Volume 94 Monday No 81 6 August 2018

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

SINGAPORE

OFFICIAL REPORT

CONTENTS

Written Answers to Questions Page

1. Access to and Privacy Protection Measures in Place for Street Lighting Cameras 3 Using Facial Recognition Technology (Mr ) 2. Results of Investigations into Fatal Accident near Pasir Ris MRT Station on 22 4 March 2016 and Tunnel Flooding between Bishan and Braddell MRT Stations on 7 and 8 October 2017 (Mr ) 3. Plans to Review Eligibility Criteria for National Service Deferment (Dr Intan 4 Azura Mokhtar) 4. Proportion of Full-time National Servicemen Downgraded for Mental Issues (Ms 12 ) 5. Number of Deaths from Alcohol-related Violence and Traffic Accidents in Last 10 12 Years (Mr ) 6. Closing and Expunging of Police Reports Made by Private Parties against Other 13 Private Parties but Not Pursued (Mr Kok Heng Leun) 7. Plans to Digitise Current Photocard Driving Licence (Mr Yik Chye) 14 8. Investigations into Chairman and Management of Swiber Holdings and Related 14 Companies (Mr Lip Fong) 1

9. Reported Cases of Investment Scams Targeting Members of Public (Mr Ong Teng 15 Koon) 10. Hospital Admissions and Deaths from Alcohol Overdose in Last 10 Years (Mr 16 Kok Heng Leun) 11. Statistics on Awareness and Practice of Breast Self-Examination among Females 17 in (Ms ) 12. Average Life Expectancy of Disabled Persons Receiving Payouts under 18 ElderShield (Mr ) 13,14. Safeguarding Records and Personal Particulars against Cyberattacks (Mr 18 , Mr Murali Pillai) 15. Provision of Free Digital TV Starter Kits (Mr ) 19 16. Ensuring Good Re-employment and Age-friendly Hiring Practices by Public 20 Service's Outsourced Providers (Mr ) 17. Solution to Mynah Nuisance along Upper Road (Mr ) 21 18. Inspection Regime for HDB Facades (Ms Joan Pereira) 22 19. Plans for Animal Rescue Shelter for Stray Cats Awaiting Adoption (Mr Ong Teng 23 Koon) 20. Update on Revitalisation of Shops Scheme in Rejuvenating HDB Neighbourhood 24 Shops (Mr Desmond Choo) 21. Special Needs Children of School-going Age (Er Dr ) 26 22. ITE, Polytechnic and University Graduates in 2015-2017 from Normal Technical, 27 Normal Academic and Express Streams (Mr Kok Kwang) 23. Regular and Comprehensive Programme to Fight Prejudices and Stigmatisation of 28 Mental Well-being in Secondary Schools (Assoc Prof Pei Siong) 24. Aggregate Monthly Balances in Ordinary Accounts of CPF Members for 2015- 29 2017 (Mr Pritam Singh) 25. Workers Classified as Managers and Executives Earning Less than $2,500 and 29 $2,600 a Month as at 30 June 2018 (Mr Teck Guan) 26. Workers Classified as Managers and Executives Earning Less than $2,500 and 30 $2,600 a Month as at 30 June 2018 (Mr Kok Heng Leun) 2

27. Cases of Underaged Domestic Helpers for Past Five Years and Actions Taken 31 against Errant Agencies (Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye) 28. Coverage of Singaporeans Working in Foreign Diplomatic Missions in Singapore 32 under Employment Act (Ms ) 29. Verbal Test Option for Singaporeans with Low Educational Qualifications 33 Attending Mandatory Workplace Safety Courses (Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong) 30. Proportion of Registered Trade Unions not Initiating Collective Agreement 33 Negotiations with Employers (Mr Leon Perera) 31. Elderly Singaporeans without Family Support (Dr Chia Shi-Lu) 34 32. Education Institutions in Singapore for Special Needs Youths Aged 18 and Above 35 (Er Dr Lee Bee Wah) 33. Divorce Cases Awarded Shared Care and Control of Children (Mr Louis Ng Kok 37 Kwang)

3

ACCESS TO AND PRIVACY PROTECTION MEASURES IN PLACE FOR STREET LIGHTING CAMERAS USING FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY

1 Mr Leon Perera asked the Prime Minister in respect of planned installations of street lighting cameras using facial recognition technology (a) what measures are in place to ensure security and privacy protection; and (b) which Government agencies and what types of personnel within those agencies will have access to the data so generated. Mr (for the Prime Minister): Under the Smart Nation Sensor Platform project, the Government is progressively testing and deploying different sensors and related technologies, with the objective of providing better and more responsive services to citizens. These sensors include cameras mounted on street lamps that can support facial recognition for follow-up investigation in the event of a security incident. These cameras are similar to those already installed in other public places. To ensure security and protection of privacy, the Sensor Platform will incorporate industry best practices and standards in data security. These include access controls, encryption and identity hashing to prevent re-identification. Data collected from these sensors will only be accessed by public officers who require such data for their specific operational needs. The Public Sector Governance Act (PSGA), recently passed by Parliament, makes clear when data sharing is allowed across Government agencies, clarifies which agency is responsible, and criminalises the misuse of data. Back to Contents

4

RESULTS OF INVESTIGATIONS INTO FATAL ACCIDENT NEAR PASIR RIS MRT STATION ON 22 MARCH 2016 AND TUNNEL FLOODING BETWEEN BISHAN AND BRADDELL MRT STATIONS ON 7 AND 8 OCTOBER 2017

2 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Transport (a) what is discovered in the investigations leading to the fines imposed on SMRT on 20 July 2018 in respect of the fatal accident near Pasir Ris MRT station on 22 March 2016 and the tunnel flooding incident between Bishan and Braddell MRT stations on 7 and 8 October 2017; (b) what lessons have been learned from the investigations; and (c) what measures have been put in place by SMRT to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. Mr : On 20 July 2018, the Land Transport Authority announced its intention to impose two financial penalties totalling $1.9 million on SMRT for the fatal accident which took place on 22 March 2016 near Pasir Ris MRT station, and the flooding incident in the tunnels between Bishan and Braddell MRT stations from 7 to 8 October 2017. SMRT has apologised and accepted responsibility for these incidents. Under the Rapid Transit Systems Act, following the imposition of financial penalties, SMRT has the right to lodge a statutory appeal to the Minister for Transport. As the appeal window has not closed, it would not be in order for the Minister for Transport to comment on this case now. Back to Contents PLANS TO REVIEW ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR NATIONAL SERVICE DEFERMENT

3 Dr asked the Minister for Defence (a) whether there are plans to review the eligibility criteria for National Service (NS) deferment; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider setting up a review committee comprising esteemed individuals beyond the defence and armed forces sector to review applications for NS deferment on their individual merits. 5

