WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 1993
16
GOVT SPENDING TO RISE TO $132.5 BILLION
THE
FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAS ESTIMATED THAT TOTAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING, EXCLUDING PAYMENTS FROM THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT FUND, WILL RISE TO $132.5 BILLION IN 1993/94, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF $17.4 BILLION COMPARED WITH THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE FOR 1992/93.
MR MACLEOD SAID THE GOVERNOR IN HIS POLICY ADDRESS ANNOUNCED AMBITIOUS NEW POLICY TARGETS.
"THIS YEAR'S BUDGET PROVIDES THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO ACHIEVE GOALS SET FOR 1993/94, SUBJECT, OF COURSE, TO FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVAL.
THE
HE SAID ONE OF THE MOST VITAL IMPROVEMENTS WAS THE NEW COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE SCHEME.
THIS SCHEME STARTS ON JULY 1 AND WILL SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVE THE AVERAGE MONTHLY PAYMENT RECEIVED BY OVER 100,000 OF THE POORER MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.
INCLUDING PROPOSED INFLATION INCREASES DUE SHORTLY:
* THE AVERAGE PAYMENT FOR A SINGLE PERSON WILL BE $2,000: AN
INCREASE OF $320 OR 19% OVER 1992, AND
THE AVERAGE PAYMENT FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR WILL BE $5,880: AN INCREASE OF $1,050 OR 22%. THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO 91% OF THE PROJECTED AVERAGE MANUFACTURING WORKER'S WAGE AS AT SEPTEMBER 1993 - OR 101% OF THE SEPTEMBER 1992 AVERAGE WAGE.
POINTING OUT THAT THERE IS A WIDESPREAD MISCONCEPTION THAT BENEFICIARIES OF SOCIAL SECURITY HAVE HAD TO RELY ON THE FORMER BASIC RATE ΤΟ MEET ALL THEIR NEEDS, HE SAID LESS THAN 1% OF ALL BENEFICIARIES RECEIVED THE BASIC RATE WITHOUT ANY FORM OF ADDITIONAL PAYMENT.
"IT IS ENTIRELY MISLEADING FOR ANY DISCUSSION OF THIS ISSUE FOCUS ON THE BASIC RATE," HE SAID.
ΤΟ
PROVIDED IN THE
THE OTHER IMPROVED SERVICES WHICH WILL BE COMING YEAR TO IMPLEMENT THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS INCLUDE:
* FOR THE ELDERLY, AN EXTRA 1,780 PLACES WILL BE PROVIDED IN
CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES AND HOMES FOR THE AGED.
FOR THE DISABLED, AN EXTRA 1,810 PLACES WILL BE PROVIDED IN RESIDENTIAL AND OTHER FACILITIES.
FOR CHILDREN, AN EXTRA 1,920 PLACES WILL BE PROVIDED IN NURSERIES, CRECHES, CHILDREN'S HOMES AND SMALL GROUP HOMES.
1*
FOR THE