Announced Government Budget for Upgrading of Public and Private Estates over Next Few Years

19 Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for National Development with regard to the recent Government's announcement that $1 billion will be spent on upgrading public and private estates over the next few years (a) how much of the announced budget is expected to be allocated to improvements in private housing estates; and (b) how the Government ensures that spending on private estates is allocated in a fair and equitable manner across estates.

Mr Lawrence Wong: MND will set aside $29 million to upgrade 10 private estates under the 10^th batch of the Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP). In selecting estates for EUP, we consider the age and physical condition of the estate. We prioritise the estates with greater need for upgrading and with larger scope for improvement through the upgrading works. These tend to be older estates where there is room to upgrade their parks or playgrounds and to enhance barrier-free access, together with the covering of drains to create footpaths.