Dr : Singapore’s founding leaders knew the strict conditions that National Service (NS) would impose on its citizens when they passed the NS (Amendment) Bill 51 years ago and the Enlistment Act in 1970. In 1984, just as he was about to retire, a reflective Dr Goh Keng Swee acknowledged it plain and simple – "National Service imposes (not only) a great sacrifice of time and money on the young men called up."1 But Dr Goh followed with the reason why NS was crucial to our nation’s survival – "deep in his heart the average Singapore citizen knows the danger he faces are real and not hypothetical, and that there is a need to defend ourselves."2 The Appellate High Court also brought their minds to bear on our NS policy in 2017 during an appeal on the sentencing of NS defaulters. Their written judgement3 spelt out the reasons why more stringent sentencing benchmarks were justified but those same reasons lie at the heart of what Members of Parliament (MPs) have asked today – how strict is this requirement for every male to serve his NS when required? What exceptions or flexibility can be given? It was a landmark decision, presided over by the Chief Justice. The Appellate High Court referred to DPM Teo's Ministerial Statement given in 2006 to this House, when he was Defence Minister. That Ministerial Statement coupled with the written judgement, illuminate the fundamentals on which our NS policy are based, that we must not unwittingly weaken lest we undo this nation's foundations. I urge all Members to read them. The judges opined that, "In practical terms, what the three fundamental principles of national security, universality and equity mean is that in order to ensure Singapore's national security, every male Singaporean must serve NS and at the time he is required to under the [Enlistment] Act, without regard to his personal convenience and considerations. When a person refuses to serve NS at the time that he is required to and instead returns to serve at a time of his own choosing, or worse, at an age when he can no longer serve, his actions strike at the very core of the principles of national security, universality and equity."4 6

Thirteen NS defaulters were prosecuted after the new sentencing framework was established last year. In Court, each gave reasons why he did not enlist as required. Some wanted to complete their university degree first before NS. Others said they had to support their families. In every judgement, the Courts dismiss these personal reasons, convicted and sentenced them to jail terms. Harsh as it is, the Enlistment Act is blind to "personal convenience and considerations"5 , no matter how talented the individual or exceptional his circumstances. At the core of the Enlistment Act, the critical national need for a strong defence puts aside personal pursuits and mandates that each liable male performs his NS when required. The written judgement noted that everyone was asked to do his "fair share"6 – "This entails every citizen who is required to serve NS making sacrifices or postponing individual goals to serve the nation when the nation needs his service"7. These arguments spell out in unequivocal terms the NS obligations for every Singaporean male. Deferment therefore cannot be for that individual, no matter how talented, to pursue his own interests or career, even if it vicariously brings credit or fame to Singapore. This would be fundamentally wrong and goes against the core principle of equity. Some Singaporeans have voiced the same opinions over Mr Davis' application. Mr Suresh Nair, who wrote, "Let this Davis case be the right and timely reminder of the need for absolute fairness in applying laws regarding NS deferment".8 To preserve equity for all national servicemen, MINDEF will only defer individuals very selectively if their deferment serves Singapore's interest first and foremost, never their own. This was the only basis to defer three sportsmen, swimmers Joseph Schooling and Quah Zheng Wen, and sailor Maximilian Soh, from NS to train and compete in the Olympics. The sportsmen deferred know this, as clear expectations were laid out when deferment was given, in discussion with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) on the standards required for their training. Neither was deferment open-ended 7 nor unconditional. They will have to return to serve NS, and if they do not meet the standards agreed upon, deferment will be curtailed. These strict conditions are necessary because even for these individuals who can bring glory to Singapore, there are detractors, who think it’s unfair for anyone to be deferred. Mr T. Ng wrote to MINDEF – "Please be fair to all Singaporean males, who spent years serving NS. Every Singaporean male's career is important from his own point of view."9 Disruption for individuals after they are enlisted for NS follows the same principles and is also given only for national reasons. We disrupt medical students to complete their medical studies because we need them to serve as Medical Officers during their NS to take care of their fellow soldiers. It’s not an entitlement and once the reasons are no longer valid, the disruption will end. For example, we previously allowed overseas medical students to disrupt, but this was stopped in 1992, when we could produce enough doctors locally. Similarly, dental students were not disrupted after 1989, as there was no need for NS Dental Officers. For transparency, MINDEF publishes a full list of all medical students who are disrupted every year. Having stated the general principles, let me explain why the application by Mr Harvey Davis for his son’s deferment was rejected even though MINDEF recognised Mr Ben Davis' achievement in obtaining a senior contract with Fulham Football Club (FC). First, Mr Ben Davis is playing for Fulham FC as an English national, not a Singapore citizen. MINDEF is not privy to the contract signed between them, but we assume this published information is correct and that the father must have his reasons for doing so. Second, Mr Harvey Davis has consistently refused to indicate when his son would return to serve NS, if deferred. The father replied to MCCY, Sport Singapore (SportSG) and Football Association of Singapore (FAS), stating – "We are unable to commit to a date for his return should he be playing professional football in the UK or Europe. In addition, it is also a possibility that Ben could be offered a new two-year contract in 2019 8 after the first year of his pro-contract just like he has been offered a new two-year pro contract half way through his two-year scholarship contract. Or, he could be sent out on loan or sold to another club. There are a lot of variables all dependent on his development and progression.”10 Third, if he was not granted deferment, the father indicated that Mr Ben Davis would still proceed to sign the contract, and he has done so. The reason given by the father was that his son would only return to fulfil his NS commitment if he is unsuccessful in his professional career. In fact, Mr Harvey Davis went further after MINDEF rejected the application – that he would consider the option for his son to renounce his Singapore citizenship in order to pursue his career. The father's responses made clear his intent for his son to pursue a professional football career to the fullest. If Mr Ben Davis will not give up his senior contract, which provides for an allowance of a few hundred pounds a week, to serve his NS, it is even more unlikely that he will return to serve NS if he subsequently gets offered a contract worth many times more. And if he is not given a further contract with Fulham FC, the father has said that he may find other clubs which his son can be loaned to. The application by Mr Harvey Davis for his son’s deferment is to further his son’s professional career first and to the longest extent possible. He has been quite open about this. Singapore and her interests, including his son’s NS obligations, are secondary consideration, if at all. There has been no indication, commitment or plans as to how Mr Ben Davis would help football standards in Singapore, if deferred. Mr Harvey Davis has urged MINDEF to approve deferment for his son so that it would serve as an inspiration, he tells us for the 1000 students registered with his company JSSL, 500 or so who are local. JSSL Singapore, or Junior Soccer School & League Singapore, is a youth football 9 club and academy business run by Mr Harvey Davis and advertises itself as having links to Fulham FC. MINDEF could not find any valid grounds to approve the application for deferment by Mr Harvey Davis for his son. There is no commitment to serve Singapore or our national interests. To grant deferment to Mr Ben Davis to pursue his personal development and professional career would be unfair to the many others who have served their NS dutifully as required, and not at a time of their choosing. It would also erode the basis on which our Courts have upheld the Enlistment Act passed by Parliament and punished those for not fulfilling their NS liabilities to pursue personal pursuits. As a writer, Mr Patrick Tan Siong Kuan, wrote to The Straits Times (ST) Forum – "The defence of our country cannot be a matter of serving when it is most convenient. It is a responsibility that every man must take seriously when called upon, regardless of race, family connections or financial status. It takes personal sacrifice and putting the country before self. Otherwise, there will be no Singapore tomorrow."11 Mr Suresh Nair who wrote to the MINDEF Feedback Unit – "If Davis is proud of his red passport, he must do what every Singapore teenager does, to dutifully observe the NS obligations."12 I know it must be difficult for a 17-year-old to receive such public attention. It was never MINDEF's intent, but MINDEF had to respond to his father’s claims to the media to explain to MPs and Singaporeans the basis of our decision on this important policy. I have dealt with the application by Mr Harvey Davis for his son. Let me now address the important issue that MPs have asked – can and how do we achieve sporting excellence, including for team sports, if NS duties are to be fulfilled? NS does require sacrifices, certainly personal ones, but performing one's NS duties and pursuing national aspirations for sports excellence need not be mutually exclusive. 10

