§ Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what assistance Her Majesty's Government have given to the Singapore Government to relieve the 19W damage and distress caused by the fire in the Tiong Bahru district on 25th May, 1961.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe fire occurred in a thickly populated area, three to five square miles of which have been completely destroyed. Not less than 6,000 persons have been rendered homeless. British Army units assisted both in fighting the fire and in relief work among the refugees. The Singapore Government have opened a fund for the relief of distress, and as a token of sympathy for the victims of the disaster Her Majesty's Government are contributing to it a gift of £5,000. The money is being advanced from the Civil Contingencies Fund and provision will be included in the Summer Supplementary Estimates.