impact on our construction activities and our economy.”
“Our objective is to provide stability and certainty in the supply of sand to allow the industry to make the necessary adjustments over the next few months. These adjustments include the procurement of sand from alternative sources and working out arrangements to co-share the increased cost burden for existing contracts by developers, contractors and concrete suppliers. As a major developer of public sector works, the Government has taken the lead in sharing part of the cost increase in sand for existing public sector projects. We have had several dialogues with the industry associations, and they have agreed to adopt the principle of cost sharing for existing projects, and are working together to work out arrangements for their ongoing projects. Going forward, the industry will procure land sand from alternative sources. HDB, as part of its on-going effort to diversify its supply of basic construction materials, has already procured sand from various sources in the region. Several shipments of sand from alternative sources have arrived in Singapore early this month. We will continue to work with the industry to diversify our supply sources. Although the price of sand from alternative sources is expected to be higher due to the higher transportation cost, it would only increase the overall project development cost by about 1%. This is manageable. For the longer term, we are working with the industry to adopt sustainable construction to reduce our reliance on land sand. This includes the use of steel, dry walls, glass and metal claddings. We have been promoting such construction practices for some time. The Indonesian ban on land sand export provides a timely opportunity for the industry to accelerate the switch to sustainable construction methods.”
“Thank you. Sir, let me begin by clearing up a possible confusion concerning sand. Broadly, there are two types of sand - land sand and sea sand. Land sand, otherwise known as concreting sand, is used to produce concrete for construction purposes. It is mined from inland quarries and riverbeds. Sea sand, on the other hand, is dredged from the sea and is used in reclamation works. Singapore has not imported sea sand from Indonesia since it banned the export of sea sand in February 2003. Since then, our reclamation works are carried out using sea sand from other sources as well as other suitable fill materials. The recent export ban imposed by Indonesia is on land sand. As such, the ban affects construction, not reclamation works. We are disappointed with Indonesia’s decision to ban the export of land sand. We were aware that various quarters in Indonesia had been calling on their government to ban land sand exports because of their claims of environmental damage and the potential impact on Indonesia’s boundaries. These claims are not justified. Our ministers had, on several occasions, offered to discuss this issue with their Indonesian counterparts, and expressed Singapore's willingness and preparedness to work with Indonesia to address its concerns. We regret that Indonesia did not take up our offer. We do not expect the Indonesian ban on land sand export to have any major impact on the construction industry, as there are various alternatives available. The industry will have to make some adjustments, and we have put in place measures to facilitate the transition and to minimise short-term disruption to construction activities. Since 1st February, the Government has released sand from our national stockpile to meet any interim shortfalls in land sand supply.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I have your permission to take Question Nos. 1 to 3 together?”
“The Government is committed to the home ownership programme and ensures that HDB flats are affordable to 90% of Singaporeans. To help eligible first-timers buy and own flats, HDB offers new flats at subsidised prices, and provides a CPF Housing Grant of $30,000 or $40,000 for those who choose to buy resale flats. HDB also offers mortgage loans at a concessionary interest rate to help buyers finance their flat purchase. As a result, HDB flats are very affordable to the vast majority of Singaporeans, including the middle income group. Over 70% of all HDB loan mortgagors service their monthly instalments fully from their CPF account. Another 10% use a combination of CPF and cash. In 2006, the average new HDB flat buyer uses only about 20% of his monthly household income* to service his housing loan. Nevertheless, the Government recognises that the lower income households may need additional help, given the economic pressures of globalisation. The Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG) was thus introduced in March 2006 to provide further assistance to lower-income households to buy their first flat. The qualifying income ceiling for the AHG is set at $3,000, to ensure that the Government’s limited public housing subsidies are prioritised to help families with more pressing needs. * This includes employee’s CPF contribution. STREAMING IN SCHOOLS (Review) 6. Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Education in view of the introduction of subject-based banding to replace the EM3 stream (a) whether his Ministry has plans to refine streaming in secondary schools; and (b) whether categories such as Normal (Academic) are still necessary.”
“It is an established valuation principle that the best indication of the market value of a property is the price of similar properties in the vicinity, transacted on a willing-buyer willing-seller basis. Adjustments can then be made to the market value of the property, to account for differences in attributes between the properties under comparison such as location, floor area, lease term, age, view, orientation and storey height. HDB adheres to the above principle when pricing new HDB flats. Specifically, the prevailing market value of new HDB flats are assessed using recently transacted resale prices of similar flats in the vicinity, with appropriate adjustments factored in to account for differences in attributes. HDB then sells the new flats below their prevailing market values, so that flat buyers enjoy a market subsidy when they buy the flats. HDB prices its flats relative to their market cost rather than development cost (i.e. the land and construction cost), so as to reflect the flats’ real market values. REVIEW OF HOUSING SUBSIDIES 5. Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked the Minister for National Development whether housing subsidies have been reviewed in the same way as the prices of HDB flats which are valued at market rate, to assist those in the middle income group who are not able to benefit from the additional housing grant.”
