HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD (Production of building materials)

Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for National Development, in view of the accelerated increase in the cost of building materials, especially sand, granite and bricks, whether the Housing and Development Board will consider stepping up production of these building materials in order to curb further steep price increases.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Housing and Development Board and the Resources Development Corporation, a private company wholly-owned by the Government, are already taking measures to increase production of sand, granite and bricks.

Mr Yeo Toon Chia: Sir, will the Hon. Minister give the figures of the present capacity of production of sand and bricks, and what will be the increased volume of production?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Sir, I think the Housing and Development Board's sand quarry at present produces about 100,000 to 120,000 tons of sand per month. In about six months' time, another new quarry will start production. It is owned by the Resources Development Corporation and we hope the new quarry will produce about 50,000 tons of sand per month. Consequently, if this is found insufficient, additional quarries will be set up.

On the question of bricks, I think the Housing and Development Board's brick kiln produces at present about 30 million pieces of bricks per year. We are planning to double production of this kiln in about 18 months' time. It takes about 18 months to set up a new kiln because machinery and other equipment have to be ordered. We are also encouraging the private sector to set up brick kilns. If they are interested, we will consider granting them approval.

Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Mr Speaker, Sir, I believe that sand is measured in terms of cubic yards and not in tons.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Sir, I think we are in the process of metrication.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: No, Sir. Even if we are in the process of metrication, it should be measured in terms of cubic metres for quantities of sand. That is the point I want to make to the Hon. Minister.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: I get his point, Sir. For sand, the measurement is in cubic metres. For granite, it is in tons.