PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME (Particulars)

Encik Harun bin A. Ghani asked the Minister for Community Development (a) how much was spent by his Ministry on public assistance in 1991 and (b) what is the breakdown of the number of recipients in 1991 according to the following categories: (i) aged destitute persons; (ii) the disabled, the mentally ill and the chronically sick who were unfit to work; (iii) widows or deserted wives with children under 12 years of age; and (iv) orphans.

The Minister for Community Development (Mr Yeo Cheow Tong): Sir, in 1991, my Ministry disbursed $4.55 million as public assistance allowance. In addition, my Ministry also gave out $730,000 from six charitable funds administered by my Ministry to needy families, including those on public assistance allowance.

There were 2,332 households on public assistance allowance as at 31st December 1991. Of these households, 2,030 had aged destitute persons; 184 had either disabled persons or others who were mentally ill or chronically ill which rendered them unfit for work; 113 had heads of households who were widows, deserted or distressed wives with young or schooling children; and 5 had children who were orphans and were living with relatives.