Many talented sportsmen have served NS as required and yet at the same time raised the level of their own skills and the teams they played with. To MINDEF's knowledge, there are three other footballers who have also been talent spotted to take part in trials for professional leagues overseas. All three have completed their NS as required – Saifullah Akbar, Ikhsan and . In fact, Saifullah Akbar and Ikhsan Fandi asked to be enlisted early, presumably so that they could complete their NS early to pursue their professional careers. Prior to enlisting, Saifullah played for the Under-16 national team and was reportedly spotted by an Australian club at age 16 but went ahead to enlist for NS. During their NS, Irfan and Ikhsan trained and played for the Under-22 national team during the 2017 SEA Games, supported by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Home Team. Irfan and Ikhsan are now playing for the Young Lions in the and representing Singapore in regional football competitions. I understand Irfan has gone for trials with European clubs, including an upcoming trial with Sporting Braga, and Saifullah and Ikhsan are slated to follow suit at CD Tenerife and Braga, respectively. All of us will certainly cheer them on to succeed. This is a good sign for football in Singapore and talented footballers, Ben Davis included, can emulate the example of Irfan, Saifullah and Ikhsan to complete both their NS duties as required and also advance their professional football careers. For the recent SEA Games 2015, and 2017, MINDEF supported those competing, both as a team and individually. Enlistment dates for NS were adjusted for those affected so that they could participate in the games first, including some footballers. Those who were already enlisted were given time off to train and maintain their peak performance. For the upcoming Asian Games later this month, so far, ten of our national servicemen have been given a short postponement of their enlistment of a few weeks, or if they have been enlisted, time off to train for the games, including a member of the Water Polo team who clinched their 27th straight SEA Games Gold medal last year. We wish all these 11 sportsmen every success and hope that they continue to do well for Singapore in the Asian Games and beyond. Besides these provisions, MINDEF has offered disruption to Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) competing in these games. Very few have chosen to disrupt, perhaps because they are able to train adequately in the SAF. These many examples show that MINDEF has exercised flexibility towards sportsmen competing in team sports, a question asked by Dr Intan and Mr Muhamad Faisal and others. MINDEF has done so without transgressing the fundamentals of NS and still maintaining equity for all national servicemen. MINDEF will work with MCCY, SportSG and other relevant agencies through various pathways that can allow sportsmen to do well and still fulfil their NS obligations, be it in individual or team sports.

Note(s) to question 3: 1 Speech by Dr Goh Keng Swee, 25 Sep 1984. 2 Ibid. 3 Public Prosecutor v Sakthikanesh s/o Chidambaram et al. [2017] SGHC 178 4 Ibid., at [47], [48]. 5 Ibid., at [47]. 6 Ibid., at [34]. 7 Ibid., at [34]. 8 Email to the MINDEF Feedback Unit, dated 19 Jul 2018. 9 Email to the MINDEF Feedback Unit, dated 21 Jul 2018. 10 Email to MCCY, dated 15 May 2018. 11 Letter to ST Forum, dated 20 Jul 2018. 12 Email to the MINDEF Feedback Unit, dated 19 Jul 2018. Back to Contents

12

PROPORTION OF FULL-TIME NATIONAL SERVICEMEN DOWNGRADED FOR MENTAL ISSUES

4 Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Defence whether there has been an uptrend in the proportion of full-time national servicemen downgraded for mental issues in recent cohorts compared to cohorts in previous decades. Dr Ng Eng Hen: Over the past five years, around 4% of each National Service (NS) cohort was downgraded for mental health issues. The majority of these were downgraded after the pre-enlistment check-ups, before commencing their NS and therefore the prevalence of mental disorders for national servicemen reflects that of the male population in Singapore. For those who are enlisted, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) supports these Full- Time National Servicemen (NSFs) with a range of medical treatment and counselling services by our SAF psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors and para-counsellors. Unit commanders undergo basic training to help them better understand mental health conditions and interview all NSFs at regular intervals to find out if they are facing any stresses, including emotional or psychological problems. In addition, NSFs can call a 24- hour SAF Counselling Hotline whenever they need help. Back to Contents NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALCOHOL-RELATED VIOLENCE AND TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN LAST 10 YEARS

5 Mr Kok Heng Leun asked the Minister for Home Affairs in the last 10 years, what is the number of deaths that have resulted from (i) alcohol-related violence and (ii) alcohol-related traffic accidents respectively. Mr K Shanmugam: There were 10 deaths resulting from alcohol-related violence over the past 10 years. 13

The number of deaths resulting from drink-driving accidents has fallen from 22 deaths in 2009 to 14 in 2017. On average, there were 16 such deaths per year. The Police will continue to take tough action against alcohol-related offences. Back to Contents CLOSING AND EXPUNGING OF POLICE REPORTS MADE BY PRIVATE PARTIES AGAINST OTHER PRIVATE PARTIES BUT NOT PURSUED

