MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS (Setting up)

Mr Chia Shi Teck asked the Prime Minister if it is timely now to set up a Ministry of Youth and Sports with a full Cabinet Minister in charge.

The Prime Minister (Mr Goh Chok Tong): Mr Speaker, Sir, I share the sentiment of Mr Chia Shi Teck behind this question. Our youths are a precious asset and their needs and aspirations should be specially catered for. It was for this reason that, as Deputy Prime Minister, I set up an Advisory Council on Youth in 1988. The Council was asked to identify the needs, interests and aspirations of youths, review Government's policies and programmes affecting youths, and to recommend new programmes to enable our youths to maximise their potential and contribute towards nation building. The Council was chaired by BG Lee Hsien Loong and included many young Singaporeans. It published its Report in February 1989. The Member may wish to read it.

Amongst other things, the Council studied the need for the Ministry of Youth and Sports. It observed:

'Singapore does not really need a Ministry of Youth as we do not need an agency to undertake administrative functions. We need one to set directions and coordinate. A National Youth Council is recommended to assume these functions.'

The Advisory Council's recommendation not to have a separate Ministry of Youth and Sports remains valid. Youths' needs are diverse covering education, training, employment, housing, health, the arts, sports and recreation. At present, their needs are effectively met by the various functional Ministries.

The National Youth Council was set up in 1989. The Council's current Chairman is the Minister of State for National Development, Mr Lim Hng Kiang. Youth organisations and Government agencies providing services for youths are represented on the Council. The Council identifies and plans programmes to meet the needs of youths in education, training, employment opportunities, sports and recreation. It also coordinates youth exchanges with other countries. The Council works behind the scene and leaves the implementing agencies to execute the programmes. Because of this, it takes a low profile. I shall ask the Chairman, Mr Lim, to consider ways to raise this profile so that young Singaporeans can identify with it. I hope young Singaporeans can contribute ideas as well as dedicate themselves to Singapore's future prosperity and progress. It is their future really.