SINGAPORE IMPROVEMENT TRUST ACCOMMODATION

Mr William Tan asked the Minister for Local Government, Lands and Housing, in view of the insufficiency of houses provided by the Singapore Improvement Trust to cope with the long waiting list for Improvement Trust accommodation, what steps he proposes to take to meet the housing needs of those families on the waiting list.

Dato Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat: Mr Speaker, Sir, the steps I propose to take will be precisely the same as those I am taking now. The provision of public housing is regulated by the availability of funds, staff and sites available for development. Taking these factors into account, the production of houses for public accommodation by the Singapore Improvement Trust has proceeded as rapidly as possible. The intention of this Government is to concentrate all the resources that can be spared into building housing accommodation only for the lower income groups for which private enterprise will not provide. Government is spending, Sir, an estimated total of $23 million on such housing in 1958.

Mr William Tan: Sir, is the Minister aware that the number of people on the waiting list for Trust houses is steadily increasing?

Dato Abdul Hamid: Yes, Sir. I am also aware that the rate at which the population of Singapore is increasing is just as great.