UNIVERSITY ADMISSION

Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for National Development whether the Government will increase the grants to lower income families who are first-time applicants to help them purchase 3-room flats either from the Housing and Development Board or the open market.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: The Prime Minister said in his National Day Rally speech on 18th August 1996 that the Government will continue to spend more time, energy and resources on public housing. He also stressed that public housing will continue to remain affordable and revealed that the Government will do more to help the lower income households to own their flats.

Following this, the Minister for National Development has, on 22nd August 1996, explained the four-pronged approach that the Government has put in place to help the lower income households own their flats. The approach comprises:

(a) sale at discounted prices of 3-room flats, purchased by HDB from the open market;

(b) sale of 4-room budget flats;

(c) sale of rental flats to sitting tenants at discounted prices; and

(d) priority allocation of 3 and 4-room flats to HDB rental flat tenants. These measures have so far benefited about 9,700 low income families.

The Minister has also announced additional measures to encourage greater home-ownership among the low-income families:

(a) The discount on the sale prices for 3-room buy-back flats will be increased. At present, these flats are sold at a discount of $40,000. The discount will be raised to $50,000 to enable more low-income families to buy these flats from the HDB; and

(b) The household income ceiling for applicants buying 3-room buy-back flats will be raised from $1,200 to $1,500 per month. This will enable more families to apply for the 3-room buy-back flats.

Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for Education whether those who donate generously to the University Endowment Fund should be given some form of priority in university admission.

Mr Lee Yock Suan: My Ministry does not intend to accord priority of admission to university for donors to the Universities Endowment Fund. To do so would run against the principle of meritocracy. University admission will continue to be guided by the ability of the candidate to cope with tertiary studies and to benefit fully from the academic experience.