WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
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→THE VACANCY RATIO OF 11 PER CENT IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE HISTORICAL RATIO, REFLECTING THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE APPROVED ESTABLISHMENT DURING 1981-82 OF OVER 12 000 POSTS, OR 9.5 PER CENT, HE SAID, ADDING THAT PROVISION HAS BEEN MADE FOR 16 500 POSTS IN 1982-83.
REFERRING TO THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR BREMRIDGE SAID PARTICULAR ATTENTION WOULD BE PLACED DURING THE COMING YEAR ON THE MOST EFFECTIVE USE OF AVAILABLE STAFF RESOURCES.
HE IS ASKING FOR $3.8 BILLION FOR DEPARTMENTAL OTHER CHARGES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT INCREASED PRICES, PARTICULARLY ELECTRICITY, FUEL AND TRANSPORTATION.
+BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES PROVISION FOR STAFF-RELATED EXPENSES SUCH AS TRAINING AND QUARTERING, WHICH WERE PREVIOUSLY CLASSIFIED MISCELLANEOUS EXPENDITURE, HE SAID.
MR BREMRIDGE ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THESE CHARGES ACCOUNTED FOR 20 PER CENT OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN THE PROPORTION OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS OF 15 PER CENT.
ALL OTHER RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, HE SAID, AMOUNTED TO $9 BILLION, INCLUDING $600 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS WHICH MIGHT AŘ ISE DURING THE YEAR.
ON CAPITAL ACCOUNT, HE SAID THE PROVISION BEING SOUGHT OF $16 BILLION INCLUDED A TRANSFER OF $11 BILLION TO THE NEW CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND, BUT WOULD EXCLUDE ESTIMATED PUBLIC WORKS NON- RECURRENT EXPENDITURE OF $8.4 BILLION WHICH WOULD BE CHARGED TO THE FUND.
+FOR COMPARATIVE PURPOSES, THE PROVISION SOUGHT WOULD OTHERWISE BE $13.4 BILLION, WHICH WOULD REPRESENT AN INCREASE OF $3 BILLION OR 29 PER CENT ON THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1981-82,+ HE SAID.
MR BREMRIDGE ALSO PROPOSED TRANSFERRING $2.4 BILLION TO THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND FOR ON-LENDING TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND $638 MILLION TO SUBVENTIONS AND THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECH GRANTS COMMITTEE, COMPARED WITH $408 MILLION FOR 1981-82,
HE IS ALSO SEEKING $2 BILLION FOR ALL OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE CAPITAL ACCOUNT, INCLUDING $700 MILLION FOR UNFORESEEN COMMITMENTS.
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