6 Mr Kok Heng Leun asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether police reports made by private parties against other private parties are closed or expunged when no investigation of the allegations follows or when there is insufficient evidence to pursue an investigation; (b) if so, how long before they are closed or expunged; and (c) whether police reports containing unproven allegations are firewalled from ICA decisions in respect of the person's applications for social visit passes, student passes and work passes in accordance with the principle of "innocent until proven guilty". Mr K Shanmugam: The Police will review Police reports to assess if an offence could have been committed, and whether further investigations are warranted. Where Police investigations are initiated, the facts of the case will be examined, and investigations conducted. Police reports and findings from investigations are retained. There are several good reasons for retaining the reports. For example, if there is a need to relook at what had happened, the records will be important. Immigration facilities and Work Passes are assessed on the individual merits of the case. The factors taken into consideration include, among other things, criminal and security antecedents, if any. The NMP's question appears to be related to foreigners who apply for Short-Term Visit Passes, Work Passes, and Student's Passes. 14

Foreigners have no absolute right to demand such immigration facilities in Singapore. It is for ICA and MOM to assess their eligibility for such facilities. Where a foreigner is being investigated in respect of a criminal offence, an application for an immigration facility, as mentioned by the NMP, will be held back, until the investigations are concluded. The investigations are obviously a relevant factor to consider. We assume that the NMP will not advocate that ICA or MOM grant an immigration pass to a foreigner who is being investigated (by way of an example) for committing a criminal offence like cheating people. Back to Contents PLANS TO DIGITISE CURRENT PHOTOCARD DRIVING LICENCE

7 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether there are any plans by the Ministry to digitise the current photocard driving licence given that the provisional driving licence is now paperless. Mr K Shanmugam: Traffic Police is similarly reviewing the digitisation of the qualified driving licence. More information will be released when the review is completed. Back to Contents INVESTIGATIONS INTO CHAIRMAN AND MANAGEMENT OF SWIBER HOLDINGS AND RELATED COMPANIES

8 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) has completed its investigation of the chairman and management of Swiber Holdings and its related companies; and (b) if so, whether CAD will proceed with any charges for any breach of the Securities and Futures Act or other offences. 15

Mr K Shanmugam: Police investigations into Swiber Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries are ongoing. Investigations of this nature require the careful review of a large volume of documents. It is inappropriate to comment further on the case, so as not to prejudice the investigation. Back to Contents REPORTED CASES OF INVESTMENT SCAMS TARGETING MEMBERS OF PUBLIC

9 Mr Ong Teng Koon asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) over the past three years, whether there is an increase in the number of reported cases of investment scams targeting members of the public; (b) what is the trend of the ratio of successful prosecuted cases versus reported cases over the same period; and (c) whether the Ministry has any plans to take a tougher stance to punish such investment scammers who defraud the public such as strengthening legislation to deter and punish such behaviour. Mr K Shanmugam: From 2015 to 2017, the number of reported investment scams has doubled, from about 200 to over 400 cases a year. A key reason is the emergence of unregulated online investment platforms. These platforms allow trades across a wide range of products, such as currencies, shares, commodities and binary options. The public usually comes across such platforms via online advertisements, emails and unsolicited phone calls and messages. The operators of these online platforms are usually based outside Singapore, and payments are made directly to overseas bank accounts. Since 2015, the Commercial Affairs Department has charged 30 persons for their roles in 14 investment scams. The number of successfully prosecuted cases looks low compared to the number of Police reports. One of the reasons is that a significant proportion of investment scams today are committed remotely by syndicates operating in foreign countries, or the alleged 16 investment assets, for example, distressed properties and agricultural products like seaweed farms, are overseas and difficult for Police to track down conclusively. Also, one investment scam may have multiple victims, resulting in many Police reports. Some losses alleged in reports are not due to scams, but the ups and downs of the market. A person who is convicted of a cheating offence under section 420 of the Penal Code may be liable for imprisonment of up to 10 years. MHA and MinLaw are reviewing the need to further strengthen our legislative levers against fraud offences, as part of the ongoing review of the Penal Code. Police will also continue to work closely with foreign law enforcement counterparts to crack down on overseas syndicates targeting Singaporeans. Back to Contents HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS AND DEATHS FROM ALCOHOL OVERDOSE IN LAST 10 YEARS

10 Mr Kok Heng Leun asked the Minister for Health in the last 10 years (a) what is the number of hospital admissions for alcohol overdose; and (b) what is the number of deaths resulting from alcohol overdose. Mr : Based on available public hospital data, between 2008 and 2017, the average number of hospital admissions per year for alcohol-related conditions, including alcohol intoxication was about 550 cases. Separately, over the same time period, we have not had any deaths reported where alcohol intoxication is the primary cause of death. In this same period, an average of 14 deaths per year were caused by longer term effects of alcohol intake including deaths from acute alcoholic hepatitis and advanced alcoholic cirrhosis. Back to Contents

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STATISTICS ON AWARENESS AND PRACTICE OF BREAST SELF- EXAMINATION AMONG FEMALES IN SINGAPORE

11 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Health (a) whether there are any statistics about the awareness and practice of breast self-examination among females in Singapore; and (b) whether the Ministry will work with schools to educate students about breast self- examinations and do needful follow-up when necessary. Mr Gan Kim Yong: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among females in Singapore, and the risk of developing the disease rises with age. The Health Promotion Board (HPB) works with healthcare providers and community partners on awareness and public education efforts on breast self-examinations. For example, HPB partners the Breast Cancer Foundation and the Singapore Cancer Society on outreach activities during the Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October each year. An information booklet on breast self-examination is also available at all polyclinics. These efforts benefit females of all ages, including students. Previous surveys have found that approximately 45% of women in Singapore performed regular breast self-examinations13 . Because the risk of breast cancer rises with age, HPB puts added emphasis on females of working age and beyond, rather than students. For example, it recommends that from the age of 30, females should do regular breast self-examinations. It also has efforts to encourage women 50 years old and above to go for regular mammogram screening once every two years.

