Written Answer

Statistics on 2022 CDC Vouchers Claimed, Redeemed and Utilised and Measures to Benefit Specific Businesses or Segments of Singaporeans

Speakers

Summary

This question concerns the claim rates of the 2022 CDC vouchers and measures to benefit heartland businesses and Singaporean households. Mr Saktiandi Supaat inquired about the percentage of households claiming vouchers and total redemption values to assess the scheme's targeted impact. Minister Edwin Tong Chun Fai reported that 86.8% of eligible households claimed their 2022 vouchers, with $62 million spent as of July 2022. Across all tranches, over $163 million was spent at 17,700 merchants, including $27 million in coffee shops, supporting residents with daily expenses. Minister Edwin Tong Chun Fai highlighted that CDCs will continue onboarding more merchants to ensure the scheme boosts business for heartland hawkers.

Transcript

69 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) what percentage of Singaporean households have claimed their Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers in the recent May 2022 distribution exercise; (b) what is the total value of vouchers redeemed to-date; and (c) whether the Government has conducted any studies on the utilisation of the CDC vouchers, so that targeted measures can be designed to benefit specific businesses or segments of Singaporeans.

Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: Following the launch of the $130 million CDC Vouchers Scheme 2021 in December 2021, the CDCs rolled out another tranche under the CDC Vouchers Scheme 2022, on 11 May 2022 to support 1.22 million Singaporean households in their daily expenses.

As of 19 July 2022, or more than two months since the launch, 86.8% or 1.06 million Singaporean households have claimed the 2022 CDC Vouchers with about $62 million spent in over 17,700 participating hawkers and heartland merchants.

In total, more than $163 million has been spent with the 2021 and 2022 CDC Vouchers. Of this amount, $27 million or 16.6% of the vouchers was spent in 2,800 stalls in 677 coffee shops. We are encouraged by the positive feedback received on the Scheme from Singaporeans, many of whom found the CDC Vouchers easy to use.

Apart from supporting Singaporeans in their daily expenses, the CDC Vouchers also help boost businesses for heartland merchants and hawkers. Of the more than 17,700 participating hawkers and merchants onboard the Scheme, one in six stalls are in coffee shops. The CDCs will continue to onboard more heartland merchants and hawkers so that more people and businesses can continue to benefit from the CDC Vouchers Scheme.