FINANCIAL SCHEMES

Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh asked the Minister for Community Development if he will give an update on (a) the number of applicants appealing for the various financial assistance schemes under its charge between 1997 and 1999; (b) the number of offences filed under the Maintenance of Parents Act against unfilial children between 1997 and 1999 and the number of convictions; and (c) the nature and duration of follow-up programmes adopted by welfare officers in monitoring the well-being of the families in question.

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: Applicants for the various financial schemes under MCD between 1997 - 1999 are as follows: Table 1: Number Of Applications for Financial Assistance Year PA* SJF* SFIS* BTW* Total % increase 1997 1,718 116 157 8 1,999 - 1998 2,333 117 211 8 2,669 34 1999 2,615 125 190 10 2,940 10 *PA - Public Assistance Scheme SJF - Silver Jubilee Fund (Special Grant) SFIS - Small Families Improvement Scheme BTW - Back-to-Work Child Care Scheme

Number of applications for maintenance under the Maintenance of Parents Act from 1997 to 1999, the number of applications for enforcement of the Order of Tribunal, and the number of convictions for breach of the Order of Tribunal are as follows: Table 2: Applications Under Tribunal For The Maintenance Of Parents Number of applications filed under MPA and at Family Court Number of Number of Number of Year applications applications convictions+++ filed under for MPA+ enforcement filed at Family Court++ 1997 138 24 - 1998 134 59 - 1999 127 78 2 Total 399 161 - + This refers to the number of applications filed by an aged person under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Parents Act (MPA) for an order that one or more of his children pay him maintenance. (These applications do not refer to "offences" filed against "unfilial children".) ++ This refers to the number of applications filed by an aged person for enforcement of the maintenance order issued by the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents. This is done when a Respondent (the child) defaults payment of the maintenance ordered against him and the aged person decides to take up enforcement proceedings against him. Section 10 of the MPA stipulates that the Order of Tribunal may be enforced in the same manner as maintenance orders for wives and children are enforced under the provisions of the Women's Charter. Applications for enforcement of Order of Tribunal are filed at Family Court. +++ This refers to cases in which the respondent in an enforcement proceeding heard at Family Court is sentenced to a term of imprisonment for breach of the Order of Tribunal. The Family Court does not maintain such statistics. The data for 1999 cases has been prepared by file search.

Outcome of applications as at 15th February 2000 for cases registered from 1st January 1997-31st December 1999 is as follows Outcome of Number (%) applications 1997 1998 1999 Maintenance order 110 103 95 made (79.7%) (76.9%) (74.8%) Maintenance/Dismissed/ 28 31 20 Withdrawn etc (20.3%) (23.1%) (15.7%) Pending - - 12 (9.5%) Total 138 134 127 (100.0%) (100.0%) (100.0%)

The Ministry makes available mediation or family counselling services, either from the Ministry or the community (such as in family service centres), to help families who cannot agree on the maintenance for their elderly parents resolve any family disputes or differences even before they approach the Tribunal for assistance, and during and after the Tribunal's proceedings.

The Ministry takes a holistic approach in dealing with families who approach us for assistance. We look into the essential needs of the family, (eg. help with waiver of medical fees and school fees), provide counselling services to deal with their emotional or social difficulties as well as arrange admission to a nursing home for elderly parents who are in need of such care. If necessary, short-term financial assistance will be given to help the families get back on their feet.

The Ministry networks closely with other Government agencies and Community Development Councils to secure the necessary supportive assistance for families in need. Cases may be referred to family service centres to ensure that dysfunctional families receive the help they need to resolve their social or emotional difficulties and appropriate counselling and casework follow-up.