Debated in Parliament on 27 Jul 2021.
Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Minister for National Development whether the proportion of units under the Married Child Priority Scheme can be increased for HDB's BTO projects within mature estates to facilitate inter-generational familial support.
Mr Deputy Speaker, the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS) gives priority to families buying new Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats to live with or near their parents or married children. Under the MCPS, 30% of the new flat supply in the mature estates is set aside for first-timer families. For second-timer families, it is 3%.
We recognise the importance of supporting the needs of parents and married children who wish to live with or near each other for mutual care and support and, therefore, set aside a significant proportion of flats of up to about one-third of our new flat supply in the mature estates under the MCPS. Other than the MCPS, we also have other schemes, such as the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme and Senior Priority Scheme, as well as 3Gen flats, to facilitate mutual care and support among families.
Within our limited flat supply, we also have to meet the housing needs of other groups of Singaporeans, including first-timer families with children via the Parenthood Priority Scheme, and families with three or more children via the Third Child Priority Scheme. Therefore, we are unable to increase the proportion of flats set aside under the MCPS at this juncture.
Having said that, we recognise that many children wish to live near their parents for mutual care and support. To meet the high demand for flats in mature estates, HDB has launched more flats in mature estates in recent years. The portion of BTO projects in the mature towns and estates increased from 44% in 2017, to 55% last year.
Flat buyers who wish to live with or near their parents or children may also consider buying a resale flat and can receive a Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) of up to $30,000 for their flat purchase.
Ms Tin Pei Ling.
I thank the Minister for the reply. I have a couple of supplementary questions. First, I wonder if the Minister has a figure on the proportion of applicants under MCPS compared to the supply of 30%; that means, how much in excess, in terms of percentage, might there be, on average, for the Build-To-Build (BTO) projects launched?
Secondly, as Singapore society continues to age and as fertility rate is also hovering, a lot of young couples have expressed that they would really love to get a flat of their own while they start their families and be near their parents for mutual support, as they look into the future. With these trends, I certainly hope that MND can continue to consider this, to increase the proportion of units under MCPS.
The data that the Member seeks, perhaps she could file a written Parliamentary Question, we can give her the data. On her request for more allocation under MCPS, I think I have addressed that in my reply.
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