PARENTS will get more help with raising kids at every step of the way, starting from when the mother gives birth up till when the child attends kindergarten.

$700m New Deal ANOTHER $700 million will be spent on new ways to encourage Singaporeans to marry and to have babies. In all, the Government will spend $1.6 billion a year, announced Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. These include: 1) Government matchmaking agencies SDU and SDS will be merged. They now cater to graduates and non-graduates respectively. By joining forces, they can offer members more activities and choices, and hopefully more pairing-ups, marriages and children. 2) SDU will certify private dating agencies that meet its quality standards. These will be given an 'SDU Trust' mark. This will give the 'best of both worlds' for those who 'don't want the government to know that they're dating but also want quality assurance', said Mr Lee. 3) Childcare leave, introduced in 2004, will be extended from two to six days a year. It can be claimed by either parent. 4) Parents will get one week of unpaid infant-care leave a year, until the child turns two. It can be claimed by either parent. 5) Family-friendly companies will be recognised and thanked publicly. The 'special effort' will be led by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports and the Manpower Ministry. Mr Lee applauded those employers that make flexible arrangements for mothers and have positive attitudes. 'When you go, they don't make a sour face and they don't make you feel that a little black mark willl be recorded in your annual confidential report,' he said. 'It makes a big difference. And with a bit of effort and imagination, you can do a lot.' 6) Maternity leave will be extended by another month, giving mothers a total of four months leave. Like with the third month leave, the Government will pay for the new extra month. It can be taken any time in the first year of the child's birth. 7) Baby Bonus will be increased for first-time parents. Details will be given later. Financial considerations cannot be the motive for having children, stressed Mr Lee. 'I think if you suggest to a couple that you know I give you a bit of discount, how about having more kids, I think many will be very indignant at this, and rightly so.' 'But it's right for us to help women to lighten the burden of having children.' 8) Tax incentives will be improved to encourage mothers to work. 9) Childcare sector to get a big boost. More centres will be built to give quick access to one. They will be more affordable because the subsidy for a child will be increased. Their standards will be raised. Said Mr Lee: 'Before they reach school, the first six years, those are critical and you want to have the peace of mind that they are being looked after well.' 10) The Government will 'substantially' give support to kindergartens that meet the Education Ministry's criteria. Besides better-trained teachers, they will get better syllabuses, a higher-quality environment and be better run, so that kids grow up much more confident, said Mr Lee. This is particularly for those whose backgrounds aren't so ideal at home. 'They will be able to make it in kindergarten and start from a more equal starting point when they go to school.' 11) Financial aid will be given to couples seeking in-vitro fertilisation treatment to fulfill their desire to have a baby. 12) Couples with many children will get more support. Incentives such as tax relief and childcare subsidy will be extended to the fifth child onwards. Now, they stop at the fourth child. Said Mr Lee: 'There are not many of them but I hope the incentives will encourage those who can afford it to have more.' RELATED LINKS  PM's NDR speech Part 1  PM's NDR speech Part 2  PM's NDR speech Part 3  PM's NDR speech Part 4

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong unveiled a $700 million raft of measures to gasps of 'wahs' on Sunday at his fifth National Day Rally address.

It comes as Singapore enters its 33rd year of not producing enough babies to maintain the population.

But in a two-hour long speech that tackled challenges both short and long-term, Mr Lee started by speaking on a more immediate concern: the economy.

Sketching the 'dark clouds' that have gathered, he said the United States is 'very serious problems' that are slowing growth in Europe and Asia.

Indeed, Singapore is starting to feel the impact, he noted. Growth has slowed, exports are weak, tourist arrivals are down, and shops have fewer customers.

'Next year, we expect slow growth and more uncertainties,' he warned an audience of 1,700 at the University Cultural Centre that include civil servants, grassroots leaders and students.

But he leavened the gloom with the observation that Singapore had upgraded its economy and has ready a good pipeline of projects such as the integrated resorts.

Mr Lee singled out the rising cost of living as the 'hottest' issue.

Singaporeans, he acknowledged, wish that the Government would 'do something' to control prices, such as oil subsidies. But these are very hard to sustain.

Instead, Singapore's way is to give targetted help for the middle-income and the needy, he added, highlighting initiatives such as Workfare.

But more can be done.

In an announcement that met with immediate applause, he said that with inflation higher than expected, Singaporeans will get 50 per cent more in growth dividends on Oct 1, while flat-dwellers will get 50 per cent more in utility rebates.

These measures will 'help Singaporeans see us through this period.'.

Turning to the longer-term challenge of Singapore's low total fertility rate - currently at 1.29, the Prime Minister, with self-deprecating humour, dispensed anecdotes and advice on dating and fatherhood alike.

He also urged a change in mindsets, calling on fathers to be more active in child-raising.

For those who want - but cannot have - children, there is also help. Financial support will be given to couples who seek in-vitro fertilisation treatment.

Singles too, are not left out: government matchmakers SDU and SDS will be merged for 'more critical mass, more activities, hopefully more pairing up and more weddings - and more children'.

Taken with existing measures, the latest package amount to about $1.6 billion in all, or 0.6 per cent of the GDP.

Summing up, he called on Singaporeans to 'look beyond our immediate problems' and work to grow the economy. 'Then we will create even more extraordinary opportunities for the new generation and together our children will write more chapters of our Singapore story,' said PM Lee.