Note(s) to question 11: 13 Sources: (i) Lim SK et al., “A Survey on Singaporean Women’s Knowledge, Perception and Practices of Mammogram Screening”, Annals Academy of Medicine Singapore, 2015; and (ii) A nationwide survey conducted by the Breast Cancer Foundation in 2017. Back to Contents

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AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF DISABLED PERSONS RECEIVING PAYOUTS UNDER ELDERSHIELD

12 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the average life expectancy of disabled persons who received or are receiving payouts under ElderShield; and (b) what is the expected average life expectancy of persons who are able to claim and receive payouts under CareShield Life on the basis of their disabilities once the scheme comes into operation in 2020. Mr Gan Kim Yong: As of 2017, the average duration of claim by ElderShield claimants is 2.8 years. About one-third of claimants have claimed for the full duration of five and six years for ElderShield 300 and ElderShield 400 respectively. Hence, the average duration of disability will be higher than the average duration of claim of 2.8 years. The average life expectancy of Singaporeans who are severely disabled would likely increase in the future. Three in 10 severely disabled individuals are expected to remain in severe disability for 10 years or more. CareShield Life will provide payouts for as long as the policyholder remains severely disabled, which will provide Singaporeans greater assurance and better protection against their cost of long-term care. Back to Contents SAFEGUARDING RECORDS AND PERSONAL PARTICULARS AGAINST CYBERATTACKS

13 Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for Communications and Information (a) what are the implications to the individuals whose personal particulars and other records are stolen during the recent cyberattack on SingHealth; and (b) what precautions can an individual take to prevent the stolen personal particulars and other details from being misused especially in the dark web. 19

14 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Communications and Information when will the provisions in the Cybersecurity Act that deal with the duty of owners of criminal information infrastructure to give notice of cybersecurity incidents within a prescribed period come into operation. Mr S Iswaran: I thank the Members for their questions. I have addressed them in my Ministerial Statement at the 6 August 2018 Parliament sitting. Back to Contents PROVISION OF FREE DIGITAL TV STARTER KITS

15 Mr Png Eng Huat asked the Minister for Communications and Information whether the scheme to provide free digital TV (DTV) starter kits to all HDB households without cable TV service penalises households that had gone digital early as they thought they did not qualify for the initial DTV Assistance Scheme, which was conditional, and have hence missed out on the current offer of a free DTV starter kit or a $100 voucher to offset the purchase of DTV equipment with no other conditions attached. Mr S Iswaran: The original Digital TV (DTV) Assistance Scheme, launched in September 2014, was aimed at helping low-income households transit from analogue free-to-air (FTA) TV to DTV, by providing and installing DTV equipment for them for free. In April 2018, the Government expanded the DTV Assistance Scheme to help more Singaporean households move to DTV before analogue FTA TV ceases on 31 December 2018. The expanded Scheme is known as the DTV Starter Kit. It allows all Singaporean HDB households without a Pay TV subscription to redeem either DTV equipment with free installation, or a $100 voucher to offset the cost of purchasing selected DTV equipment. 20

Singaporean households that have switched over to DTV on their own are not disadvantaged in any way because they can still enjoy the DTV Starter Kit by redeeming the DTV equipment for their TV sets (including as back-up) or for their secondary TV sets (if any), as long as they meet the eligibility criteria as stated above. Ultimately, our objective is to assist as many Singaporean households as possible to continue to enjoy FTA TV after 31 December 2018. Back to Contents ENSURING GOOD RE-EMPLOYMENT AND AGE-FRIENDLY HIRING PRACTICES BY PUBLIC SERVICE'S OUTSOURCED PROVIDERS

16 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Finance how does the Public Service ensure that its outsourced providers have good re-employment and age-friendly hiring practices. Mr : The Government encourages all employers to have good re- employment and age-friendly hiring practices. This is achieved through broad-based measures that are available to all employers, including Government’s outsourced providers. For instance, the Special Employment Credit provides wage offsets to employers who hire older Singaporean workers aged 55 and above and earning up to $4,000 a month. An additional wage-offset of up to 3% of monthly wages encourages the employment of older workers above the re-employment age of 67. To facilitate age-friendly employment practices, companies can tap on the WorkPro Age Management Grant. The Government has also worked with tripartite partners on the Tripartite Standard on Age-friendly Workplace Practices to encourage employers to adopt age-friendly practices. These employers commit not to use age as a selection criterion in recruitment, and commit to engage employees on re-employment issues at least six months prior to the retirement age and subsequent extension of re-employment contract. The tripartite partners have also issued the Tripartite Guidelines on Re- 21 employment of Older Employees which provides and calls on employers to adopt good practices in re-employment. In support of these efforts, the Government ensures that its tender specifications do not discriminate against outsourced workers in any industry based on factors such as age or gender. As the primary objective of procurement is to obtain goods and services, our specifications do not dictate the employment practices of service providers. Promoting good employment practices is better achieved through the measures described above. The Government will continue to review the relevance and effectiveness of our policies in this area. Back to Contents SOLUTION TO MYNAH NUISANCE ALONG UPPER SERANGOON ROAD

17 Mr Sitoh Yih Pin asked the Minister for National Development whether AVA has found a solution to address the noise problem created by mynah birds along Upper Serangoon Road following persistent feedback from residents over the last 18 months. Mr : AVA has worked with NParks to prune the trees to discourage birds from roosting in the Upper Serangoon Road area. NParks will continue with regular tree pruning. AVA also conducted a trial to use lasers to disperse the birds in September 2017. However, the trial was unsuccessful in deterring the birds from roosting in the area. AVA is assessing other measures that can be deployed. The public can also play a part by maintaining the overall cleanliness of the environment and not feeding wild birds. AVA and NEA will continue to work with the Jalan Besar Town Council to encourage residents not to litter or feed wild birds. Enforcement actions will be taken against those who do not comply. For instance, a recalcitrant feeder in the estate was recently sentenced in court and received a $450 fine for pigeon feeding. He had previously been fined on four occasions for similar offences. 22

Back to Contents INSPECTION REGIME FOR HDB FACADES

18 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for National Development while awaiting for the mandatory building facade inspection regime to be rolled out (a) whether interim inspections can be conducted on HDB facades with the same installation methods as those that fell off; and (b) whether the inspection regime can also be extended to newly built BTO HDB flats. Mr Lawrence Wong: In the design and construction of HDB flats, HDB ensures that all its buildings, including the external facade features, are designed and installed in accordance to approved Codes of Practice, the Building Control Act and Regulations, as well as other statutory requirements. Inspections are carried out during construction to ensure that works are completed in compliance with the requirements. In the case of claddings and fixtures, these installations are usually designed and supervised by a Specialist Qualified Person, who is a Professional Engineer and the plans must be approved by BCA. Once the buildings have obtained the Temporary Occupation Permit, building owners are required to ensure that the building exterior is maintained in a serviceable state under the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act. For HDB estates, Town Councils conduct regular inspections on the building facades as they are responsible for the maintenance of common property. Where necessary, they will engage a Professional Engineer to follow up on the repairs required. The Periodic Facade Inspection (PFI) regime aims to enable early detection of tell- tale signs of deteriorating facade elements. It adopts a risk-based approach to balance enhanced safety against increased costs for building owners. This is why the PFI regime 23 is scoped to focus on buildings above 20 years old, and excludes private landed houses, temporary buildings and low rise buildings. Notwithstanding the PFI regime, should any facade be dislodged from buildings, BCA will carry out an independent investigation on the incident to verify the cause of dislodgement. For HDB projects, HDB will also appoint an independent consultant to carry out checks on the HDB blocks with similar facade features to ensure there are no safety concerns. This is done regardless of the age of the building. Back to Contents PLANS FOR ANIMAL RESCUE SHELTER FOR STRAY CATS AWAITING ADOPTION

