HDB STUDIO APARTMENTS FOR THE ELDERLY

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HDB STUDIO APARTMENTS FOR THE ELDERLY:

* 12. *Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many studio apartments for the elderly have been built by HDB since the introduction of the scheme; (b) how many have been taken up; (c) whether his Ministry intends to continue to provide this form of housing for the elderly; and (d) what other measures will be introduced to cater to the housing needs of the elderly.

Mr Speaker: You have one minute.

The Minister of State for National Development (Dr Vivian Balakrishnan) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, since the launch of the Studio Apartment (SA) scheme in 1998, HDB has built a total of 936 studio apartments (SAs) in standalone blocks under the pilot

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phase. About 96% of the units are currently occupied. The remaining units were returned to HDB by their former owners. HDB will re-offer them for sale to eligible applicants.

In view of the favourable response to the pilot batch of SAs, HDB will be building new SAs to meet the housing needs of the elderly. These new units will be integrated with other HDB flat types in the same block to encourage more social interaction between the elderly and younger residents. 300 such units are being built at Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) replacement sites in Geylang, Bukit Merah and Queenstown. They are currently being offered for sale to SERS lessees and the balance units will be offered to the public at the end of 2004. HDB will gauge the response to these new integrated SAs before deciding on its future plans for SAs.

3.00 pm

Mr Speaker: **** Order. End of Question time.

[Pursuant to Standing Order No. 21(3), Written Answers to Question Nos. 12 and 14-16 on the Order Paper are reproduced in the Appendix*. Question No. 13 has been postponed to the sitting of Parliament on 8th March 2004.]

*Cols. 505-12