OCCUPIERS AND TERMS OF TENANCY OF FORMER NANTINA HOME

Tun Lim Yew Hock asked the Minister for Labour who are the present occupiers of the former Nantina Home in Queen Street, what are the terms of the tenancy and the reasons for granting such tenancy.

Mr Wee Toon Boon (for the Minister for Labour): Mr Speaker. Sir, the present occupiers of the' former Nantina Home in Queen Street are:

The Singapore National Seamen's Union;

The Singapore Insurance Companies Employees' Union;

The Singapore Bank Employees' Union;

The Musicians' Union of Singapore;

The Amalgamated Union of Public Employees; and

The United Workers of Petroleum Industry.

No terms of tenancy were entered into by Government with the occupiers of Trade Union House (Nantina Home), which was made available to the then Trades Union Congress free of rent as a temporary measure until such time as the new Trade Union House has been built. This is in accordance with the election programme of the Government to build a Trade Union House to serve as a Central Headquarters for all trade unions in Singapore. The long-term plans to provide a new Trade Union House at Shenton Way are well advanced. The new building on this site will be known as the Singapore Conference Hall-cum-Trade Union House. It will serve as a venue for the holding of international conferences and other Government functions of a like nature, besides providing all the amenities of a Central Headquarters for the trade unions in Singapore.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: Mr Speaker, Sir, all the trade unions mentioned by the Parliamentary Secretary are trade unions under the control of the P.A.P. -

Mr David Marshall: Naturally.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: - and to allow, those unions to make use of the Nantina -

Mr Speaker: Order. Let us have a supplementary question, if any. We cannot have a debate on the question.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: Sir, the supplementary question is: Can the Parliamentary Secretary please say whether those unions mentioned by him are not unions under the control of the P.A.P. or closely associated with leaders of the P.A.P.?

Mr Wee Toon Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, the answer is no. The Singapore Bank Employees' Union's legal adviser is the Member for Anson.

Mr David Marshall: What has that got to do with it? [Laughter]

Mr Speaker: Order. A further supplementary question?

Tun Lim Yew Hock: The further supplementary question is: Is it open to other trade unions to apply for the use of the premises?

The Prime Minister: Have you any new yellow unions?

Mr Speaker: Order.

Mr Wee Toon Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have stated in my reply, the Nantina Home was allowed to be made use of the then Trades Union Congress. Therefore, if any individual union wants to apply to the Government for the premises to be made use of for union purposes, well, it is a separate matter.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: Sir, the now unrecognised Trades Union Congress is still in occupation of Nantina Home. Is this not a fact?

Mr Wee Toon Boon: Sir, the answer is no.