SOCIAL AFFAIRS

With the recent completion of the Woodlands Home for old people, the Department now administers a total of 12 welfare institutions. There are plans to set up two more old people's Homes as well as for extensions to two existing Homes for boys and girls.

The Legal Aid Bureau has extended assistance from October last year to proceedings before the Shariah Court. It gives Muslims free legal aid for disputes relating to marriage, divorce according to the law of Islam and other related matters.

The Parks and Recreation Division will seek to improve recreational facilities in Singapore's parks and playgrounds. A programme of improvements within the Botanic Gardens is at the moment in progress to enhance the beauty of the Gardens as a tourist and recreational resort; at the same time plans are being formulated to expand the botanical and horticultural research side of the Gardens.

In a densely populated city like Singapore there is need to ensure that the fire-fighting and prevention services are up to date and provided with the latest equipment and techniques. The Singapore Fire Brigade is now equipped with the latest fire-fighting devices, including a Snorkel for rescue work from high buildings and two Foam Cannons for dealing with oil fires. There are at the moment five fire stations in Singapore, and plans have been formulated for the establishment of two new fire stations, one at Toa Payoh where building operations are expected to commence next year and another at Jurong, at a total cost of $5 million.