ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF

(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 : 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 :

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 :

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.

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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.

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PREFERENTIAL ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION FEE AND CERTIFICATE OF ENTITLEMENT (Lost Vehicles)

*26. Mr : 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 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.

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PARK AND RIDE SCHEME (Plans to attract more motorists)

*27. Dr : 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.

There are at present 36 Park & Ride car parks across the island. The take-up rate at each of these car parks is not the same. Some are more popular with motorists and are fully utilised, while others are less than half-filled.

First, for the popular Park & Ride car parks, LTA is working with HDB to try to increase the number of Park & Ride lots, or in some cases, identify new Park & Ride car parks in the vicinity. However, we will have to be mindful of the car parking needs of residents and visitors as well, and balance their interests against the needs of Park & Ride users.

Second, LTA will step up the publicity for the less popular Park & Ride car parks. We have found that some under-utilised car parks are quite close to MRT stations. LTA will step up the publicity for these car parks, to encourage more motorists to consider the Park & Ride Scheme at these locations.

Third, LTA will work with TransitLink to make it more convenient for Park & Ride users to obtain their monthly Park & Ride sets. Today, users can purchase their Park & Ride sets at any TransitLink ticket office. However, queues do form outside some of the more popular ones, such as those at Ang Mo Kio, Raffles Place, Clementi, Tampines MRT stations and Boon Lay Bus Interchange. While TransitLink already sets up an additional counter at these locations when the sets go on sale, LTA will work with TransitLink to explore ways, such as through electronic on-line channels, to make it more convenient for users to obtain their Park & Ride sets. LTA will also look at giving regular users greater priority to buy Park & Ride sets.

Mr Speaker Sir, these measures will help to make the Park and Ride scheme more convenient for motorists. LTA is still working on the details of these proposals, and will announce them in early 2010.

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES (Industrial Zones and Support)

*31. Mr Teo Siong Seng: To ask the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) whether the Government has set aside sufficient industrial zones specifically for the recycling industry to support our sustainable development initiatives; and (b) whether his Ministry will provide affordable land and other incentives to encourage local enterprises to upgrade their capability and play a greater role in these industrial zones.

Assoc Prof Dr :

The Government set aside land specifically for the recycling industry since 1995 when the Sarimbun Recycling Park or SRP was set up in the closed Lim Chu Kang Dumping Ground. The SRP is now fully leased out to 13 companies recycling waste items such as wood waste, horticultural waste, construction waste, demolition waste and used tyres. SRP land were initially allocated to recycling companies at rental rate determined by the Chief Valuer. Since November 2008, the land allocation procedure for SRP was changed to a tender system and the rental rate is determined via open market tender. In addition to SRP, companies can apply to JTC for industrial land to set up recycling facilities. Currently, recycling companies are located in various industrial estates such as Tuas, Jurong and Kranji.

Apart from land, NEA also provides funding to incentivise and develop the waste management and recycling industry in Singapore. NEA has set up various funding schemes to support the development of innovative and cost-effective waste management and recycling technologies, as well as facilitate the deployment of pilot projects. These schemes include the Environment Technology Research Programme, the Innovation for Environment Sustainability Fund and the 3R Fund.

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INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS (More stringent regulations)

*32. Mr : To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry for major international competitions like the Miss World beauty pageant where contestants represent their respective countries, whether greater supervision and regulation of the local organisers responsible for selecting the winner-representative for Singapore is necessary in order to protect the brand name of our country.

Mr :

Mr Speaker Sir, beauty pageants are run as businesses. The Miss Singapore World pageant for example, is a franchise of the Miss World Limited. Such events are essentially funded by sponsorships. An event that is badly run or whose prestige is affected will have difficulties securing sponsorship.

