CONTROL OF RENT ACT (Repeal)

Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for National Development what is the approximate number of rent-controlled premises under the Control of Rent Act; and whether his Ministry will consider introducing legislation to repeal the Act as more than 85% of our population are living in public housing estates and housing is no more a problem.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, in reply to a similar question tabled by the Member for Bukit Timah in October 1985, I have explained to the House that the Government does not keep records of the type and number of rent-controlled premises. Since then, my Ministry, in conjunction with the Ministry of Law and the Inland Revenue Department, has been collecting data on rent-controlled premises from available records. From preliminary estimates, there could be about 12,000 premises under the Control of Rent Act. These comprise not only residential premises but also shophouses and non-residential premises.

The review of the Control of Rent Act will be conducted once the data collection is completed.

Mr Yeo Toon Chia (Ang Mo Kio): Sir, may I know from the Minister when this data collection exercise will be completed?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Sir, I hope by the end of this year.