19 Mr Ong Teng Koon asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether there are plans to create an animal rescue shelter for stray cats who are awaiting adoption; and (b) whether there is funding available to house these stray cats in private shelters as they await adoption. Mr Lawrence Wong: AVA works with 14 Animal Welfare Groups (AWGs) that take in and rehome animals. Nine operate their own shelters, including eight that have taken up or will be taking up tenancy at The Animal Lodge in Sungei Tengah. This was fully funded and built by Government as an option for AWGs whose premises were affected by development plans. There are also some AWGs that do not maintain a physical shelter, but work with fosterers to temporarily care for the animals before they are adopted. AVA will continue to work closely with AWGs to manage the stray animal population. Members of the public can also help by volunteering with them, helping with their fund-raising, or adopting animals. Back to Contents 24

UPDATE ON REVITALISATION OF SHOPS SCHEME IN REJUVENATING HDB NEIGHBOURHOOD SHOPS

20 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for National Development (a) if he can provide an update on the Revitalisation of Shops (ROS) scheme in rejuvenating HDB neighbourhood shops; (b) whether there are plans to get these shops to go digital and, if so, what is the progress in doing so; and (c) what are the Government's plans to help these retailers overcome challenges as more residents shop online and at larger shopping malls. Mr Lawrence Wong: HDB heartland shops play an important role in serving the needs of residents, and HDB has put in place several measures to ensure that our neighbourhood centres remain relevant and vibrant places. First, new neighbourhood centres come with well-designed plazas and gardens to draw residents to these community spaces. Second, HDB curates the trade-mix to improve the vibrancy of the neighbourhood centres. Third, HDB has extended the enhanced Friendly Faces, Lively Places grant to HDB retailers and Merchant Associations (MAs) so that they can organise community and volunteer events to attract footfall. Fourth, HDB introduced the Revitalisation of Shops (ROS) Scheme in 2007 to help retailers and MAs enhance the vibrancy and competitiveness of HDB shops, through co-funding the upgrading of common areas and promotional events, and granting rent- free periods for tenants to renovate their shops. The subsidies provided under ROS were recently enhanced in May 2016. Since then, 17 sites have been announced under the seventh batch of the ROS. These include: (a) 13 sites which have applied for co-funding for upgrading of the common areas, of which, upgrading works at 3 sites have either commenced or will be commencing by October 2018. 25

(b) 11 sites which have applied for co-funding for promotional events, have successfully organised events at the respective centres. In addition, to help our heartland businesses deal with the rising competition from e- commerce retailers and private shopping malls, the Retail Industry Transformation Map (ITM) was launched in 2016. A key strategy is to help local retailers integrate their e- commerce and digital marketing capabilities into their business models to reach out to more customers. Some assistance available to local retailers include:  The 12 SME Centres located island-wide, where advisors can guide SMEs in the use of digital technology to boost their productivity.  The Retail Industry Digital Plan (IDP), launched by IMDA in partnership with Enterprise Singapore (ESG), provides SMEs step-by-step guidance on the use of digital technology at each stage of their growth.  HDB and ESG are also working to encourage HDB retailers to become more competitive via the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG), which supports the adoption of pre-scoped IT solutions in areas such as customer management, inventory tracking, and e-commerce. To date, more than 300 retail SMEs have applied for PSG support, and this number is expected to increase in future.  IMDA will expand the list of pre-approved solutions in e-commerce to help SME retailers develop and strengthen their online presence. HDB retailers can also establish an online presence at no cost on HDB’s Where2Shop (W2S) website. To support these digitalisation efforts, HDB will be separately trialling free wireless internet service under Wireless@SG and a shopper traffic monitoring system at some of the HDB shopping complexes. The latter will allow HDB to collect data to gain insights on customer footfall and customer profiles, to help heartland retailers tweak their programmes and promotional deals to better meet the needs of shoppers. Kampung 26

Admiralty and Oasis Terraces will be benefiting from these initiatives. In addition, MAs in our town and neighbourhood centres can tap on ROS to implement digital initiatives, including the installation of digital directories, wireless routers and footfall sensors. Back to Contents SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN OF SCHOOL-GOING AGE

21 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Education (a) how many special needs children of school-going age are there currently; (b) how many of these children are enrolled in a school; (c) whether schools with places for special needs children can be made more accessible in heartland locations; and (d) what is being done to ensure that each child has a place in a school appropriate for the child's specific needs. Mr : As at December 2017, there were 30,000 students with a reported Special Educational Need (SEN). About 80% of them are in mainstream schools and 20% are in Special Education (SPED) schools. Many children with SEN obtain a diagnosis during their pre-school years – usually at KKH and NUH Child Development Centres – and a majority of them benefit from early intervention. Today, the 19 SPED schools are geographically spread across the island, with most SPED schools in heartland locations such as Ang Mo Kio, , Jurong West and Yishun. Three additional SPED school campuses have started operations this year and additional SPED school campuses are being planned. Amongst the 19 SPED schools are those that focus on the needs of students with a specific disability profile, as well as those which serve a range of disabilities. For example, a student with moderate to severe cerebral palsy would attend the CPAS school, a student with moderate to severe Intellectual Disability as well as autism could attend a MINDS school and a student with multiple disabilities and autism could attend a Rainbow Centre school. 27

Because the number of students with a specific SEN is not large, many are best served by central and specialised centres. This means that it may not always be possible to find a suitable SPED in the neighbourhood. Notwithstanding, over the years, we have made good progress towards ensuring that each child with SEN is able to attend a school that caters to his needs. Back to Contents ITE, POLYTECHNIC AND UNIVERSITY GRADUATES IN 2015-2017 FROM NORMAL TECHNICAL, NORMAL ACADEMIC AND EXPRESS STREAMS

22 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Education what is the breakdown of the percentage of ITE, polytechnic and university graduates in 2015, 2016 and 2017 who are from the Normal Technical, Normal Academic and Express streams respectively. Mr Ong Ye Kung: Over the last three years, among students who graduated from the ITE, close to half were from the Normal (Technical) [N(T)] course, about 45% were from the Normal (Academic) [N(A)] course, and the remaining were from the Express course. For those who graduated from publicly-funded diploma programmes, the figures were about 5% N(T), 35% N(A) and the remaining Express. For publicly-funded degree programmes, the numbers were about 1% N(T), 5% N(A) and the remaining Express. It should be noted that a good proportion of graduates from ITE and Polytechnics further their studies in publicly-funded institutes. We are also seeing University graduates attending ITE courses to gain hands-on skills. We must bear in mind that there must be different paths catering to the diverse strengths and talents of our people. Back to Contents

