HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD (Renting and sale of flats)

Mr Teong Eng Siong asked the Minister for Law and National Development (a) how many units of flats were let out by the Housing and Development Board during the year ending 28th February, 1973, and how many applicants were on the waiting list at the end of that year; and (b) how many units of flats have been sold by the Board to date, and how many applicants are on the waiting list.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, during the period of one year from 1st March, 1972, to 28th February, 1973, the Housing and Development Board let out 8,480 units of flats. As at the 28th February, 1973, 24,977 applicants were registered on the waiting list for the rental of flats.

Since the Board started the home ownership scheme, it has sold 46,055 units of flats. Applicants on the waiting list for the purchase of flats as at 28th February, 1973, total 56,387. In addition, as at that date, there were 1,196 tenants who desired to purchase the flats which were occupied by them.