§ 73. Mr. Popplewellasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of houses and flats built in Singapore during 1951; what percentage of the house building target does this represent for that year; and what steps he proposes to deal more effectively with this urgent problem.
§ Mr. LytteltonOne thousand one hundred and eighty flats and quarters were built by public authorities and 2,030 were still under construction at the end of the year. The Singapore Improvement Trust's target for 1951 was 2,238 homes, but, in fact, all housing completed in 1951 was only the backlog from the previous year.
I share the Government of Singapore's deep concern at the housing shortage, which is a problem demanding imaginative planning and vigorous execution. I will ask the new Governor to give this matter special attention.
§ 75. Mr. Popplewellasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of Singapore's record budget surplus, he will press the Government there to adopt a policy of subsidies for house-building projects.
§ Mr. LytteltonGovernment loans to the Singapore Improvement Trust so far total £2,624,000. These are at specially low rates of interest and constitute an indirect subsidy.
The question of further subsidisation is now being considered by the Singapore Government as part of their general plans for rehousing.