28

REGULAR AND COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME TO FIGHT PREJUDICES AND STIGMATISATION OF MENTAL WELL-BEING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

23 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Education whether the Ministry will be planning a regular and comprehensive programme to fight prejudices and stigmatisation regarding mental well-being in secondary schools in light of the IMH- led study showing widespread negative perceptions of mental illness among teenage students. Mr Ong Ye Kung: Negative perceptions of mental illness can stem from the lack of awareness and understanding of mental health. The IMH-led study also noted that majority of the students would reach out to, stand up for and support a classmate with mental illness, which is encouraging. Mental illnesses are caused by a variety of factors. To support students with mental illnesses, schools have been stepping up efforts to nurture the social and emotional competencies of our students, strengthen supportive school relationships, increase peer support efforts and encourage help-seeking behaviour. We work closely with parents and community partners to strengthen mental well-being and reduce the stigma for those suffering from mental illnesses. MOE leverages the Character and Citizenship Education, school-based conversations and student learning resources to raise awareness and de-stigmatise mental illnesses. The Health Promotion Board also provides Mental Health Awareness Briefings and resources for school counsellors and teachers. This enhances their understanding of mental health, its impact on students as well as strategies on how to support these students better. Back to Contents 29

AGGREGATE MONTHLY BALANCES IN ORDINARY ACCOUNTS OF CPF MEMBERS FOR 2015-2017

24 Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for Manpower what are the aggregate balances in the Ordinary Accounts of CPF members for the years 2015, 2016 and 2017 on a month-to-month basis. Mrs : CPF Board reports the aggregate CPF account balances on a quarterly and annual basis. Table 1 below shows the Net Ordinary Account balances of all CPF members between 2015 and 2017 on a quarterly basis.

Back to Contents WORKERS CLASSIFIED AS MANAGERS AND EXECUTIVES EARNING LESS THAN $2,500 AND $2,600 A MONTH AS AT 30 JUNE 2018

25 Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Minister for Manpower as at 30 June 2018, what is the total number of workers, resident workers and Singaporean workers who are classified as managers and executives and earning a basic monthly salary of not more than (i) $2,500 and (ii) $2,600. Mrs Josephine Teo: Based on the June 2017 Labour Force Survey, there are 26,000 employed residents who are Managers and Executives (M&Es) and earning a basic monthly salary up to $2,500 and 28,000 earning a basic monthly salary of up to $2,600. 30

Over the last ten years, the share of M&Es earning below the Employment Act salary threshold has declined. In 2017, M&Es earning up to $2,600 constitute 1.5% of all employed residents compared to 10% in 2007. A significant 28% of such M&Es work part-time. Depending on the employer's own human resource practices, some M&Es who earn a basic monthly salary up to $2,500 are provided with overtime pay even if not required by law. Back to Contents WORKERS CLASSIFIED AS MANAGERS AND EXECUTIVES EARNING LESS THAN $2,500 AND $2,600 A MONTH AS AT 30 JUNE 2018

26 Mr Kok Heng Leun asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what are the main ways in which adverse records are attached to a foreign worker; (b) whether unsubstantiated allegations by employers constitute such records; (c) how can a worker know whether there are adverse records attached to his name; and (d) what avenues are available to the foreign worker to clear his name. Mrs Josephine Teo: A foreign worker may have an adverse record if he committed an offence under Singapore laws or was found to have infringed MOM's regulations. The Ministry does not place an adverse record based on unsubstantiated allegations by employers. The foreign worker would also have been given the opportunity to be heard if his employer alleged that he committed an offence. The worker would be aware of the offence he committed as enforcement actions would have been taken against him. He can appeal against the decision as provided for under the respective legislations. Back to Contents

31

CASES OF UNDERAGED DOMESTIC HELPERS FOR PAST FIVE YEARS AND ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST ERRANT AGENCIES

27 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked ask the Minister for Manpower (a) what is the number of cases of underage domestic helpers for the past five years; (b) what are the actions taken against the errant agencies; and (c) what is the Ministry's plan to prevent underage domestic helpers working in Singapore. Mrs Josephine Teo: In the past five years, 130 Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) per year or six FDWs per 10,000 FDWs in Singapore were found to be younger than the age requirement of at least 23 years. MOM adopts a multi-layered approach to prevent underaged FDWs from working in Singapore. First, it is the responsibility of employment agencies (EAs) to ensure that the FDWs they have sourced meet the age requirement. The agencies are required to do upstream checks on the FDWs before they are deployed to Singapore. Action will be taken against EAs that fail to do so. Since 2013, MOM has taken action against over a hundred EAs. We meted out penalties ranging from warnings, demerit points and forfeiture of their security deposit, to prosecution for flagrant cases. Recently, two EAs were prosecuted and convicted, and fined the maximum $5,000 each. Their licences will also be revoked. In addition to these measures, MOM makes it a point to highlight the minimum age requirement to FDWs before their arrival in Singapore through the In-Principle Approval letter sent to all FDWs, as well as through the compulsory Settling-In Programme (SIP) for first-time FDWs. During the programme, FDWs are warned of the consequences they face should they be found to be underaged. They are also given the chance to come forward if they are under 23 years old. Those who own up are assured of passage home and they will be allowed back to Singapore to work after they turn 23. On top of these steps, MOM also conducts visual checks during the SIP and work pass card registration. 32

FDWs who flout the minimum age requirement will be permanently debarred from working in Singapore. MOM urges employers to be vigilant of the FDWs' age. Putting their elderly or children in the care of an underaged FDW poses significant risks. Employers are advised to report to MOM if they suspect that their FDW is underaged. Lastly, as the passport remains the primary document for identification and age verification, it is important that the authorities in source countries step up efforts to improve the accuracy of their official documents. Therefore, when we uncover cases of FDWs with inaccurate ages, we will provide such information to source country Governments. Back to Contents COVERAGE OF SINGAPOREANS WORKING IN FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN SINGAPORE UNDER EMPLOYMENT ACT

28 Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether Singaporeans working in foreign diplomatic missions or embassies in Singapore are covered by the Employment Act; (b) whether Singaporeans working in such a setting can access the Employment Claims Tribunal; and (c) what support may be available to them when there are employment-related grievances. Mrs Josephine Teo: Singaporeans working in foreign diplomatic missions or embassies in Singapore continue to be covered under the Employment Act and have access to the Employment Claims Tribunals. We expect all employers to act in accordance with Singapore laws and regulations, and will take firm action to enforce compliance where there are breaches. While Singapore's obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations may not allow us to apply the same range of measures to foreign diplomatic missions and embassies here, we will not hesitate to seek compliance through diplomatic efforts. 33

