REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON DESTITUTE FAMILIES (Government's response)

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon asked the Minister for Community Development what is the Government's response to the Report of the Committee on Destitute Families.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Report of the Committee on Destitute Families has been considered by the Advisory Council on Family and Community Life. The Advisory Council accepted many of the recommendations of the Committee.

The Council has completed its Report entitled "Towards Better Family and Community Life". My Ministry is now obtaining the views of the respective Ministries and organizations on the recommendations. The Report with their comments will then be submitted to the Government for approval. My Ministry will announce the Government's decision later.

In deciding on how destitute families can be helped, we have to ensure that there is no departure from the Government's policy on welfare assistance. Some countries which have gone the way of the welfare state are now trying to get out of it. We must not follow their example.

Self-help and help from the community must form two basic pillars of our welfare policies. Any help for the destitute should enable them to upgrade themselves so that they can be self-sufficient in the long term.

Financial help, if any, should be temporary and should not lead to dependency. It should be part of a social assistance package that should involve referral to social agencies for counselling in areas like family planning, home and child management and upgrading of skills.