“NParks has since developed 74 km, including the 10 km coast-to-coast connector, linking Pasir Ris Park to East Coast Park. Another 25 km of park connectors are currently under construction. Park connectors are a key component of our plan to make Singapore a “City-in-a-Garden”. They will link up our parks and green spaces to create the sense that we live, work and play in one big garden. Besides enhancing the accessibility to our parks, park connectors are in themselves venues for recreational and healthy lifestyle activities. In view of their strategic value and usefulness, we have decided to accelerate the development of an island-wide park connector network. NParks will double its development pace from the current 9 km per year to about 20 km per year, and complete 200 km of park connectors by 2012. In the development plan, NParks will focus on creating seven major loops, with multiple access points located close to population centres. These loops will route through major estates such as Bukit Batok, Pasir Ris, Bedok, Tampines, Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Yishun, and Punggol. There are also plans to subsequently link up these loops to form a complete network. WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS UNSECURED OVERDRAFT-LENDING (Default rates) 1. Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Senior Minister if he will provide information on the default rates and the percentage and amount of unrecovered debt for unsecured overdraft-lending offered by financial institutions in the last 5 years.”
“The Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) aims to enhance the living environment in private residential estates, by upgrading public facilities on state land within the estates. Common EUP works include the upgrading of park and road related facilities, improvement to connectivity and accessibility to and within the estates, as well as enhancement of estate identity. The upgraded facilities are subsequently handed over to the relevant public agencies for maintenance. The Government does not own or maintain the electrical cables, be they overhead or underground. These cables are owned and maintained by the subsidiary companies of the Singapore Power Group (i.e. SP PowerAssets Ltd and SP PowerGrid Ltd respectively), which operate on a commercial basis. It is therefore not appropriate to use EUP funds to finance the replacement or maintenance of such private assets. The use of overhead electrical cables is safe and widely accepted in many developed countries. In the maintenance of the overhead cables for safety and reliability of electricity supply, SP PowerGrid has to comply with the requirements imposed by the Energy Market Authority (EMA). Dr Fatimah may wish to contact SP PowerGrid if she has any specific concerns on the safety and maintenance of the overhead electrical cables. PARK CONNECTORS (Update on progress of implementation) 31. Dr Teo Ho Pin asked the Minister for National Development if he will update the House on the progress made in the implementation of park connectors in Singapore and what are the plans to expedite its implementation. Mr Mah Bow Tan: In the Parks and Waterbodies Plan of 2002, MND announced that 170 km of park connectors will be built by 2015.”
“The Interim Upgrading Programme (IUP) and Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) are two separate programmes, each with its own budget. The IUP consists of interim upgrading works to improve facilities at precinct and block levels such as repainting of blocks and new covered linkways. These works are meant for all residents in the precinct and the Government fully funds the costs involved at $2,400 per flat. As for the LUP, this is offered to eligible HDB blocks to provide lifts that stop on every floor. There is a cap of $30,000 per benefiting unit. This cost cap is to ensure that lift upgrading is done in a cost-effective manner. The Government funds the bulk of the cost of providing lift upgrading, while benefiting residents and Town Councils co-pay a small proportion of the cost. To minimise inconvenience to residents, these two programmes are sometimes offered together to applicable precincts as IUP Plus. However, as IUP and LUP have different objectives and funding considerations, it would not be appropriate to allow any transfer of budget between the two programmes even when they are being implemented concurrently as IUP Plus. LAYING OF UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL CABLES IN OLD PRIVATE ESTATES (Use of Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) funding) 29. Dr Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for National Development if the cost of converting overhead electrical cables to underground ones can be incorporated under the Estates Upgrading Programme (EUP) funding for private estates as the cables in some of the estates are old and pose certain hazards.”
“Our public housing policies are designed to be pro-family in orientation. A proper family nucleus is thus required for the purchase of a HDB flat. Single citizens are considered as part of a family unit, and are encouraged to live together with their parents for mutual care and support. Nonetheless, we recognise that there are some older Singaporeans who remain single and who may prefer to live on their own. To meet the housing needs of this group, HDB allows single Singapore citizens who are at least 35 years of age to buy resale flats. Single citizens who are first-timers are eligible for a CPF housing grant*. In line with the Government’s objective to encourage family formation, there are no plans at this juncture to lower the qualifying age for single Singaporeans to buy a resale HDB flat. Single persons below 35 years of age who wish to live alone have other housing options, such as renting a room or whole flat from other HDB lessees under the Approved Subletting Scheme. * $11,000 under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme, or a higher grant of $22,000 under the Joint Singles Scheme. LIFT UPGRADING PROGRAMME AND INTERIM UPGRADING PROGRAMME (Fund allocation) 28. Dr Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for National Development whether the funds allocated for the Lift Upgrading Programme and Interim Upgrading Programme within the same group of blocks or precinct are transferable between both upgrading programmes.”