The Government is working out a package of measures to honour the group of seniors who worked hard in the early years of nationhood and laid the foundation for today's Singapore.

And it will provide details on how it defines the Pioneer Generation, the phrase it has coined to refer to this group of seniors, by the time Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam announces this year's Budget on Feb 21.

Mr Tharman gave this written reply on Tuesday, in response to Nominated MP Nicholas Fang who asked what criteria would be used to define the Pioneer Generation.

In his National Day Rally speech last August, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke of a package to help those in the Pioneer Generation fund their premiums under an enhanced national health insurance scheme, MediShield Life.

In his reply, Mr Tharman said of the Pioneer Generation: "They paved the way for subsequent generations to live a better life. They are now in their golden years and it is timely for us to recognise their contributions and sacrifices."

He added that the Government had received "useful suggestions" on how to define members of this generation, and had also consulted with various groups of Singaporeans.

It welcomes more suggestions through government feedback portal Reach or the Ministry of Finance website, he said.