§ 38. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in view of the fact that the survey of Singapore, conducted by his welfare department and published recently, revealed that 15 per cent. of the families investigated lived in passage-ways, under staircases, in backyards and in similar places, 32 per cent. in cubicles, of which 11 per cent. were without windows, and 74 per cent. in over-crowded conditions and that illiteracy was as high in certain categories as 70 per cent., what steps he proposes to take to eliminate these conditions.
Mr. Creech JonesA housing plan involving an estimated expenditure of about £3,700,000 over the next three years is under active consideration. The social survey has defined more precisely the problem which faces the Singapore Government and is an earnest of that Government's determination, in spite of the present emergency, to press on with the improvement of social conditions in the Colony. To that end educational, medical and health plans have been approved and are being implemented.