Family & gender

• Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim inquired about the status of additional ballot chances for first-time families with multiple unsuccessful BTO applications in non-mature estates under the new housing classification framework.
• Minister Desmond Lee confirmed that first-time families receive priority in BTO allocations, with 90% of first-time parents and married couples successfully invited to book flats in non-mature estates since the new scheme's launch.
• Under the new framework, first-time families with two or more unsuccessful applications can receive additional ballot chances, with up to five for first-time parents and married couples, and four for other first-time applicants.
• The previous non-mature estate framework's additional ballot chances do not carry over to the new classification system, but priority measures remain in place for first-time applicants.
• As the new framework has only had one BTO exercise, there is currently no data on the success rates for applicants at their second or third attempts.

• Sylvia Lim inquired about the policy regarding HDB flat owners with annulled marriages selling their flats instead of surrendering them.
• Desmond Lee responded that typically, owners must surrender their flats if they cannot form an eligible family nucleus post-annulment.
• He noted that in the last five years, HDB has permitted the sale of flats in a limited number of cases due to significant financial difficulties and challenging family circumstances.

• Mr. Gan Thiam Poh proposed a new system for HDB to rank unsuccessful first-time flat applicants based on their previous attempts and allow them another chance to choose available flats in BTO exercises.
• Minister Desmond Lee emphasized the government's commitment to affordable housing, noting an increase in flat supply and a decrease in application rates, which has improved first-timer families' chances of securing flats.
• The introduction of the First-Timer (Parents and Married Couples) priority category aims to support families with greater housing needs, providing them with additional ballot chances.
• Measures have been implemented to enhance the efficiency of the balloting system, resulting in a significant reduction in the non-selection rate of applicants.
• Despite the various support measures for first-time applicants, the government has no plans to implement the proposed system for allowing additional opportunities for unsuccessful applicants.

• Pritam Singh inquired about the eligibility of applicants who have been unsuccessful in previous BTO applications for additional ballot chances under the new flat classification framework.
• Desmond Lee confirmed that first-time families receive priority in the new framework, with a significant percentage successfully booking flats in recent exercises.
• Under the new framework, first-time families who have failed in two or more applications for Standard flats are granted additional ballot chances for future applications.
• First-time parents and married couples can accumulate up to five ballot chances, while other first-time applicants can accumulate up to four.
• There is currently no data on the success rates of applicants in their second or third attempts under the new classification framework, as only one BTO exercise has been conducted so far.

• There is a proposal for the immediate implementation of enhanced Government-paid paternity leave to support familial bonding for parents of infants born in late 2024.
• A request was made to consider an earlier rollout of the shared parental leave scheme for parents of children born between the National Day Rally 2024 and April 2025, contingent on mutual agreement among parents and employers.
• The Government has provided an additional two weeks of paternity leave on a voluntary basis since January 2024, with a mandatory implementation date set for April 2025 after consultations with stakeholders.
• The new shared parental leave scheme requires significant adjustments from employers, necessitating a common start date to ensure readiness across all firms, including smaller ones.
• A centralized system is being developed to manage leave sharing arrangements and ensure accurate tracking and reimbursement processes.

• Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim urged the Ministry for Social and Family Development to launch a community awareness campaign about the negative impacts of physical discipline on children and promote alternative methods.
• The Ministry recognizes the importance of parental roles in discipline and supports non-physical discipline methods to foster positive parent-child relationships.
• Evidence from the Positive Parenting Programme (Triple P) indicates that such programs effectively help parents manage children's behavior without physical punishment.
• The Ministry plans to continue promoting non-physical discipline strategies through parenting programs to improve child outcomes in Singapore.

• Louis Ng Kok Kwang proposed that the Ministry of Health consider providing subsidies, co-funding, or MediSave for egg freezing.
• Ong Ye Kung responded that current financing policies allow MediSave usage for medically necessary egg freezing and provide co-funding for future assisted reproduction treatments.
• The government aims to encourage young couples to marry and start families sooner, rather than delaying their plans through financial support for egg freezing.

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim requested data from the Minister for Social and Family Development concerning the Domestic Violence Trends Report 2024, specifically rates of various types of child abuse and neglect broken down by age groups for the years 2021 to 2023. Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that the overall incidence rate for Tier 2 child abuse is reported, with no significant changes observed across years and age groups, remaining below one per 1,000 population. He also explained that Tier 1 incidence rates are not computed due to potential duplications in cases involving re-opened incidents of the same individual.

Wan Rizal asked about measures to ensure that parents and caregivers understand the new guidelines on healthy family boundaries in caregiving. Masagos Zulkifli referenced previous discussions in Parliament regarding this topic and directed attention to a written reply for detailed information on the guidelines. The guidelines address aspects such as affection, privacy, and toileting in parent-child caregiving.

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked about non-statutory support options for parents concerned about safe parenting following the September 2024 Domestic Violence Trends Report. Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that parents can access various resources, including the Families for Life portal for evidence-based parenting information. Community agencies and Family Service Centres offer workshops and social-emotional support. Additionally, parents can consult their child's school for guidance and referrals to community services.

