ADMISSION TO PRIMARY ONE IN 1966 (Statistics)

The following Question stood in the name of -

-: To ask the Minister for Education how many children have been registered for admission to Primary One in 1966, giving figures separately for the four language streams and for Government and Government-aided schools.

Mr Speaker: Mr Koo Young.

There being no response -

Mr Speaker: The Member is not present. The Minister will, therefore, please circulate a written answer to the Member. If the written answer is available now, please hand it to the Clerk. The reply will appear in the Hansard. Otherwise it could be circulated.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Sir, on a point of order.

Mr Speaker: Yes?

Dr Goh Keng Swee: If hon. Members of the Opposition show a complete disinterest in the proceedings of this Assembly, are the Ministers obliged to circulate written answers or give them written answers? It does seem to me in the circumstances improper.

Mr Speaker: The Minister will appreciate the Speaker's difficulty. The Speaker only knows that they are not present in the House. He does not know whether they are interested or not. So far as the Speaker is aware, they are still Members of the House and, as such, are entitled to all the privileges of the House. One of the privileges is that if a Member is not present in the House when his name is called for a Question, then he is entitled to have an answer sent to him by the Minister. So, Mr Minister, will you be good enough to send the answer to the Member in question?

Written answer handed in to the Clerk.