28
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7 1987
HIGHER PUBLIC ASSISTANCE,
SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE PROPOSED
+
SPECIAL
10 PER CENT THE NEEDS ALLOWANCE,
THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO INCREASE BY ABOUT BASIC RATES OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND STARTING FROM APRIL 1, 1988, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
OF
FOLLOWING AN OVERALL REVIEW OF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME, THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALSO DECIDED TO MAKE, FROM JANUARY 1, A NUMBER IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS, SIR DAVID SAID.
"THESE WILL INCLUDE INCREASING THE LEVEL OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE то LARGER FAMILIES; THE PROVISION OF A HIGH LEVEL OF ANNUAL SUPPLEMENT FOR SUCH FAMILIES; AND THE INTRODUCTION OF A MEAL ALLOWANCE FOR CHILDREN ATTENDING FULL-DAY SCHOOL, HE SAID.
"A FURTHER IMPROVEMENT WILL BENEFIT ABLE-BODIED RECIPIENTS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE WHO ARE IN REGULAR EMPLOYMENT BUT WHOSE WAGES ARE LOW.
"AS FROM JANUARY NEXT YEAR ONLY A PART OF THEIR WAGES WILL BE OFFSET AGAINST THEIR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCE, RATHER THAN ALL THEIR WAGES AS AT PRESENT. THIS 13 TO ENCOURAGE THEM ΤΟ REMAIN IN WORK.
Fo
SIR DAVID SAID WELL-DESIGNED SOCIAL SECURITY AND SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES CONTRIBUTED TO A STABLE AND PROSPEROUS SOCIETY.
"OUR SAFETY NET, THOUGH RELATIVELY MODEST BY THE STANDARDS OF MOST ADVANCED COUNTRIES, IS BETTER THAN IN MOST COMPARABLE COUNTRIES IN THIS REGION. BUT IT NEEDS TO BE KEPT CONSTANTLY UNDER REVIEW," HE SAID.
THE FINANCIAL SECURITY OF RETIRED PERSONS AND THE WELFARE OF THE ELDERLY GENERALLY WAS A MATTER ON WHICH COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD EXPRESSED CONCERN, PARTICULARLY IN AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE DESIRABILITY OF SETTING UP A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND, SIR DAVID WENT
ON.
HE NOTED THAT THE PROPORTION OF OLD PEOPLE IN THE POPULATION WOULD INCREASE, AND MANY PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED THAT TRADITIONAL FAMILY TIES, ON WHICH THE ELDERLY UNTIL NOW LARGELY DEPENDED FOR SUPPORT, WERE BEING ERODED.
4. L
FUNDS WOULD GO
"IT HAS BEEN ARGUED THAT COMPULSORY PROVIDENT SOME WAY TOWARDS MEETING THESE CONCERNS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONSIDERED THESE ARGUMENTS CAREFULLY. WE HAVE ALSO CONSIDERED THE CONTRARY ARGUMENT: THAT COMPULSORY FUNDS, PARTICULARLY A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND, WOULD BENEFIT LEAST THOSE WHOSE NEED IS GREATEST, THAT IS THOSE WHO HAVE NOT HELD STEADY JOBS OR WHOSE PAY HAS BEEN LOW.
"THERE IS