CHUA CHU KANG (Resettlement compensation)

Dr Low Seow Chay asked the Minister for National Development (a) why the resettlement compensation for some farmers are held up for such a long time; (b) whether there are any changes in the compensation rate and the guidelines on awarding farmer's rate compensation to unlicenses farmers; and (c) what is the number of resettlement cases in Chua Chu Kang Constituency as at the latest convenient date and when the full resettlement compensation will be released to them.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Speaker, Sir, the delay in paying resettlement compensation has been caused by investigations into fraudulent claims. My Minister will be making a Ministerial Statement on this at the end of Question Time.

Sir, my Ministry has tightened up the guidelines for processing compensation claims. New guidelines for classifying squatters as unlicensed farmers and compensating fruit trees, wells and farm structures were introduced in April 1988. A squatter must now satisfy the following conditions in order to qualify for compensation under the unlicensed farmer scheme:

(1) He must be actively engaged in farming. The level of his farming activities must meet the criteria set by the Primary Production Department; and

(2) He must possess an old farm licence which expired before 22nd March 1979, the effective date for the unlicensed farmer compensation policy. In the absence of an old farm licence, the claimant must have at least two adult members of his family who are engaged full-time in farming at the time of clearance and they have been staying at the clearance site since 22nd March 1979.

Sir, there is no change in the compensation rate for unlicensed farmers.

There are 1,343 resettlement cases under clearance in Chua Chu Kang constituency as at 1st May 1989. Payment to these cases will be made once Resettlement Department has checked and verified the claims using the revised procedures and guidelines. Most squatters will receive their compensation payment between now and June 1990.