PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (Particulars)

Mr Teong Eng Siong asked the Minister for Social Affairs, during the period 1st January, 1968 to 31st October, 1968, (a) how many persons have been given public assistance and the total amount paid out; and (b) how many persons have had such assistance terminated and the reasons therefor.

Mr Chan Chee Seng (for the Minister for Social Affairs): From 1st January to 31st October, 1968, a total sum of $4,837,454.80 was paid out under the public assistance scheme to an average of 16,775 families a month. It has been estimated that an average family on public assistance consists of five persons. Working on this basis, a total of 838,760 persons, on the average of 83,876 persons per month, has been given public assistance during this period.

From 1st January to 31st October, 1968, a total of 3,104 families have had their public assistance terminated. Taking an average of five persons to a family, approximately 15,520 persons, or an average of 1,552 persons per month, have had their public assistance terminated. The main reasons for the termination of public assistance to the 3,104 families for the period 1st January to 31st October, 1968 are as follows:

Head of a family having found employment; wife having found employment; children having found employment; family having secured a school tuck-shop: members of the family commenced hawking; receipt of a lump sum payment by way of workmen's compensation, Central Provident Fund benefits; receipt of maintenance by an estranged wife; re-marriage of divorcees or widows; receipt of financial assistance from relatives; family having migrated from Singapore; death of a person who is the sole recipient of public assistance; admission of single persons to welfare homes: withdrawal on own accord. Other miscellaneous cases were those of families requiring temporary assistance only.

Mr L. P. Rodrigo (Serangoon Gardens): Mr Speaker, Sir, in regard to those cases where public assistance was terminated, were there a number of cases where public assistance was terminated because the eldest child of the family was recruited for national service?

Mr Chan Chee Seng: Yes, Mr Speaker, Sir.

Mr Rodrigo: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have reason to believe that in such cases it might only tend to aggravate the financial situation of the family. Can the Parliamentary Secretary assure the House that in such cases the utmost consideration would be given with a view to preventing further hardship to the family?

Mr Chan Chee Seng: Mr Speaker, Sir, in the cases of those who were recruited for national service and whose public assistance had been terminated, we have got a means test. We always consider whether or not the family would be in a state of hardship before we terminate the public assistance.