WORK BRIGADE

Inche Ahmad Jabri Bin Mohammad Akib asked the Minister for Labour and Law to state, with reference to the Work Brigade, how are persons recruited; the total number of persons in the Brigade as at 31st August, 1960; of this total how many are members of the People's Action Party; the nature of work the Brigade is doing; and in which parts of Singapore Island are the various units stationed.

Mr K. M. Byrne: To the first part of the question, "how are persons recruited" into the Work Brigade, the reply is that they were recruited from the Special Squad before it was wound up on 30th September, 1960, and from those who are willing to work on national development projects under the discipline of work camps. If those who are interested offer themselves for this work and are considered suitable by an interviewing committee, they are selected. The original batch of men officers was selected from members of the Special Squad, who completed a course of training at the Singapore Military Force Ulu Pandan camp, and the women officers were selected from those who offered themselves for this work after training at the Police Training School. Future men and women officers will be selected from serving members of the Brigade of proved ability, and their selection has to be approved by the Ministerial Committee in charge of the Work Brigade.

To the second part of the question, "the total number of persons in the Brigade as at 31st August, 1960" was 1,073.

To the third part of the question, "of this total how many are members of the People's Action Party", the answer is that recruitment depends on suitability and vacancies, and not on a person's Party affiliations. Therefore, we do not keep records of Party affiliations.

To the fourth part of the question, to indicate "the nature of work" on which members of the Brigade are engaged, this is the type of work that they do:

(i) widening of streams and digging new channels for such streams.

(ii) constructing weirs across streams.

(iii) erecting prefabricated and prototype structures which house the members of the Brigade.

(iv) masonry work, carpentry, plumbing.

(v) constructing link roads, including side tables, kerbs, side drains and metalling of roads.

(vi) clearing building sites, making agricultural roads, side drains and other earth works.

(vii) drainage work in resettlement areas.

(viii) vegetable farming and poultry rearing.

(ix) preparing building sites for resettlement areas.

To the fifth part of the question, asking for an indication as to which parts of Singapore Island are units of the Brigade stationed, the answer is that they are now stationed at Pasir Ris, Jalan Kaki Bukit, Paya Lebar Airport, Jurong 13½ milestone, Andrew Avenue in Sembawang, and at Queenstown.

Inche Ahmad Jabri: (In Malay): Are there no units stationed in the Southern Islands, Sir?

Mr Byrne: Mr Speaker, Sir, we have mapped out a number of projects which will engage the attention of the Brigade from now till the end of the year. Fifteen such projects are being mapped out, and we have so far been working on seven of these projects. These projects co not include any work at present in the Southern Islands.