RESIDENTS AT MACPHERSON ESTATE (Payments of consolidated bills at Area Office)

Mr S. V. Lingam asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will suggest to the Public Utilities Board that the Board consider receiving payments of consolidated bills from residents of the Housing and Development Board MacPherson Estate at the Area Office of the Estate instead of the mobile centre as at present.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Public Utilities Board, in fact, consulted The Housing Board on the setting up of a sub-collection centre at the Housing Board Area Office in Aljunied. Unfortunately, however, the Housing Board Area Office is already too congested with tenants paying their dues. The present arrangement whereby the Mobile Collection Unit calls at Block 35, Persiaran Keliling Estate, on six days every month subsequent to the dispatch of bills to customers in the area was then instituted, and appears to be working satisfactorily.

Mr S. V. Lingam (Aljunied): Mr Speaker, Sir, will the Minister consider making some special arrangements on rainy days?

Mr Barker: In spite of the rain, the present arrangements continue. On five or six days a week, these mobile centres reach the Member's constituency. There are approximately 10,000 consumers in this estate, of whom only 20 per cent pay at the estate centre. It is difficult to find suitable office space and also it is uneconomical to open up centres in every housing estate. Payments are usually made for about five or six days after the receipt of bills by consumers in the area, and for the rest of the month there is a lull. The mobile system seems to be working fairly satisfactorily in meeting all requirements. I understand that the vans, though parked in the open, are usually stationed at most sites in the shade of trees or adjoining shop-houses with five-foot ways which provide some shelter to the public queueing up to pay their bills. So although rain is an inconvenience, it does not stop the collection.

3.15 p.m.