S.I.T. HOUSES ON WAR DEPARTMENT LANDS

Mr Lee Choon Eng asked the Minister for Local Government, Lands and Housing whether he is aware that the Singapore Improvement Trust has built on War Department lands houses now occupied by Army personnel, and to state on whose authority, out of what funds, and the terms on which such houses were built.

Inche Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat: Mr Speaker, Sir, a thousand houses and ten shops were erected on War Department lands at Clementi Road by the Singapore Improvement Trust which was acting as agent for the Singapore Government. A loan of $3 million was approved by the Legislative Council in 1954. It was agreed that these houses should be occupied by families of local military personnel but that the houses will be vacated and handed over for housing the public as soon as alternative accommodation for these families has been built by the Army and that all houses would be handed over within a period of seven years from the time they were completed. The War Department is paying rent equivalent to the loan charges on the property and, in addition, maintenance charges amounting to 2 per cent of the cost of the buildings per annum.

Mr Lee Choon Eng: Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister tell us if at this stage the scheme has been completed; and, if not, the number of units that have been completed and the number of units that the S.I.T. intends to build for the War Department to complete the scheme.

Inche Abdul Hamid: Mr Speaker, Sir, I shall require notice of that question.

Mr Lee Choon Eng: In that case, Sir, can the Minister tell us is it Government's policy then to build houses and, if not, is there a chance for the Government to stop the implementation of that scheme from now onwards?

Mr Speaker: That is a different question.