WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1977
+
9
TOTAL SPENDING NEXT YEAR UP BY OVER 20 PER CENT ******
THE DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR 1977-78 PROVIDE FOR TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF $8,245 MILLION - AN INCREASE OF $1,402 MILLION OR 20.5 PER CENT OVER THE REVISED ESTIMATES FOR 1976-77 OF $6,843 MILLION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID TODAY.
+ IN REAL OR CONSTANT PRICE TERMS, THE INCREASE BUDGETTED FOR 1977-78 IS 15 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH EIGHT PER CENT
IN THE REVISED ESTIMATES FOR 1976-77 AND ABOUT ONE PER CENT IN 1975-76,+ THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE SAID.
THE PROPOSED ESTIMATES COMPRISE $6,236 MILLION FOR RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, INCLUDING $100 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS OF AN UNAVOIDABLE NATURE ARISING DURING THE YEAR, AND $2,009 MILLION FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.
THE PATTERN OF EXPENDITURE PROVIDED FOR IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR 1977-78 IS AS FOLLOWS: GENERAL SERVICES (INCLUDING LAW AND ORDER) WILL ABSORB 20.2 PER CENT ($1,670 MILLION) OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE ECONOMIC SERVICES 8.2 PER CENT ($680 MILLION) COMMUNITY SERVICES 20.3 PER CENT ($1,670 MILLION SOCIAL SERVICES 39.3 PER CENT ($3,243 MILLION) (EXCLUDING EXPENDITURE ON HOUSING WHICH IS FINANCED OUTSIDE THE GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S OWN RESOURCES), AND ALL OTHER SERVICES 12 PER CENT ($982 MILLION).
THE PROPOSED CAPITAL EXPENDITURE OF $2,009 MILLION IS MADE UP OF $833 MILLION FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, OTHER THAN NEW TOWNS AND HOUSING, $631 MILLION FOR NEW TOWNS AND HOUSING AND $545 MILLION FOR ALL OTHER COMPONENTS. THE LATTER FIGURE INCLUDES $88 MILLION FOR CAPITAL
SUBVENTIONS FOR EDUCATION AND MEDICAL SERVICES AND $158 MILLION FOR DEPARTMENTAL SPECIAL EXPENDITURE.
PERSONAL EMOLUMENT AND ALLOWANCES (NOT ON-COSTS) AT $2,421 MILLION ACCOUNT FOR 39 PER CENT OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, COMPARED WITH THE REVISED ESTIMATES OF $2,160 MILLION OR 40 PER CENT IN 1976-77, AND AN AVERAGE OF 41 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS THREE YEARS.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID: +1 THINK WE SHOULD TAKE 40 PER CENT AS A GUIDELINE FOR PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS, BUT WHETHER IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY WILL ENABLE US TO CONTROL
INCREASES IN THE APPROVED ESTABLISHMENT AS SUCCESSFULLY IN THE FUTURE AS IN THE RECENT PAST REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
DEPARTMENTAL OTHER CHARGES AT $991 MILLION HAVE BEEN KEPT TO 15.9 PER CENT OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, COMPARED WITH THE REVISED ESTIMATES OF $851 MILLION OR 15.8 PER CENT IN 1976-77 AND AN AVERAGE OF 16.9 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS THREE YEARS.
/ MR. HADDON-CAVE
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