GENERAL RELIEF FUND (Particulars)

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Social Affairs what is the total sum collected for the General Relief Fund during and after the recent floods; what was the specific purpose for creating such a Fund; and what special assistance has been given, up to the latest convenient date, to help farmers affected by the floods to rehabilitate themselves.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs (Mr Chan Chee Seng) (for the Minister for Social Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been asked by my Minister to reply.

The total sum collected for the General Relief Fund up to and including 9th March, 1970, is $141,035.83.

The General Relief Fund is to be utilised as an all-purpose fund for the relief of victims of calamities involving persons and property. The Fund will be administered by the Social Welfare Department.

The Primary Production Department of the Ministry of National Development has implemented a scheme for assisting farmers which includes the distribution of aid in cash as well as materials like vegetable seeds, fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides and lime to farmers affected by the floods on 10th December, 1969. The assistance given was as follows: (a) Vegetable farms Total aid given to 670 vegetable farms amounted to $102,340.80 as follows: Cash $67,000.00 Materials 35,340.80 ---------------------- $102,340.80 (b) Pig farms 83 pig farms were given aid in the form of materials costing $9,935.10 ... ... ... ... $9,935.10 (c) Poultry farms 40 poultry farms were given aid in the form of materials costing $5,130.00 ... ... ... ... $5,130.00 (d) Loan scheme for livestock farmers: (i) Pig farms Loans up to $1,000 at three per cent interest per annum repayable within one year. (ii) Poultry farms Loans up to $500 at three per cent interest per annum repayable within one year. The Loan scheme operated by the Primary Production Department from Government Funds to aid registered farmers affected by the floods commenced on 26th Juanuary, 1970, and was completed on 14th February, 1970. ----------- Carried forwared ... ... ... $117,405.90 Brought forward ... ... ... $117,405.90 Although 254 farms were affected, only 195 farmers took loans amounting to $143,300.00 ... $143,300.00 ----------- $260,705.90 ===========