'Significant support' for Budget 2015 initiatives: REACH poll

More than 7 in 10 Singaporeans support Budget 2015 initiatives, said national feedback unit REACH on Tuesday.

According to its post-Budget telephone poll - which surveyed 947 randomly selected citizens aged 20 and above - there is "significant support" for the Silver Support Scheme, SkillsFuture, enhanced subsidies and bursaries for education, GST Voucher-Seniors' Bonus, and changes to personal income tax for top earners.

For example, 77 per cent agreed that the Silver Support Scheme will give significant support to low-income elderly; 72 per cent of respondents agreed that the SkillsFuture initiative will help individuals to learn and develop throughout their lives.

Said Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower and REACH chairman Amy Khor: "Based on the poll findings, Singaporeans have largely supported the key initiatives announced in Budget 2015. They have shown strong support for measures which aim to give greater assurance and opportunities to Singaporeans at every stage of their lives.

"These poll findings are aligned with the feedback received on REACH's other engagement platforms, where many contributors have shared that this is a comprehensive, fair and inclusive Budget."

The poll was conducted from Feb 25 to March 6. The sample was weighted by gender, age, and race, with a 3.2 per cent estimated margin of error at a 95 per cent confidence level.

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