One example is the 2008 Miss Singapore Universe. It received many brickbats for the Merlion-inspired dress. The negative feedback resulted in a number of sponsors withdrawing from the pageant. ERM World Marketing, the organiser for this year’s Miss Singapore World pageant, has reportedly faced similar negative reactions from its sponsors following a string of incidents related to its initial pageant winner. With the market discipline imposed by sponsors, there is no need for government to regulate such pageant.

The government, of course, cares about Singapore’s branding. And events where there is international exposure can add or subtract from this branding. But how the world perceives us is not determined by a beauty contest representative. Instead international opinion is shaped over time, as a result of events of significance, by what we do as a country.

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HIRING OF FOREIGN COACHES (Governance)

*33. Ms Joscelin : To ask the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) whether his Ministry plays a part in governing the hiring process of foreign coaches at the national sporting level; (b) if so, what processes are in place to safeguard such coaches from being dismissed by national sports associations shortly after arrival and athletes from being affected by their new coach’s dismissal; and (c) if not, what are the considerations for not stepping in to govern this process.

Dr :

The National Sports Associations (NSAs) are independent people sector organisations. They are governed by their respective constitutions and managed by properly constituted management committees. The selection and hiring of coaches for national athletes are the responsibility of NSAs, based on their human resource policy and the internal processes. Therefore, my Ministry is not involved in the selection and hiring of coaches by NSAs, irrespective of their nationality.

However, the Singapore Sports Council provides NSAs with two Best Practice Guides – the NSA Human Resource guidelines and the Coaching Programmes Handbook, to facilitate the recruitment process. In instances where NSAs request for advice, SSC will provide the necessary guidance throughout the hiring process. In addition, for key NSA staff positions that are directly funded by SSC, such as technical directors and head coaches, a SSC management staff member will sit on the evaluation panel to assist the NSAs.

The relationship between NSAs and their coaches is no different from any other employer / employee relationship. The specific terms of employment and dismissal are laid out in the employment contracts, which need to comply with general employment laws in Singapore. A coach who feels he or she has been unfairly treated can seek clarification from the respective management of the NSAs, or turn to external mechanisms including the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Sports, for mediation and arbitration.

In the event that a coach is dismissed before his or her contract has expired, it is the responsibility of the NSA to ensure that the athletes’ training does not get disrupted. SSC will work with the NSA to hire a new coach, or find a part-time replacement coach in the interim, to ensure the continuity of the athletes’ training and competition schedule.

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DANGEROUS CYCLISTS (Penalties)

*35. Er Lee Bee Wah: To ask the Minister for Transport (a) what action has been taken against cyclists who pose a danger to pedestrians; (b) what are the penalties imposed on these cyclists; and (c) whether his Ministry will consider licensing all motorised bicycles with motors below 200 watts.

Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat:

The Traffic Police has been taking enforcement action against cyclists who pose a danger to pedestrians. Summonses have been issued to those who commit offences under the Road Traffic Act, or breach any rule under the Road Traffic (Bicycles) Rules. Action has been taken against errant cyclists violating cycling rules, most of whom were taken to task for failing to ride in an orderly manner, and riding on the footways of roads.

The penalties imposed depend on the circumstances of each case. For instance, under Section 279 of the Penal Code, a cyclist who rides in a rash or negligent manner that could cause hurt to, or endanger the life of, any other person, may be imprisoned for up to one year, fined up to $5,000, or both. However, these situations are rare. In circumstances where cycling rules are breached, a composition fine of $20 would be meted out against the errant cyclist.

Currently, LTA exempts low-powered models of motorised bicycles from registration as they have similar construction and performance characteristics as conventional pedal bicycles. They are restricted to 200 watts or less, are powered by an electric source, and their electric motor must cut off when the bicycle reaches a speed of 25km/h or when the rider stops pedalling. This is comparable to the average speed of a moderately fit adult pedalling a conventional bicycle on level ground. Hence like conventional bicycles, there is no need for them to be registered for use on public roads.

