Minister for National Development, Lawrence Wong shares that the success rate for applications under the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS) is about 85 percent for BTO flats in non-mature estates and while the success is only about 47 percent in mature estates, but these success rates for MCPS applicants are still higher than that for public applicants.
The Minister mentioned this in response to the questions of MP (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC), Liang Eng Hwa, in the 13th Parliamentary Session.
Mr Liang had asked the Minister:
- Since the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS) was launched, how many buyers who applied for a BTO flat under the Scheme have been successful and unsuccessful in getting a flat respectively, and,
- Whether there is sufficient help for buyers to live near their parents for mutual care and support.
Mr Lawrence Wong replied, that in 2015, about 1,600 applications for BTO flats in non-mature estates made under MCPS were successful. This translates to a success rate of about 85 percent. The success rate for BTO flats in mature estates under MCPS is lower at about 47 percent, due to the high demand for it and limited supply of such flats. However, the success rates for MCPS applicants in both mature and non-mature estates are still higher than that for public applicants.
He added that the MCPS program helps married child and their parents live closer together, either in the same flat, same estate, or in a neighbouring estate. Stating that this makes it easier for children to care for their aged parents, couples applying for the flat under the Fiancee/Fiancee Scheme may also apply for MCPS.
Under the MCPS, if applicants for a flat are:
- In the same estate as the applicant’s parents’ / married child’s HDB residence or owner-occupied private property, or,
- Within 2 km of the applicant’s parents’ / married child’s HDB residence or owner-occupied private property (if in a different estate),
Such appliants will be given priority in the balloting of applications, subject to satisfying the other eligibility conditions of the MCPS.
Answering the second question of Mr Liang, Mr Wong explained HDB also has other schemes and policies besides MCPS to help families live with or near one another.
The other schemes include:
- The Multi-Generation Priority Scheme, which gives priority to parents and married child who jointly apply for the same BTO project;
- The Three-Generation (3Gen) flats, which are purpose-built to cater to multi-generation living under one roof;
- Allowing parents or married child who are buying a resale flat to live with or near each other, to benefit from the Proximity Housing Grant of $20,000; and,
- Setting the income ceiling for subsidised housing at a higher level for extended families who are buying a flat to live together.
