Family & gender — Topics

5 Jul 2022

Breakdown of Infant Care and Childcare Subsidies Received by Children in Last Three Years by Subsidy Category

In the last three years, the number of children receiving Basic Subsidies for infant and childcare rose from about 107,000 in 2019 to 126,000 in 2021, with around 95% going to families with working mothers.
The percentage of families receiving Additional Subsidies increased from about 35% in 2019 to around 60% in 2020 and 2021 after the income ceiling was raised to $12,000 per month.
In 2021, the median Additional Subsidy was $380 for full-day infant care and $260 for full-day childcare, with maximum amounts of up to $710 and $467 respectively.

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5 Jul 2022

Amending Wills Act 1838 to Provide for Revocation of Appointment of Former Spouse as Executor or Beneficiary in A Will

Murali Pillai proposed amending the Wills Act 1838 to automatically revoke the appointment of a former spouse as executor or beneficiary after divorce or annulment.
Currently, Singapore law does not automatically revoke such appointments, so testators must manually update their wills post-divorce.
Other jurisdictions like the UK, New Zealand, and Hong Kong have implemented similar automatic revocation provisions.
The Minister for Law acknowledged the suggestion and stated the Ministry will study the feasibility of such amendments in future reviews of the Wills Act.

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5 Jul 2022

More Chances for Applicants Buying HDB BTO Flats Near Parents

Lim Biow Chuan proposed giving HDB BTO flat applicants four ballot chances when applying for flats near their parents.
Desmond Lee outlined existing priority schemes like the Married Child Priority Scheme and Multi-Generation Priority Scheme that support living near parents, including set-aside quotas and additional ballot chances for first-timer families.
The government also offers the Proximity Housing Grant for resale flat buyers and will continue reviewing public housing policies to meet buyers' needs.

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4 Jul 2022

Possibility of Differentiated Subsidies for Healthcare for Expecting Foreign Spouses of Singapore Citizens

Tin Pei Ling asked if differentiated healthcare subsidies could be provided to expecting foreign spouses of Singapore citizens for gynaecological care.
The Health Minister explained that subsidies are currently based on individual citizenship status, not spouse’s status, but Long-Term Visit Pass-Plus (LTVP+) holders receive subsidies at PR levels for inpatient services including obstetrics and gynaecology since 2012.
Singapore citizens and PRs can use MediSave to cover pre-delivery and delivery expenses for their foreign spouses up to prevailing withdrawal limits.
Financially needy patients may seek help from medical social workers for assistance, charity funds, or instalment plans based on assessment.

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4 Jul 2022

Plans to Enhance EMBRACE Programme to Mitigate Ante- and Post-natal Mental Health Depression for Mothers

The EMBRACE programme, piloted at Yishun Polyclinic since September 2020, provides integrated mother-child services including maternal health screenings and child developmental checks.
The Child and Maternal Health and Well-being Taskforce recommends scaling up the mother-child dyad service model to 12 more polyclinics and expanding EMBRACE to all NHGP polyclinics.
Ante-natal and post-natal mental health screenings for mothers will be scaled up at KKH and NUH to identify at-risk women early and provide timely intervention and support.

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4 Jul 2022

Proportion of Children Aged Four Enrolled in Preschool, Target Enrolment and Plans to Include Them in MOE Kindergartens

Mariam Jaafar inquired about the proportion of four-year-olds enrolled in preschool across income levels, the Government's target enrolment rates, and plans to include four-year-olds in MOE Kindergartens.
Masagos Zulkifli stated that in 2021, preschool participation for children aged three to four in public rental flats was 80%, slightly below the national average of 88%, and that the Government focuses on ensuring access to affordable quality preschools rather than setting specific targets.
He noted that lower-income families receive automatic eligibility for maximum subsidies and programs like KidSTART support enrolment from age three.
Regarding MOE Kindergartens, there are no plans to expand them to include four-year-olds; instead, MOE is piloting an MK-Early Years Centre model with Anchor Operators to provide preschool education from two months to six years.

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4 Jul 2022

Domestic, Family or Sexual Violence Cases Reported Annually Involving Boys Above 18 and Below 21 Years Old in Past Five Years and Assistance or Interim Shelters Available for Them

An average of about 65 family violence reports and 15 sexual violence reports per year from 2020 to 2021 involved male victims aged 18 to 20, with annual details provided in a table.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development funds shelters that offer alternative accommodation for such victims, including those in the 18 to 20 age group.
Boys in this age range may also access financial assistance through Social Service Offices and further support like counselling from Family Service Centres or Family Violence Specialist Centres.

