PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCES (Increase of rates and payment facilities)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs if the Government will consider increasing the rates of Public Assistance Allowances and if he will set up payment centres in all the 51 constituencies for the convenience of the recipients and to save them expense on transport in having to go to the Social Welfare Department in Havelock Road.

The Minister for Culture and Social Affairs (Inche Othman Bin Wok): Mr Speaker, Sir, since the P.A.P. Government assumed office in June 1959, the rates of public assistance allowance given to the head of household have been increased twice from - $15 to $16 in September 1959, and again from $16 to $21 in January 1962. The allowance for the wife was also increased from $8 to $10 per month as from September 1959.

As the existing rates of public assistance are the highest in this part of the world, it is not considered prudent in the interests of our economy to make further increases which can only be done if we raise more taxes, in 1966 a sum of $8,262,815.95 cents was paid to 22,241 families on the public assistance scheme.

At present there are 41 public assistance payment centres situated in all parts of the island, apart from the payment centre at the Social Welfare Department at Havelock Road, in addition, there are mobile payment teams that go to the neighbouring islands, hospitals, homes for the aged, and to the individual homes of those recipients who are unable to get to the payment centres to receive their public assistance allowance. As these payment centres have been so located for the convenience of the recipients with a view to lessening their expense on transport to get to the centres, and they are adequate to serve the localities where they are situated, Government considers it unnecessary to establish payment centres on the basis of division of constituencies.

For the information of the Member for Thomson, the 42 payment centres are located in 33 constituencies, which means that in certain constituencies there is more than one payment centre.

Mr Ang Nam Piau (Thomson): Can the Minister concerned give the House the different rates of assistance and the names of the constituencies in which the Social Welfare Department has established payment centres?

Mr Speaker: Inche Othman, even if you have the information now, it might perhaps be best if you circulate it in the Official Report.

Inche Othman Bin Wok: I will answer the first part of the supplementary question, which is short. As for the answer to the second part, I will circulate it in the Official Report*.

• Appendix, Col 817-8 Appendix to oral answer to question no.1 (Cols 0817-0818)

In answer to his first question, the existing rates are: per month Head of household $ 21 Wife $ 10 Each dependant aged 16 and above $ 8 Each dependant under 16 years of age $ 5 In addition, a disability allowance of $10 per month may be paid to the head of household, who is certified to be permanently disabled and incapable of obtaining gainful employment. The maximum allowance payable to each family is $90 per month.

Mr Speaker: The *list of centres will be circulated to hon. Members.

• Appendix, Col 817-8 Appendix to oral answer to question no.1 (Cols 0817-0818)

Inche Othman Bin Wok: Yes, Sir.