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SALES OF RECESS AND COMMON AREAS IN HDB BLOCKS

*38. Mr Lim Biow Chuan: To ask the Minister for National Development if he will clarify the reason why HDB allows the sale of recess area and common corridor space to some flat owners and not to others living in the same block of flats but who applied to purchase the areas later.

Mr :

Under the Sale of Recess Area Scheme, flat owners can buy the space fronting their flat, provided certain conditions are met. HDB reviews these conditions regularly to ensure that other residents are not affected or inconvenienced by such sale.

In Aug 1995, the sale of recess area to flats next to corner units was ceased to minimise potential disputes between next-door neighbours. In Sep 1997, HDB discontinued the sale of recess area for certain point blocks, as there was feedback that other residents were being inconvenienced by the reduced corridor space. The last review was in Apr 2001, when the technical criteria were tightened to take into account the requirements of the Fire Safety Code.

HDB will continue to review the conditions for sale of recess area on a regular basis. This is to protect the wider interests of residents, while giving some flat owners the option of purchasing the recess area where feasible.

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LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE AGED DESTITUTE

*42. Mr Terry Lee: To ask the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) what recent studies have been done on the day-to-day living conditions of the aged, especially those in destitute; (b) what are some of the difficulties they face daily and whether the Public Assistance Scheme addresses the majority of it; (c) what other plans are there besides encouraging pro-creation or increasing the labour force to prevent the decline of the old-age support ratio; and (d) what other financial assistance programmes are there to help such elderly destitute families.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan:

The needs of our elderly poor are multi-faceted and broadly fall into one or more of the three categories – financial means; affordable and accessible health and long-term care; and opportunities to be active and socially engaged. MCYS is committed to ensuring that the elderly poor are supported in all these areas, along the principles of self-responsibility, family as first line of care and support, and a Many Helping Hands Approach. I will elaborate on each of these areas.

First, there are various ComCare schemes to help needy elderly financially. For example, the Public Assistance (PA) scheme provides an allowance for their basic living needs. PA recipients also receive free medical care, and are eligible for highly subsidised rental flats. Elderly who do not qualify for Public Assistance may receive support from the other ComCare schemes, such as the ComCare Transitions schemes. In addition, the Community Development Councils, voluntary welfare organizations and charities can provide further assistance customised to the specific needs of the individual. For those who are not able to cope in the community even with financial assistance, they can be admitted to the destitute homes. We are also reviewing the Maintenance for Parents Act, to reinforce the importance of filial piety in our society. The Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents will be more active in assisting the elderly poor to resolve maintenance and other relevant issues in a holistic way.

Second, the Government is committed to developing a healthcare system which is relevant to our ageing demography. This includes developing more step-down care services, including community hospitals, nursing homes and day care centres. In September 09, the Centre for Enabled Living was launched to help the elderly and their caregivers obtain relevant information and services, such as home-based care. Elderly poor will be assisted in paying for healthcare costs through a means-test subsidy framework and Medifund.

Third, we will provide more opportunities for active ageing. The elderly poor are at higher risk of social isolation, especially if they are living alone, divorced or widowed, or in poor health. We estimate that around 30,000 elderly are at risk of social isolation. Befriending and counselling services are available to outreach to the socially isolated. The Government has also outlined plans for a Wellness Programme to be rolled out over the next few years, to promote better health, physical activity and socialisation among older residents.

To improve the living conditions of the elderly living in rental flats, HDB has upgraded the one-room rental blocks with high number of elderly households under Project LIFE 1. For example, these flats are fitted with elderly-friendly fittings and an alert alarm system. There are currently 19 Seniors Activity Centres at the void decks of the rental blocks. These are run by our Voluntary Welfare Organizations. MCYS will be building 23 more Seniors Activity Centres for elderly residents living at HDB rental flats over the next five years. The Seniors Activity Centres provide support, information and referrals and social activities to help our seniors age-in-place.

