THE government does not want to extend the Baby Bonus cash incentive to births beyond the fourth child, as it does not want to encourage those who cannot afford large families to have them.

Minister of State (Community Development, Youth and Sports) Yu-Foo Yee Shoon said, in response to a question by MP Lee Bee Wah (Ang Mo Kio GRC): 'While we want to support parents who wish to have five children or more, we do not want to inadvertently incentivise those who cannot afford it.'

She noted that though they do not get the cash Baby Bonus - $4,000 for the first and second child, and $6,000 for the third and fourth child - they do enjoy other benefits. These include a government matching grant of up to $18,000 if they deposit money into the Children Development Account for their fifth and subsequent child.