REVISION OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Acting Minister for Social Affairs, in the light of the present day high cost of living, whether his Ministry will consider taking the necessary steps to make an upward revision of public assistance.

The Acting Minister for Social Affairs (Dr Ahmad Mattar): Mr Speaker, Sir, during the last 10 years, the rates of Public Assistance were revised on three occasions: in January 1973, in March 1976 and in February 1980. Today I am pleased to inform the House that, having regard to the rise in the cost of living during the last two years and I must also add that as a result of constant reminders by Backbenchers, many of whom have been very vocal on the question of rates of Public Assistance -

An hon. Member: PAP Backbenchers!

Dr Ahmad Mattar: Yes, PAP Backbenchers, of course - Backbenchers like the hon. Member for Punggol, the hon. Member for Khe Bong who is not here, the hon. Members for Jalan Kayu, Bukit Ho Swee and also the hon. Member for Changi who is now my Parliamentary Secretary - the Government has decided once again to increase the rates with effect from 1st April 1982. The new rates of Public Assistance per month are as follows: $80 for a single-person household; $110 for a two-person household; $140 for a three-person household; and $170 for a four-person household. These new rates represent, on the average, an increase of 37 1/2% over prevailing rates.

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam (Anson): Sir, could the Hon. Minister indicate what the figures were before the Government started its first revision?

Dr Ahmad Mattar: It was in 1973 when we made the first revision. I cannot remember the figures because I do not claim to be able to keep all the figures in my head. But the prevailing rates, in case the Member for Anson does not know, are: $60 for a single-person household; $80 for a two-person household; $100 for a three-person household; and $120 for a four-person household.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Is the Hon. Minister not aware that there was a downward revision when the Government first revised the public assistance rates?

Dr Ahmad Mattar: Sir, can the Member for Anson give me specific instances to prove that there had been a downward revision?

Mr Jeyaretnam: Were they not revised downwards from what they were? I am asking the Hon. Minister.

Dr Ahmad Mattar: Sir, I am asking the Member to show that there had been a downward revision. As I have said, I cannot remember the figures for 1973. So if he thinks and if he knows that there had been a downward revision, I would like to hear from him the figures before the first revision was made.

Mr Jeyaretnam: I will supply the figures.

Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Mr Speaker, Sir, whilst the public assistance recipients welcome the increases in the rates of public assistance, would the Hon. Minister agree with me that the increases as stated by him just now are still on the low side?

Dr Ahmad Mattar: Mr Speaker, Sir, I fully agree with the hon. Member that these allowances are far from adequate. They are not meant to be adequate in the first place. But I would like to assure the Member for Punggol that, apart from the allowances, the recipients of public assistance also receive supplementary assistance either in cash or in kind from voluntary charitable and religious organizations.

The Social Welfare Department itself administers a number of private charitable funds from which the needy can get additional income, and among these are the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Welfare Grant, the Lee Foundation Grant, the Charity Box Fund, the Silver Jubilee Fund, Robin Welfare Aid, the Singapore Red Cross Society, St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Singapore Buddhist Lodge and a host of other welfare schemes.

Apart from getting additional allowances from these various welfare schemes, recipients of public assistance also get free medical treatment from Government hospitals and clinics, remission of school fees and free textbooks for their school-going children.

Mr Ho See Beng (Khe Bong): Can the Acting Minister for Social Affairs inform me whether destitutes who consider that their public assistance is not enough are also eligible to apply for further public assistance?

Dr Ahmad Mattar: Mr Speaker, Sir, as the hon. Member for Khe Bong is aware, early last year I set up a committee known as the Public Assistance Review Committee (PARC). This Committee reviews all the cases and if a case merits an additional award, the recipient will get an additional award.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Sir, will the Hon. Minister say whether public assistance grants are withdrawn at any time and, if so, under what guidelines are they withdrawn?

Dr Ahmad Mattar: Mr Speaker, Sir, with your permission, I do not intend to answer the question raised by the Member for Anson today because a similar question has been raised by the hon. Member for Punggol, and I will be answering it tomorrow. 2.45 p.m.