CRECHES FOR CHILDREN OF FAMILIES IN HIGHER INCOME BRACKET

Madam Chan Choy Siong asked the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs whether he will consider establishing creches for the children of families in the higher income bracket with charges relatively higher than those at the present creches which cater mainly for the children of those families whose total monthly family incomes do not exceed $400.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs (Mr Chan Chee Seng) (for the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs): Mr Speaker, the Social Welfare Department at the moment runs 10 creches. Any child below the age of 6, whose mother is working or whose father is a widower with no relatives to look after the child while he is away at work, may be admitted to a creche, provided the total monthly income of the family does not exceed $400. I should like to point Out that, in order to extend the benefits to a larger number of families, the age limit was recently raised from 5 to 6 years and the income limit from $300 p.m. to $400 p.m.

The purpose of these creches is to provide a special service for those in the lower income group who cannot afford to pay the higher charges of the many kindergartens which are being run in Singapore, and in considering the extension of this service, it is important to bear this purpose in mind. I shall ask the Social Welfare Department to look into the desirability of extending further the benefits of this special service, which has been meeting a real need in our community.