PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO OLD-AGED PERSONS AND WIDOWS

Mr Ho See Beng asked the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs if he will consider increasing the amount of public assistance in respect of old-aged persons and widows.

Inche Othman Bin Wok: Mr Speaker, Sir, public assistance payments are made by the Social Welfare Department to unemployed persons, including aged persons and widows, at approved rates which have already been increased on two occasions under this Government, i.e., in 1959 and 1962. These rates of unemployment benefits, under which a large family can receive as much as $90 per month, are generally acknowledged to be the highest paid in this part of the world, and it is not considered desirable to increase the rates further. Under this scheme, an aged couple who are on their own and have no one to provide for them, will receive $31 per month and a widow with, say, four dependent children will receive $41 per month.

I am, however, aware of the special needs of aged persons and widows, and there are special allowances over and above the public assistance payments for which they are eligible. These aged persons can receive, in addition to the public assistance payments, a special old-age allowance of $12 per month for a single person and $18 for a couple, if they are 65 years old and above, from the Silver Jubilee Fund, a charitable fund which is also administered by the Social Welfare Department.

I should also mention that the Social Welfare Department runs Old People's Homes to which destitute aged persons with no relatives or friends to look after them can be admitted. Widows are also eligible to receive, in addition to their public assistance payments, special educational grants of $5 per month per child in primary schools and $8 per month per child in secondary schools from the Silver Jubilee Fund. I should, however, like to assure the hon. Member that cases of aged persons or widows receiving public assistance with any special problems will be reviewed sympathetically if they are brought to my attention.

Inche Rahamat Bin Kenap(Geylang Serai): (In Malay): A supplementary question. I would like to ask whether the Minister intends to give assistance for house rents to those receiving public assistance payments.

Inche Othman Bin Wok: Mr Speaker, Sir, this is not possible. If you give to one, you have to give to all those who receive aid from the department.