HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLATS (Particulars of eviction of tenants)

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will ascertain from the Housing and Development Board (a) how many tenants of (i) one-room flats, (ii) two-room fiats, and (iii) three-room flats, respectively, were served with eviction notices in each of the years 1966 to 1968 for non-payment of rent: and how many of them were eventually evicted for not settling their arrears of rent: and (b) how many of the tenants evicted were known reci pients of public assistance.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, the numbers of tenants of the Housing and Development Board fiats who were served with notices to quit for non-payment of rent for the years 1966 to 1968, the numbers of tenants who were eventually evicted and the number evicted who received public assistance are respectively as follows:

(i) one-room flats: In 1966, 353 notices to quit were issued, the number evicted of which was six. There were six public assistance cases. In 1967, 763 notices to quit were issued, of which 10 were evicted and eight were public assistance cases. In 1968, 860 notices to quit were issued, of which nine were evicted and four received public assistance.

(ii) two-room flats: In 1966, 236 notices to quit were issued, of which six tenants were evicted and all six were public assistance cases. In 1967, 410 notices were issued, of which five were evicted and three received public assistance. In 1968, 385 notices were issued, of which three were evicted and two were public assistance cases.

(iii) three-room flats: For the year 1966, 379 notices to quit were issued, of which ten tenants were evicted and one was a public assistance case. In 1967, 621 notices were issued, of which nine tenants were evicted and one was a public assistance case. In 1968, 620 notices to quit were issued, of which ten tenants were evicted and not one was a public assistance case.