INTEGRATED CIVIL DEFENCE EXERCISE

Dr Koh Lam Son asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether his Ministry will in the near future conduct an integrated civil defence exercise involving rescue, food and water rations, transport, blood donation and other civil defence activities.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs (Dr Lee Boon Yang)(for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, since November 1985, we have conducted a series of emergency exercises in various constituencies. These exercises provide an opportunity for our people to learn how to cope with emergencies. They are part of our Total Defence effort.

To date, we have conducted three Emergency Food Exercises in 21 constituencies, two Water Exercises in 11 constituencies, two Blood Collection Exercises in seven constituencies, one Transportation Exercise in three constituencies, nine Rescue Exercises in nine constituencies and one Public MRT Shelter Exercise. Our plan is to complete the exercises for the remaining constituencies over the next 4-5 years so that every Singaporean will have an opportunity to take part in these exercises.

The public's active participation in the exercises has been good. In the Emergency Food Exercise conducted six months ago in 15 constituencies, some 200,000 residents from 57,000 households took part. In the most recent Civil Defence Shelter Exercise at the Tiong Bahru MRT Station, 4,500 residents participated on a Sunday morning.

We do plan to integrate the different exercises gradually over the next 4-5 years. For a start, the Food and Water Exercises will be conducted together in the same constituencies next year. More integrated exercises will be carried out in subsequent years.