PUBLIC CAR PARKS (Reduction of charges)

Mr Chew Heng Ching asked the Minister for National Development whether, in line with the drop in charges at most private car parks in the last few months, charges at the Urban Redevelopment Authority and Housing and Development Board car parks will be reduced.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, the URA has been monitoring private car parking charges since lifting the control of these charges on 1st May 1985. The monitoring shows that the private car parking charges are either the same or slightly higher than the rates at public car parks. There is therefore no reason for the parking charges at the URA and HDB car parks to be reduced.

Mr Chng Hee Kok: Since there are no penalties for over-parking in the private car parks, will the Minister consider a review of the penalty for over-parking in URA and HDB car parks, where there is a penalty calculated at four times the parking fee for over-parking by 10 or 15 minutes. There is no penalty for over-parking in private car parks.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the penalty for over-parking has been instituted for orderly parking in the HDB estates. It is also to prevent people from not putting parking coupons for the time they park at the car park.

Mr Chew Heng Ching: Would the Minister not agree that the level of URA car park charges, especially in the city, tend to influence the charges in private car parks?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have said earlier, we let the market forces decide. For example, if the URA car parking charges are much higher, then very few people will park in the URA car parks. So URA parking charges have to follow market forces.

Dr Augustine Tan: Would the Hon. Minister inform this House what is the proportion of car parks controlled by the public sector as opposed to the private sector?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, in the city area I think there are more private car parks than public car parks. Of course, in the housing estates, there are more HDB car parks than private car parks.

Dr Augustine Tan: Would the Minister specify the proportion island-wide?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not have the figures. But on the whole I think there would be more public car parks if you take it island-wide, because HDB itself owns a very large number of car parks in the housing estates. HDB is housing 84% of the total population in Singapore. Naturally, HDB has more car parks than the private sector.

Dr Augustine Tan: In that case, Sir, would the Hon. Minister agree with me that it is the public sector that sets the pace in determining the so-called market rentals?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not think it is so because most of the HDB car parks are for season parking by the residents; that is $25 a month, which is much lower than anywhere else. HDB, in fact, does not follow the market forces, as far as the determination of the season parking charges for the residents are concerned. An overwhelming majority of the HDB residents are parking their cars in HDB estates, and they are paying $25 a month for 24 hours of parking a day. I do not think any private paid car park is charging a similar figure. In that respect, HDB is taking the lead in levying low charges.