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institutional care for the disabled and the elderly, are high so that
considerable additional expenditure would be involved if sufficient money
were to be provided through the social security system to enable those
buy a full range
who at present use Government financed services t
of services.
This would be particularly so if the subsidies were to
be on a universal, non-contributory and non-means-tested basis. If a
means-test were to be introduced to prevent payments going to those
able to buy services, elaborate and expensive administrativo
machinery would be required. On the whole, it seems better to provide
the necessary services and to ensure that those services are within
the general means of the client group, with the social security system
providing the necessary financial support for those with special
needs, c.g. the elderly, or those who are unable
charged.
5.10
to afford the fees
Notwithstanding the conclusion reached in the preceding
paragraphs, it may be advisable to encourage, in appropriate fields,
the growth of non-profit self-financed services.
This would lead to
more resources being devoted to social welfare services and enable
the Government to concentrate on other forms of social welfare where
privately financed services would not be practicable. Those providing
private services would become more accountable, because those paying
for the service would feel free to go elsewhere if dissatisfied, Child
care centres and homes for the aged seem to be suitable services for
testing these ideas and the Government will examine the possibility
of devising a workable system.
Fee Charging
5.11
The government is convinced that the key to establishing a atisfactory relationship between social security and social welfare
services lies in a consistent and effective policy on fees for social wolfare services. In general, voluntary agencies are often reluctant
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