CRECHE IN SEMBAWANG (Building of)

Mr Teong Eng Siong asked the Minister for Social Affairs, with the progress of industrialisation in the Sembawang Constituency, if there is any proposal to build a creche in that Constituency, so as to induce more housewives to work in the factories.

Mr Chan Chee Seng (for the Minister for Social Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, there is as yet no definite proposal to build a creche in the Sembawang Constituency as priority has to be given to those areas with the highest concentration of population such as Toa Payoh, Queenstown, Kallang Basin, Katong, Woodlands, Telok Blangah and Bedok, where there are no creches.

I can, however, assure the Member for Sembawang that the need for establishing creches in other areas of Singapore will be kept under constant review, and more creches will be provided when needs can be clearly established. The Government would also welcome the setting up of creches by those industrial concerns with large female labour forces, and to this end the Social Welfare Department has been directed to give every assistance possible to any firm that wishes to start a creche service.