SINGAPORE IMPROVEMENT TRUST AND HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD HOUSES (Sociological enquiry into effects on tenants)

Mr David Marshall asked the Minister for National Development whether he will consider instituting a sociological enquiry into the effects on persons re-housed in units erected by the Singapore Improvement Trust and the Housing and Development Board in the past ten years.

Mr Tan Kia Gan: Sir, I do not see that any useful purpose will be served at this stage by instituting a sociological enquiry of the type envisaged by the Member for Anson. For the Member's information, trained housing management personnel of the Board from time to time have already conducted specific sociological surveys to assist the manage, ment, planning, and administration of housing estates as well as to assess sociological practice relevant to clearance of slum areas.

Mr David Marshall: Do I understand from the Minister that, in fact, there have been sociological surveys? And if so, would he consider publishing them?

Mr Tan Kia Gan: Sir, these are surveys conducted by the Housing Board itself, and the recommendations are meant for the use of the Housing Board.

Mr David Marshall: I would like to get this clear, Sir. Is the Minister telling us that surveys by trained sociologists have been made? Are they merely sampling surveys or full surveys? If there are full surveys, would it not be helpful to publish a full report?

Mr Tan Kia Gan: If the Member for Anson had listened to me carefully, he would have realised that I said, for his information, that trained housing management personnel of the Board from time to time have conducted specific sociological surveys. I did not mention anything about expert sociology, sociologic -

Mr David Marshall: Sociologists.

Mr Speaker: Order. I think the Member for Anson must realise that sometimes people get tongue-tied inside as well as outside the Assembly. The Speaker gets tongue-tied sometimes!

Mr David Marshall: May I ask of the tongue-tied Minister -

Mr Speaker: Order. The hon. Member for Anson is completely out of order if he starts using epithets during Question Time.

Mr David Marshall: May I ask the Minister whether he would reconsider the decision in the light of the value that trained, independent sociologists' reports can be in planning future buildings?

Mr Tan Kia Gan: Sir, for the information of the Member for Anson again, recently we have attempted to get an expert from the United Nations to do some survey for us, but we have not been successful.

Mr David Marshall: I am happy to learn of that effort. Mr Speaker, Sir. Unfortunately, I know two highly trained persons who are just leaving Singapore next week but who have been available in Singapore. If that is all that is holding up the Minister, is the answer then that he is prepared to reconsider the decision if sociologists are available?

Mr Tan Kia Gan: Sir, at the outset, I have told the Member for Anson that at this stage we do not consider a sociological survey of this kind necessary.

Mr Speaker: A Ministerial statement. Mr Leader of the House.