Singaporeans working in such organisations can also approach the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management for assistance, such as mediation and advisory services, for employment-related disputes. Back to Contents VERBAL TEST OPTION FOR SINGAPOREANS WITH LOW EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS ATTENDING MANDATORY WORKPLACE SAFETY COURSES

29 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what percentage of Singaporeans who attended mandatory workplace safety courses in the last year took verbal tests instead of written tests; and (b) whether the Ministry will allow workers to apply for the verbal test option themselves if they have low educational qualifications. Mrs Josephine Teo: Written tests for mandatory workplace safety courses are available in eight languages, so that language proficiency is not an obstacle to safety training. 48 locals, comprising 0.4% of those who attended mandatory workplace safety training in 2017 took verbal, rather than written tests. Workers who face difficulty in taking a written test can already apply to the Workplace Safety and Health Council for the verbal test option. There is no need for them to have first attempted a written test, before applying to be tested verbally. Back to Contents PROPORTION OF REGISTERED TRADE UNIONS NOT INITIATING COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH EMPLOYERS

30 Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what proportion of registered trade unions have agreed with employers not to initiate collective agreement negotiations; and (b) how has this proportion changed over the past five years. 34

Mrs Josephine Teo: There are about 1,700 unionised companies in Singapore, of which about two-thirds have registered Collective Agreements (CAs) with the Industrial Arbitration Court. A CA is a formal and enforceable agreement between the union and the employer on the affected employees' terms and conditions of employment. Whether or not a CA should be put in place is a matter for the union and employer to decide on mutually. In lieu of a CA, it is not uncommon to have less formal arrangements like a memorandum of understanding on areas of cooperation. This could be a more practical approach for some companies, for example, those with a small workforce. Back to Contents ELDERLY SINGAPOREANS WITHOUT FAMILY SUPPORT

31 Dr Chia Shi-Lu asked the Minister for Social and Family Development with regard to the profile of elderly Singaporeans without family support (a) how many are currently totally reliant on support from the state and charitable organisations for survival; (b) how many have been abandoned overseas and in Singapore, in institutions of care; and (c) what are their gender, age group and ethnic profiles. Mr Desmond Lee: Vulnerable elderly Singaporeans without family support may receive assistance for their basic needs under MSF's ComCare Long-Term Assistance and/or support in our Sheltered and Welfare homes. ComCare Long-Term Assistance helps persons who are unable to work due to old age, illness or disability, have limited or no means of income, and have little or no family support. They receive cash assistance for their basic living expenses, and assistance for medical and other needs. As at end-2017, there were over 3,300 persons aged 60 years and above receiving ComCare Long-Term Assistance. Over 60% of those assisted by 35

ComCare Long-Term Assistance were males and more than 70% were aged 70 years and above. About 85% of these persons were Chinese, 8% were Malay, and 6% were Indian. Vulnerable seniors aged 60 years and above, with weak family support and no alternative accommodation arrangements are cared for in residential homes funded by MSF and operated by Voluntary Welfare Organisations. As at end-2017, there were slightly over 1,000 persons aged 60 years and above residing in these facilities. About eight out of 10 were males, and around half were 70 years old and above. Around 71% were Chinese, 17% were Malay and 11% were Indian. We do not have data on seniors who have been abandoned overseas by their families. Back to Contents EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN SINGAPORE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS YOUTHS AGED 18 AND ABOVE

32 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether there are education institutions in Singapore for special needs youths of age 18 and above and, if not, whether there are plans to set up such an institution; and (b) for those special needs youths who cannot find employment at that age, what options are available to them. Mr Desmond Lee: Students with special educational needs (SEN) who graduate from mainstream secondary schools and Special Education (SPED) schools may apply for enrolment into Post-Secondary Education Institutions (PSEIs) (that is, junior colleges and centralised institutes, polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education [ITE]) or specialised vocational training schools for further studies or vocational training. Most of the students with a SEN diagnosis in mainstream schools, similar to their schoolmates, advance to the PSEIs every year. For those in SPED schools, a smaller proportion move to the PSEIs, given their need for more specialised and intensive support. 36

Since 2014, SEN Support Offices have been set up in all polytechnics, ITE colleges, Autonomous Universities and arts institutions. These offices serve as a first-stop support unit for students to provide course counselling and access arrangements for students with SEN. They also administer funding support for students with physical or sensory impairment to purchase Assistive Technology devices and support services. The SEN Support Offices also collaborate with Voluntary Welfare Organisations to provide external support for students with SEN, such as internship placements and job matching. MOE will continue to work with the PSEIs and agencies such as SG Enable, to ensure that students receive sufficient support to continue with education and prepare for future employment. For students with moderate to severe SEN, two schools, Metta School and Delta Senior School, offer vocational training leading to nationally-accredited certifications for students up to 21 years old. Each year, about 120 students with Intellectual Disability graduate with vocational certifications in a range of industry areas. These schools continually update their vocational programmes so that SPED students of diverse disabilities can be better prepared for employment. For SPED students who may not benefit from vocational certification but are capable of work, SG Enable works with SPED schools to support their transition into employment under the School-to-Work (S2W) Transition Programme. Students on the programme receive customised job training with job support from Job Coaches for up to one year post graduation to prepare them for eventual employment. About 30 students each year with diverse disabilities have benefitted from the S2W Transition Programme. The programme will be rolled out to all SPED schools serving secondary-level students by 2019. Other SPED students with heavier care needs may require closer supervision in their daily lives. They can be admitted into Sheltered Workshops or Day Activity Centres, 37 depending on the level of care support required. Sheltered Workshops allows Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) to be engaged in completing straightforward tasks that are part of a simplified work process. Day Activity Centres provide long-term care services and equip PwDs with skills so that they can live as independently as possible within their homes and community. These centres provide therapeutic and behavioural intervention, training in interpersonal and community living skills, and support in activities of daily living. Back to Contents DIVORCE CASES AWARDED SHARED CARE AND CONTROL OF CHILDREN

33 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development for each of the years from 2015 to date, what is the respective breakdown of the number and percentage of divorce cases where shared care and control of the children is awarded. Mr Desmond Lee: There were 119 and 161 divorce cases where shared care and control was awarded in 2015 and 201614 respectively, which were 3.0% and 4.1% of the total number of divorces with care and control orders made for the respective years15.

Note(s) to question 33: 14 Data on care and control from 2017 are not yet available. 15 Figures are by the year of final judgment granted (under the Women’s Charter) and year of divorce registered (under the Administration of Muslim Law Act). Back to Contents

Office of the Clerk of Parliament Singapore, 6 August 2018