ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF SINGAPORE (SECOND SESSION) _________________ WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER NOT ANSWERED BY 3.00 PM MONDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2009 6 80 SCHOOL CHILDREN AS RUNNERS FOR LOAN SHARKS *23. Er Lee Bee Wah: To ask the Minister for Education (a) what action is the Ministry taking to prevent school children from being lured into working as runners for loan sharks; and (b) how many students have been caught for such activities in the past 12 months. Dr Ng Eng Hen: Police data indicate that from 1 Oct 2008 to 30 Sep 2009, 136 youths were arrested for loanshark and related harassment activities, of which almost half were students. Ultimately, parents are primary caregivers of their children. They must take responsibility to monitor the after-school activities of their children and know who their children are interacting with so as to provide timely guidance to their children. The reasons for school children being lured into working for such activities are complex. Even as we reiterate the responsibility of parents to mould their children’s character, schools can play a complementary reinforcing role in this respect. Schools raise awareness of their students to illegal activities through the formal curriculum and a variety of character development and life-skills programmes, in order to teach them to discern right from wrong. The actions taken by schools include counselling and support, and as a last resort, disciplinary actions. Schools also engage the parents and community to work in partnership in nurturing our young holistically. Schools have adopted a variety of strategies to facilitate communication with parents and keep them informed about the needs of their children. Schools also collaborate with relevant agencies or authorities to guide students back on the right track. For example, MOE works with the Police to raise awareness at the school level through roadshows in schools and the provision of advisories. 6 81 ACTIVE AGEING (Apex body and promotion plans) *24. Mr Laurence Wee Yoke Thong: To ask the Prime Minister in mapping out future plans for an integrated holistic approach of service delivery to promote active ageing and general well-being of older persons, whether there will be an apex body to facilitate coordination between the various Ministries as elder care issues cut across several Ministries covering health, finance, accessibility, housing, employment etc. *25. Mr Laurence Wee Yoke Thong: To ask the Prime Minister in view of the ageing population (a) what are the long term plans to promote active ageing; and (b) what are the principles that will be used in considering measures to address the problem of the vulnerable and frail elderly in the community. Mr Lim Boon Heng: Let me take the Member’s second question first. The Government recognises that addressing ageing issues requires a whole-of-government approach. As the Member says, some issues cut across several Ministries. Two years ago, the Ministerial Committee on Ageing, which I chair, was established to facilitate inter-agency coordination and collaboration on ageing issues. The committee is pursuing the four strategic thrusts of enhancing employability and financial security, enabling ageing-in-place, providing holistic and affordable healthcare and eldercare, and promoting active ageing. This arrangement has served us well so far. So there are no plans for a separate apex body. Let me now address the Member’s other question. We have started work to prepare for an ageing population. Our aim is to enable our elderly to remain active, independent, financially secured and productively engaged with the wider community. In doing so, we ensure that Singapore remains a vibrant and dynamic society, and a good home for our young and old. We are building on the work accomplished in recent years. The Council for Third Age was set up two years ago to champion active ageing. With the support of MCYS, it has re- branded the annual Senior Citizens’ Week to the Active Ageing Festival. The Council also administers the Ministry’s Golden Opportunities (GO!) Fund, which has seed-funded over 40 community projects with an outreach of 50,000 seniors. It has worked with tripartite partners to identify model employers of older workers. In the coming months, the Council will be focusing on inter-generational bonds in the family, community and the workplace. Employment, financial security and ageing-in-place are essential to active ageing. We are promoting re-employment and expanding our continuous education and training framework for seniors. We are also enhancing financial security through CPF LIFE, the 3Ms framework and studying how to help citizens finance their long-term care needs. Members would be aware of ongoing efforts to make our housing estates, public transport and living environment barrier-free. The Government will expand efforts to promote active ageing. One specific initiative is the Wellness Programme, which has been piloted in 12 constituencies and has benefited more than 8,000 seniors through health screenings and other activities. The People’s Association will implement the Wellness Programme in partnership with grassroots leaders and leveraging on existing facilities such as our community clubs and RC centres. Those health-screened and found to be at-risk would be asked to follow up with their family doctors. Those who are sedentary will be invited to join physical activities such as brisk-walking and taichi. Those who are not in social groups will be encouraged to join one. We plan to implement the programme in another 24 constituencies next year. 6 82 Active ageing is ultimately a matter of personal responsibility. As friends, peers, family members and leaders in our community, we all need to support active ageing as a ground-up movement. The Wellness Programme is a platform, but it needs the commitment of advisors, grassroots leaders and community partners to reach out to more residents and to achieve our desired results. As our population ages, more elderly Singaporeans will need care in the coming years. The Centre for Enabled Living has been set up to strengthen community care and to better support our caregivers. The Centre will provide appropriate advice and referral that fit the needs of the care recipient and their family. It will expand training for caregivers and foreign domestic workers and promote schemes to help offset the cost of care. The Centre will also work closely with other agencies so that care is better coordinated across different services. At the policy level, MOH, MCYS, MND and other relevant agencies meet regularly to study the care and housing needs of an ageing population and to develop the network of community-based services. Our aim is to minimise the number of elderly who become vulnerable and needy. Thus we help people to acquire skills to stay employed for as long as they can, and save for their retirement years. We help them to maintain good physical, mental and social wellbeing. And we help them to save for their healthcare, and for their long-term care if needed. The principle is self- reliance. However, there will be some elderly who become vulnerable and needy. Comcare provides the social safety net under our “Many Helping Hands” approach. The Government will reinforce the principle of family as the first line of care and support for our elderly. We will help families to fulfil this responsibility through our various policies. All these efforts will require investment from government, and we are committed to doing so. Most of our elderly can and should be active, independent and socially engaged. Those who need care and their caregivers will be provided appropriate, accessible and affordable services. Those who are needy and vulnerable will be provided adequate assistance and help. With the support of all members of the House, we are optimistic that this vision can be achieved. 6 83 PREFERENTIAL ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION FEE AND CERTIFICATE OF ENTITLEMENT (Lost Vehicles) *26. Mr Lim Biow Chuan: To ask the Minister for Transport why the Preferential Additional Registration Fee and Certificate of Entitlement rebates are not granted to owners of vehicles that are reported lost in situations of a criminal breach of trust. Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat: To be eligible for Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF) and Certificate of Entitlement (COE) rebates, the owner of a vehicle has to de-register his or her vehicle and dispose of it through scrap or permanent export. LTA will grant the PARF and COE rebates to the owner upon submission of satisfactory disposal documents for the vehicle, to ensure that the vehicle is permanently taken off Singapore roads. LTA will similarly grant the PARF and COE rebates to the owner of vehicles lost through a criminal breach of trust, or CBT. The law was changed to allow this in 2004 and hence only applies to vehicles that have been lost on or after 1 January 2005, and reported to the Police. To claim for the PARF and COE rebates of such vehicles, owners have to wait for 3 years from the date when the loss was first reported to the Police. This is to prevent abuse or fraudulent requests. 6 84 PARK AND RIDE SCHEME (Plans to attract more motorists) *27. Dr Lim Wee Kiak: To ask the Minister for Transport (a) if he will provide an update on the Park and Ride Scheme; and (b) what are the Ministry's plans, if any, to improve the Scheme to attract more motorists. Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat: Mr Speaker Sir, the use of the Park & Ride Scheme is something that we encourage, for drivers to make use of public transport in their daily commute. The scheme is currently administered by TransitLink. LTA has worked with TransitLink to review the scheme, and has taken note of the suggestions that have been put forth on how the scheme can be improved.