He Ting Ru asked about the operational reasons for the differences in bus boarding ramp deployment for wheelchair users versus parents with strollers and the resources allocated for improving public transport accessibility for families. Chee Hong Tat explained that parents can board from either door and seek assistance with the ramp, while wheelchair users have a standard procedure for ramp deployment due to their unique needs. He noted that stroller restraints have been added to bus wheelchair bays and highlighted that all new bus interchanges are designed with family-friendly features, with upgrades to existing interchanges planned when feasible. Additionally, all stations on the Thomson-East Coast Line and upcoming lines include family-friendly facilities.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked for data on care and protection orders issued by the Youth Court over the past five years, specifically regarding cases where children were not required to stay in a place of safety or temporary care. Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that specific breakdowns of care and protection orders by placement type are not available, emphasizing that each case is assessed individually based on the child's best interests.

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim inquired about lessons from the September 2024 Domestic Violence Trends Report and potential changes to child protection policies. Masagos Zulkifli highlighted that the report emphasizes the need for increased awareness and early intervention in domestic violence cases. The Ministry of Social and Family Development plans to train professionals in various sectors to recognize and report suspected child abuse, review laws for enhanced survivor protection, and collaborate with community partners to improve support protocols for families facing child protection issues.

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim questioned whether the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) considers home-childcare centre distance for prioritizing childcare slots when centres reach capacity. Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that ECDA plans preschool places based on various factors and has significantly increased capacity over recent years. While most preschools operate on a first-come, first-served basis, some consider factors like sibling enrollment and distance from home when capacity is reached. ECDA encourages parents to explore nearby childcare options and has introduced a new search function to assist in finding available vacancies.

• Patrick Tay Teck Guan inquired about the review of MediSave limits for baby delivery expenses in the context of promoting parenthood.
• The Minister for Health, Ong Ye Kung, announced an increase in MediSave withdrawal limits for delivery expenses effective from April 1, 2025.
• The MediSave limit for a typical delivery will rise from $2,750 to $4,280, and the MediSave Grant for Newborns will increase from $4,000 to $5,000 for Singaporean citizens.

• Mr. Louis Ng Kok Kwang inquired about the number of child abuse and neglect cases reported to the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH) over the past five years and the follow-up actions taken.
• The NAVH, launched in February 2021, received increasing enquiries related to child abuse and neglect, with 2,200 in 2021, 2,400 in 2022, and 3,400 in 2023.
• Upon receiving reports, NAVH assesses the situation and refers cases with concerns to relevant agencies or escalates them to the Ministry of Social and Family Development's Child Protective Service for intervention.
• For cases without concerns of abuse or neglect, NAVH offers advice and resources for individuals to seek support.

• Ms. Carrie Tan inquired about evidence-based approaches from other countries that the Ministry for Social and Family Development is studying to enhance home ownership and school attendance among lower-income families.
• She highlighted concerns from the latest report indicating that a significant percentage of ComLink+ families ready for home ownership have not moved out of public rental housing, and a low percentage of families with preschool-aged children are attending school regularly.
• Minister Masagos Zulkifli explained that the ComLink+ initiative considers the complex challenges faced by lower-income families and provides support through social workers and family coaches to help set and achieve goals.
• The government is implementing ComLink+ with a focus on practical support rather than further studies, utilizing strategies like financial top-ups to encourage progress in home ownership and education.
• The initiative is still in its early stages, with ongoing efforts to address the specific challenges faced by families regarding home ownership and preschool attendance.

• Mr. Gan Thiam Poh inquired about the number of citizenships granted in 2024, specifically by gender and age groups (21-30 and 31-40), and how many of these individuals are married to Singaporeans.
• Minister K Shanmugam responded that the statistics for 2024 are not yet available but provided data for 2023, indicating the number of citizenships granted by age and gender.
• Approximately 20% of the citizenships granted in 2023 were to foreign spouses of Singapore Citizens under the Family Ties Scheme.

• Ms. Ng Ling Ling inquired about the tracking of miscarriage rates from IVF pregnancies in public hospitals and whether these rates are higher than those of normal pregnancies over the past three years.
• The Minister for Health, Ong Ye Kung, stated that the Ministry does not track miscarriage rates for IVF or normal pregnancies, noting that pregnancy loss from IVF can be attributed to various factors.
• The Ministry is conducting a Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGS) study aimed at improving IVF success rates for women with recurrent pregnancy losses and is evaluating its clinical effectiveness.

• Mr. Saktiandi Supaat inquired about the unutilized amounts and percentages of the Qualifying Child Relief and Parenthood Tax Rebate for the Year of Assessment 2024, highlighting concerns about parents not optimizing their claims.
• Chee Hong Tat explained that parents can choose how to share the reliefs and rebates, and the government does not interfere in their decisions as long as conditions are met.
• The Parenthood Tax Rebate can be carried forward indefinitely if not fully utilized, unlike annual tax reliefs that must be claimed each year.
• IRAS provides various online tools to help taxpayers understand their tax obligations and manage their claims, including a Tax Reliefs Checker and an Individual Income Tax Calculator.
• IRAS is committed to enhancing its digital services to improve user experience and support for taxpayers.