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4 Jul 2022

Cases of Breach of Personal Protection Orders, Expedited Orders and Domestic Exclusion Orders under Women's Charter and Profile of Applicants in Past Five Years

Over the past five years, male applicants made up about 25% of fresh Personal Protection Order applications, with the majority aged 31 to 50, and the Ministry tracks applicant age groups.
The annual breakdown shows the number of criminal breaches of Personal Protection Orders, Expedited Orders, and Domestic Exclusion Orders, with over 10% of offenders convicted more than once between 2017 and 2021.
In about 80% of criminal convictions for breaching these orders, offenders were sentenced to an average of two months' imprisonment.

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4 Jul 2022

Proposal for Mandatory Counselling for Singaporean Men who Intend to Marry Foreigners

Ms Ng Ling Ling proposed mandatory counselling for Singaporean men marrying foreigners to ensure they understand the immigration implications before registering their marriage.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development already offers the Marriage Preparation Programme and Marriage Support Programme to address cross-cultural and immigration issues for such couples.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority provides a Pre-Marriage LTVP Assessment to help couples understand long-term stay eligibility, with the Registry of Marriages encouraging its use.
The Ministry stated it will continue exploring ways to better inform couples about immigration processes before marriage registration.
No decision was made on mandating counselling, but existing programmes and assessments aim to equip couples with necessary knowledge.

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4 Jul 2022

Inclusion of Headcount as Criterion in Determining Support for Large Families Residing in Private Estate Homes

Henry Kwek proposed considering headcount in private estate homes to better support large families when determining taxes and financial support.
Lawrence Wong explained that current schemes already factor in family size, using measures like Per Capita Household Income and providing higher tax reliefs for dependents and children.
He noted that broader government support for healthcare and education is provided on an individual basis, which naturally benefits larger families.
The government remains committed to reviewing support criteria to ensure assistance targets those with greater needs.
Existing tax and social policies aim to balance support across different living arrangements, including private estate residents.

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4 Jul 2022

Annual Amount Disbursed from One-off Baby Support Grant and Proposal for Further Support Given Rising Cost of Living

He Ting Ru inquired about the annual disbursement of the $3,000 one-off Baby Support Grant and whether further support would be provided for families amid rising living costs.
Indranee Rajah stated the grant disbursed $92 million in its first year and $69 million in its second, noting it was a one-off COVID-19 measure complemented by broader family support packages.
The government has introduced comprehensive measures including CDC vouchers, U-Save rebates, and a $200 top-up for children’s accounts to alleviate cost-of-living pressures.
A recent $1.5 billion Support Package offers additional targeted aid, such as GST Voucher cash payments and utility credits, with ongoing monitoring to assess further needs.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Singaporeans in marriage and parenthood through continuous review of family-oriented policies.

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4 Jul 2022

Number of Requests and Average Waiting Time for Interim Rental Housing and Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme Units

Shawn Huang Wei Zhong asked about the annual number of requests for Interim Rental Housing (IRH), the average waiting time for IRH and the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS), and the average occupancy duration for both schemes over the last five years.
The Ministry of National Development clarified that IRH is provided on a case-by-case basis to needy families in transition, and while HDB assisted 870 households with IRH in 2021, it does not track the number of requests; waiting times for IRH vary based on locational preferences, while PPHS applicants shortlisted via ballot can move in immediately after selection.
Both IRH and PPHS have a median occupancy period of one to two years.

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4 Jul 2022

Annual Preschool Enrolment of Children Aged Three as a Percentage of Each Cohort Size and Socio-economic Background in Last Five Years

Over the past five years, preschool enrolment for children aged three to four has risen, with nine in ten Singaporean children in this age group enrolled in 2021, up from eight in ten in 2017, though participation among lower-income families remains below the national average.
The government provides targeted support for lower-income families, including automatic eligibility for maximum preschool subsidies and low monthly fees at Anchor Operator preschools, while outreach programs like KidSTART and Preschool Outreach help address barriers to enrolment.
The government maintains its stance against making preschool education mandatory, preferring to focus on improving access, affordability, and quality of preschool services, along with proactive outreach to encourage enrolment, especially among disadvantaged children.

