Mr Leon Perera askedthe Minister for Social and Family Development (a) with regard to subsidised hawker meals provided to recipients of the Public Assistance scheme through meal coupons or a Special Grant Card by Community Clubs and Citizen Consultative Committees, whether the scheme is still operational; (b) how many recipients did it benefit and how much was spent on it in each year since inception; and (c) whether this scheme can be expanded to keep hawker food affordable for the needy.
Answer
1 The subsidised hawker meals provided to recipients who show their Public Assistance/Special Grant Card1 are community-led initiatives. MSF does not have data on these initiatives.
2 The Government supports households who require assistance with food-related needs in a number of ways. For instance, ComCare beneficiaries receive comprehensive support that includes cash assistance for food expenses. As part of the support to households affected by COVID-19, the Government2 issued grocery vouchers to eligible households to defray living expenses.
3 The community plays a strong complementary role with various initiatives. Through the cross-sector Charity Food Workgroup, the Government, community partners and corporates work together to enhance food support and coordination on the ground.
1 ComCare Long-Term Assistance (LTA) recipients will receive a Public Assistance/Special Grant Card, which they can use to obtain subsidised medical treatment at Government polyclinics/hospitals and Government restructured hospitals. Some community initiatives use the Public Assistance/Special Grant Card as a form of identifier of lower-income households.
2 Including the Community Development Councils (CDCs)