12
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1989
"WHEN CONSIDERATION WAS
THE
GIVEN TO THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO FUND NEW OR IMPROVED SERVICES FOR THE PERIOD TO 1992-93, THE PLANNED LEVEL OF SPENDING ON CAPITAL ACCOUNT WAS INCREASED BY $2 BILLION IN
THE FOUR YEARS UP TO AND INCLUDING 1992-93.
TOTAL
OVER
"THIS REDUCED THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR RECURRENT THAT ACCOUNT SPENDING ON NEW OR IMPROVED SERVICES, BUT I WOULD STRESS IT SHOULD STILL BE POSSIBLE TO MAKE SOME PROVISION FOR SUCH SERVICES DURING THE PERIOD."
IN THE LIGHT OF THE CONSTRAINTS AND TO IMPROVE SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC WITHIN AVAILABLE RESOURCES, POLICY SECRETARIES AND CONTROLLING OFFICERS WOULD HAVE TO CARRY OUT A RIGOROUS EXAMINATION OF ON-GOING OR BASELINE EXPENDITURE.
THAT SOME FAT ACCUMULATES. AND
"OVER TIME IT IS INEVITABLE PERIODIC DIETING IS GOOD FOR HEALTH, MR JACOBS SAID.
PI
HE SAID THAT OVERALL, THE PROFILE OF TOTAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE INDICATED THAT THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES OVER THE VARIOUS PROGRAMME AREAS HAD REMAINED FAIRLY STEADY IN RECENT YEARS.
SOCIAL SERVICES AND EDUCATION MADE UP ABOUT 32 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT EXPENDITURE, AND HOUSING 14 PER CENT. SPENDING ON INFRASTRUCTURE ACCOUNTED FOR 15 PER CENT, AND ON SECURITY, ALSO 15 PER CENT.
HOWEVER, OVER THE FORECAST PERIOD THE SOCIAL SERVICES AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMES WERE EXPECTED TO ACCOUNT FOR AN INCREASING SHARE
OF RESOURCES.
OF
ON AN IMPORTANT MATTER CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT AUTHORITIES OUTSIDE THE ADMINISTRATION, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR BETTER MEANS OF DELIVERING SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.
"SOME SERVICES CAN BE MORE EFFICIENTLY PROVIDED BY AGENCIES FREED FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE STRUCTURE. HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT ALWAYS 50,
HE SAID.
MR JACOBS STRESSED THAT THE HIVING OFF OF SERVICES SHOULD NOT RE INTERPRETED AS AN ABDICATION OF RESPONSIBILITY BY THE GOVERNMENT.
"THE BODIES ESTABLISHED WILL REMAIN A PART OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR, MOST WILL STILL RELY ON PUBLIC FUNDS FOR THEIR OPERATIONS AND ALL WILL BE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE THEIR SERVICES TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE COMMUNITY," HE SAID.
MANAGEMENT WOULD BE AUTONOMOUS AND SHOULD BF MORE RESPONSIVE TO CHANGING NEEDS, HE SAID.
/MR JACOBS