WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1977
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IN THEIR CASE, MR. HADDON-CAVE POINTED OUT, THEY RETAIN +A DEGREE OF INDEPENDENCE NOT ENJOYED BY AGENCIES SUBVENTED ON A DEFICIENCY GRANT BASIS. THE IR BUDGETS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO APPROVAL, AND THEY ARE FREE TO EMPLOY AS MANY PERSONS AS THEY WISH WITH WHATEVER QUALIFICATIONS THEY DEEM NECESSARY.+
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT CLEARLY COULD NOT ACCEPT FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO MAINTAIN PARITY WITHOUT AT THE SAME TIME REQUIRING SIMILAR CONTROL OVER AGENCIES SUBVENTED ON A DEFICIENCY GRANT BASIS AND HE WAS NOT SURE THAT SUCH CONTROL WOULD BE DESIRABLE OR WOULD BE WELCOMED BY THE AGENCIES THEMSELVES.
AS TO PARITY OF FRINGE BENEFITS, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID EXPERIENCE HAD PROVED IT WAS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THOSE APPLICABLE TO CIVIL SERVANTS WERE NOT NECESSARILY APPROPRIATE OUTSIDE THE CIVIL SERVICE AND WHERE CERTAIN FRINGE BENEFITS HAD BEEN RECOGNISED, SUCH AS CONTRIBUTORY PROVIDENT FUND SCHEMES, SEPARATE AND DETAILED CONTROL WAS REQUIRED.
ON THE SUGGESTION TO OFFER A HIGHER SALARY TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID IT WOULD BE CONTRARY TO CIVIL SERVICE PRACTICE OF DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN RENUMERATION IN CASH AND IN KIND, AND, THE MOMENT THIS KIND OF TRADE-OFF WAS ALLOWED, ESTABLISHED SUBVENTION PRINCIPLES WOULD BE ERODED, FOR EXCEPTIONS TEND TO SET PRECEDENTS WHICH, IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME, BECOME SACROSANCT RULES.+
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY RECALLED THAT HE HAD SUGGESTED IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH THAT SOME PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO LOWER ING THE AGE LIMIT OF ELIGIBILITY FOR INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE.
HE SAID THE EXTRA COST WOULD BE CONSIDERABLE AND IT WAS NOT FOR HIM TO SAY WHAT PRIORITY IT SHOULD BE GIVEN IN RELATION TO OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE.
THE ISSUE WOULD BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED DURING THE FORTHCOMING REVIEW OF SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES.
REFERRING TO A PROPOSAL THAT VOLUNTARY AGENCIES SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR FUNDS, MR. HADDON-CAVE EXPLAINED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD EVERY RIGHT TO EXPECT VALUE FOR MONEY FROM THEM, BUT THEY COULD, AND DID, LEGITIMATELY ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES WHICH WERE OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT'S APPROVED POLICIES AND TARGETS AND WHICH WERE NOT THEREFORE DEEMED TO BE SUBVENTION-WORTHY.
+TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH ACTIVITIES ARE FINANCED FROM DONATIONS, I DO NOT SEE HOW THE AGENCIES CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE FUNDS EXPENDED ON THEM.
+ I CONSIDER THAT TO REQUIRE SUBVENTED AGENCIES TO ACCOUNT TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR ALL THEIR FUNDS WOULD BE AN UNJUSTIFIED INFRINGEMENT OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THOSE AGENCIES, HE SAID.
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