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Monday, June 25, 1973
Flexibility, Mr. Hardy said, is needed in determining each succeeding annual subvention budget, and is precisely the element being introduced with decision taking at operational level.
He told the gathering it is proposed to obtain Finance Committee approval to vote a set sum each year for social welfare subventions to be used as the Social Welfare Advisory Committee (SWAC) decides.
The size of the subventions vote will be determined each year in advance as a result of a review by the Social Welfare Department of its published Five Year Plan.
No sum had yet been fixed for 1974/75, he said, but hoped that it would be between $30 to $35 million compared to $25.5 million for the current year.
In view of these expanding changes, Mr. Hardy said the question then arises in what new directions can the voluntary sector best redeploy a considerable free reserve of energy?
He contended that there were several areas in which they could expand. These were development of community centres, children and youth services, aftercare of young offenders released from correctional institutions, and family services including a practical "meals on meals" scheme for the elderly infirm similar to that which is operated in Britain and adapted to local conditions.
Note to Editors:
Full texts of Mr. Hardy's speech will be boxed this evening.
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