1 Project LIFE – Life Improvement and Facilities Enhancement for the elderly

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Officers at our Community Development Councils are also well placed to help elderly poor with assistance in all these three areas. They take a holistic approach in delivering assistance, and will look beyond the immediate problem to understand the underlying issues. They will also link up the elderly with other agencies where necessary for assistance. For example, apart from assisting PA recipients with a monthly cash allowance, the CDCs could refer them to organisations like the Lions Befrienders for befriending services. For those who have difficulties preparing their own meals, the CDCs would link them up to organizations such as TOUCH Community Services and Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society for free meals or food rations.

It will be difficult for Singapore to reverse the trend of a declining old-age dependency ratio. We would have successfully prepared for population ageing if Singaporeans are financially self-sufficient, independent and have a strong network of family and social support. Recent measures to enhance the financial security of the old include measures to help people work longer, the HDB lease buyback scheme and CPF Life. The Ministerial Committee on Ageing will continue to monitor and introduce measures as needed so that our elderly can age in dignity and with grace.

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MATCHMADE MARRIAGES (Resilience)

*47. Assoc Prof : To ask the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) in the last five years, what is the number of locally registered marriages between Singaporean grooms and foreign brides as a result of matchmaking services; (b) what is the incidence of divorce for these marriages; and (c) what is the resilience of such marriages given that there is often a cultural and language barrier involved in such marital unions.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan:

Last year, there were 24,596 marriages of which a third (8,136) were between Singapore citizens and non-citizens in 2008. Of these, 6,360 marriages in 2008 were between Singaporean grooms and non-citizen brides. This was an increase from 5,414 in 2004. We are however unable to ascertain how many of such marriages were match-made.

In 2008, there were 746 Singaporean men who divorced their foreign spouses. Divorces between SC grooms and non-SC brides represented 11% of all divorces 2. The divorce rate of transnational marriages involving citizen grooms and non-citizen brides is not significantly different from other marriages. Looking at cohort data, 4% of marriages contracted in 2004 between a SC groom and a non-SC bride ended 5 years later, compared to 6% of all marriages contracted in 2004. For the 1994 marriage cohort, 3% for marriages between a SC groom and a non-SC bride ended in divorce after 5 years, while the figure for all marriages contracted in 1994 was 4%.

We recognise that cultural differences and linguistic barriers are a challenge in any marriage. My Ministry has worked with partners, including the Marriage Central, to provide marriage preparation and enrichment programmes to all couples. We are also looking into formulating programmes tailored for Singaporean-Foreigner marriages. Marriage counselors and educators conducting such programmes could be equipped with the skills to address cross cultural issues.

2 Computed by Department of Statistics, 2009.

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SPONSORS FOR SPORTING EVENTS (Private sector involvement)

*48. Ms : To ask the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports whether his Ministry has plans to actively pursue sponsors from the private sector for the sporting fraternity and why such sponsors have not been actively pursued in the past.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan:

My Ministry and the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) support efforts to engage the private sector as sponsors for sporting initiatives. SSC has put in place platforms such as the annual CEO Networking Session to actively promote the opportunities presented by sports to the private sector. I have attended these sessions and have seen for myself a growing interest and readiness from the private sector to invest in sports. This is evident from the corporate sponsorships garnered for sports events such as the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, OCBC Cycle Singapore and next year’s Youth Olympic Games. Also, the number of blue-chip sponsors for SSC-funded events increased from 26 in financial year 2006 to 53 in financial year 2008.

Both SSC and the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee will continue to engage the private sector to explore partnership opportunities. I am pleased to note that local companies such as DBS, Deloitte Singapore, Changi Exhibition Centre, Fairmount Singapore and Crocodile International have come onboard as sponsors for YOG. I hope many others will follow suit. I would also urge the National Sports Associations (NSAs) and the sporting fraternity to actively present your value proposition and interest the private sector to support your cause.

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Office of the Clerk of Parliament Singapore, 19 October 2009