BOY SCOUTS' ASSOCIATION (Government grant)

Mr Bernard Rodrigues asked the Minister for Education whether the Government will consider increasing its grant to the Boy Scouts' Movement in the Republic in view of the significant contribution the Movement is making towards a rugged and robust nation.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: The annual grant by the Government to the Boy Scouts' Association was increased as recently as 1966, from $10,000 to $13,000. It is the Government's policy to encourage youth movements to enlist public support for their activities, and I was informed that the Boy Scouts have been successful in raising funds through their own efforts. For these reasons, it is not anticipated that there will be any substantial increase in the Government grant to the Boy Scouts' Association in the near future.