HOUSING NEEDS OF THE AGED IN HDB ESTATES

Mr Eric Cheong Yuen Chee asked the Minister for National Development, in view of the projected increase in the number of senior citizens residing in Housing and Development Board estates, what steps are being taken by the HDB to cater to the physical, social and recreational needs of these citizens.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government has always been concerned about the housing needs of the aged. Various schemes have already been implemented by the HDB to provide accommodation for our senior citizens. They are:

(a) Joint Ballotting Scheme. Implemented in 1976, this scheme allows married children and their parents to be allocated two or more units of adjoining flats. As at December 1985, 16,471 families have been allocated flats under this scheme.

(b) Multi-tier Family Housing Scheme. This scheme encourages two or three generations of the same family to stay together in the same flat. Applicants under the scheme are granted three years' priority in allocation. Since its implementation in 1982, a total of 9,885 units have been allocated under the scheme. Another 1,874 applicants are on the waiting list, pending allocation as at December 1985.

(c) Aged/Senior Citizen Scheme. Implemented in 1978, the objective of this scheme is to provide housing for the senior citizens who are single. Two or more single senior citizens can apply to purchase HDB flats jointly. As at December 1985, 405 units have been allocated under the scheme.

The HDB will continue to monitor the demographic trends of Singapore. Adjustments will be made to existing schemes and new schemes will be introduced, if necessary, to respond to the changing needs of society.

Our senior citizens can now make use of the void decks and bird-singing corners provided by the HDB. They can also use the recreational facilities at the community centres.

In addition to these facilities, the HDB has been providing a residents' lounge at the void decks of all new apartment blocks since late 1985. The lounge, with an area of 60 sq metres, is provided with stone tables for chess games. For existing estates, a similar lounge will be provided if there is sufficient space at the void decks.

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam (Anson): Mr Speaker, Sir, a supplementary question for the Minister. First of all, I wonder whether the Minister realizes that most of his answer is completely irrelevant to the question which asked what steps were being taken to cater to the physical, social and recreational needs, not about their housing needs.

Is the Minister aware that sometime ago I made a request for a room in Anson Constituency to be made available for the needs of the senior citizens? This room was made vacant because the Youth Club which was occupying it had moved out. Does the Minister know that permission has been refused for us to use this room? Will the Minister now tell me whether he will grant permission to use this room as a lounge, as he calls it, for the senior citizens?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not think that I was not answering the Question. In fact, what I have answered is that housing forms a very important part of the physical, social and recreational needs of the senior citizens. Without housing, then these needs will not be met.

On the request by the Member for Anson for a room for senior citizens, is it a room?

Mr Jeyaretnam: Yes, a room. In Block 135. Are you not aware of it?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: No, I am not aware of it. I suggest that the Member for Anson write to me and I will look into it.

Mr Jeyaretnam: May I have, if not a promise, an assurance that he will give it favourable consideration, and that I will get this room?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, any request by Members of Parliament will be considered.