COMMUNITY CENTRES IN SEMBAWANG AND OTHER RURAL CONSTITUENCIES

Mr Leong Keng Seng asked the the Minister for Labour (a) how many Community Centres have been completed and how many are still in the course of construction in the Sembawang constituency; (b) what is the total amount of money expended on these Community Centres: and (c) whether construction of similar type and number of Community Centres is being contemplated in the other rural constituencies.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Labour (Mr Wee Toon Boon) (for the Minister for Labour): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been asked to reply. Six rural community centres have been completed in the Sembawang Constituency. No other community centres are under construction.

For the information of the Member, there are in addition two community centres, one completed in 1960 and the other in 1961. The total cost for the six rural community centres is $35,100.

The answer to the last part of the question is yes. Construction of similar type of community centres is going on in other rural constituencies. Their number may be more in other rural constituencies depending on the density of the population.

Mr Tee Kim Leng: (In Mandarin): To my knowledge, there is not one community centre up to now in Serangoon Garden Estate. I do not quite know when the Minister for Labour will be able to build one community centre in that area.

Mr Wee Toon Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, the People's Association have a Planning Committee to look after the interests of the whole of the island of Singapore. As has been announced, 250 community centres will be built during this short period. Therefore, I am sure the residents in Serangoon Gardens will not be neglected.