MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1982
HE NOTED THAT IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON SUBVENTING THESE SERVICES WAS ABOUT $50 MILLION.
+IN THE NEW FINANCIAL YEAR, IF THE NEW STANDARD COSTS ARE USED, ALLOCATIONS TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN THESE FIELDS WILL GO UP TO SOME $62 MILLION, HE SAID.
+OUR INTENTION IS TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES, + THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+SUBVENTED AGENCIES SHOULD REST ASSURED THAT STANDARD COSTS WILL BE ADEQUATE. FURTHERMORE, THEY WILL BE FULLY CONSULTED BEFORE FINAL DECISIONS ARE TAKEN. +
THE SPOKESMAN WENT ON: +THE STANDARD COSTS PROPOSED ARE DERIVED FROM EXISTING STANDARDS AS SET OUT IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEVELOPMENT FIVE-YEAR PLAN, WHICH IS A DOCUMENT REPRESENTING CO-OPERATIVE PLANNING EFFORTS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR.
HE SAID THAT STANDARD COSTS FOR SERVICES WERE CAREFULLY WORKED OUT FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED IN GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND SHOULD BE REGARDED AS STARTING POINTS FOR FURTHER REVIEW AND IMPROVEMENT.
+ INDEED, UNDER THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN, THERE IS THE NECESSARY MECHANISM ENABLING SERVICES TO BE REVIEWED REGULARLY AND IMPROVED UPON IN A CO-ORDINATED AND SYSTEMATIC WAY TO MEET CHANGING NEEDS AND CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES, HE SAID.
STANDARD COSTS ARE ASSESSED ON THE BASIS OF THE NUMBERS AND LEVELS OF STAFF REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A PARTICULAR SERVICE AND OTHER CHARGES SUCH AS UTILITIES, ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRAMME EXPENSES. THEY WILL BE REVIEWED REGULARLY TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF RECOGNISED PRICE RISES AND SALARY ADJUSTMENTS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
STAFF COSTS ARE DERIVED FROM EXISTING STANDARDS UNDER THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN AND ALSO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE EXTENSION OF THE WELFARE CLASS REVIEW TO THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR.
SEPARATE PROVISION WILL BE MADE FOR PROVIDENT FUND CONTRIBUTIONS AS WELL AS RENTS AND RATES.
+ONCE THE STANDARD COSTS HAVE BEEN DETERMINED AND THE FUNDS PROVIDED, AGENCIES WILL HAVE MAXIMUM FREEDOM IN USING THE RESOURCES TO THE IR BEST ADVANTAGE WITHIN BROAD GUIDELINES LAID DOWN BY THE DEPARTMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID. OUR MAIN CONCERN IS TO ENSURE THAT THE FUNDS ALLOCATED ARE EFFECTIVELY SPENT FOR THE PURPOSES INTENDED.
WORK ON THE STANDARD COSTS FOR THE OTHER WELFARE SERVICES IS PROGRESSING SATISFACTORILY AND IT IS HOPED TO HAVE THEM INTRODUCED IN 1984/85.
15