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4 Jul 2022

Number of Childcare and Infant Care Spaces with Existing Capacity but Face Shortage of Teachers

The Minister reported that the early childhood educator workforce grew by over 30% in the past five years, supporting a 17% expansion in preschool capacity to meet rising demand.
Localised mismatches between preschool supply and demand exist due to factors such as new preschools ramping up operations, internal placements for progressing children, and managed enrolment pacing.
ECDA collaborates with Anchor Operators and preschools to address localised shortages through recruitment drives, internal manpower diversion, and enhancing career development to attract and retain educators.

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9 May 2022

Proposal to Allow One Year for Disposal of Additional HDB Flat for Couples Aged above 35 Who Each Own an HDB Flat Prior to Their Marriage

Christopher de Souza proposed extending the disposal period from six months to one year for couples over 35 who each owned an HDB flat before marriage.
Desmond Lee explained that married couples are treated as a single family unit allowed only one HDB flat, requiring the disposal of one flat within six months of marriage.
The six-month period is generally sufficient for selling or transferring the flat, but HDB offers case-by-case flexibility for those needing more time.

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9 May 2022

Mandatory Counselling before Abortion Procedures to Include Booklets on Various Alternatives to Abortion and Avenues of Support for Single Mothers

Christopher de Souza suggested that mandatory pre-abortion counselling include booklets covering alternatives to abortion like adoption and support for single mothers.
Ong Ye Kung confirmed that the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social and Family Development, and Health Promotion Board have updated the pre-abortion counselling booklet to include alternatives and support resources.
The updated booklet, which covers options such as raising the child or adoption and available social support, was distributed to all approved institutions under the Termination of Pregnancy Act by 31 March 2022.

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9 May 2022

Proposal to Increase Egg Freezing Age Limit to Benefit More Women

Miss Cheng Li Hui proposed raising the egg freezing age limit to 40 and allowing appeals for those over 35, asking for the considerations behind such decisions.
Ong Ye Kung explained that the current age limit of 35 is based on scientific evidence of declining egg quality, risks of the procedure, and the need to manage expectations and prevent false hope.
He noted that MOH will review the age limit periodically and consider appeals from women slightly above the limit, with details to be provided to assisted reproduction centers.

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9 May 2022

Average Preschool Enrolment Rate of Families Residing in HDB Public Rental Flats Compared with National Average Enrolment Rate

In each of the past five years, the preschool enrolment rate for children aged three to four from HDB public rental flats was about 80%, slightly below the national average of 88%, while for children aged five to six it was comparable at around 95%.
The Ministry is enhancing subsidies and outreach programmes, such as KidSTART and Preschool Outreach, to automatically provide maximum preschool subsidies to families under public rental and ComCare schemes, making full-day childcare available for $3 per month at Anchor Operator preschools.
Instead of making preschool education compulsory, the Ministry focuses on ensuring accessible, affordable, and quality preschool services with targeted assistance for lower-income families to address practical barriers to enrolment.

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9 May 2022

Number of Applications for New Family Service Centre or Satellite Family Service Centre Accepted and Rejected in Past 10 Years

Louis Ng asked for the number of accepted and rejected applications for new or satellite Family Service Centres over the past decade and the top three reasons for rejection.
Minister Masagos clarified that there is no application process for new Family Service Centres, as they are established by MSF based on demand and accessibility, not by SSA submissions.
MSF only engages experienced social service agencies to operate new centres when needed, meaning formal rejections of applications do not occur.
The debate highlighted that Centre establishment is government-driven rather than application-based, making the question's premise inapplicable.

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9 May 2022

Accomodating Sick Children Who Do Not Have COVID-19 and Do Not Have Alternative Help from Family Members at Infant Care and Childcare Centres

The Minister highlighted that preschools must follow MOH infection control guidelines to protect children and staff by requiring unwell children to stay home until fully recovered, with exceptions for non-infectious cases certified by a doctor.
Working parents of Singaporean children under seven receive six days of paid childcare leave annually, plus annual leave, and employers are encouraged to offer flexible work arrangements to help manage sick children.
The government continues to work with tripartite partners to support family-friendly measures, acknowledging challenges parents face when children are sick but emphasizing the need to prevent disease spread in childcare centres.

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