6
MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1994
MR
INVITED INCLUDING
EASON DESCRIBED THE MEETING AS VERY PRODUCTIVE AND MEMBERS,
REPRESENT WHO
VARIOUS
GROUPS PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS,
CONTRACTORS PLANNERS, SURVEYORS, DEVELOPERS, TO MAKE FORMAL SUBMISSIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT ON DEAL WITH THE SITUATION.
AND WAYS ΤΟ
THE TASK FORCE, UNDER MR EASON'S CHAIRMANSHIP, IS WORKING STEAM IN CANVASSING AND ANALYSING PUBLIC OPINION AS PART OF ITS
IN то DRAW UP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUBMISSION TO THE GOVERNOR THREE MONTHS.
FULL
WORK
ABOUT
0
-
GOVERNMENT TO SPEND $830 MILLION ON FAMILY SERVICES
* * *
THE GOVERNMENT WILL SPEND $830 MILLION THIS YEAR ON FAMILY AND CHILD WELFARE SERVICES, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FAMILY AND COMMUNITY CARE, MR PATTEN SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT "WE SUPPORT THE FAMILY IN WHATEVER WAY WE CAN.'
THE GOVERNOR SAID: "THE FAMILY, THE FAMILY EVERYWHERE, IS UNDER PRESSURE. IT IS NOT JUST HERE, IT'S THE CASE RIGHT ACROSS THE WORLD.
"URBANISATION, HIGHER DIVORCE RATES, INFLUENCES VARY FROM OTHER CULTURES, EMIGRATION, POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY, ALL THESE THINGS CAN PUT A STRAIN ON FAMILIES AND, IN SOME CASES, LEAD ΤΟ THEIR BREAKDOWN.'
TI
FOR
THE GOVERNMENT WILL BOOST FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES COUPLES; PROVIDE MORE FAMILY CASE AND FAMILY AID WORKERS TO GIVE COUNSELLING TO FAMILIES IN TROUBLE; SET UP 19 FAMILY ACTIVITY RESOURCE CENTRES FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN; AND ESTABLISH A FAMILY CARE DEMONSTRATION RESOURCE CENTRE FOR PARENTS.
MR PATTEN SAID IN THE PAST PEOPLE RELIED ON THEIR FAMILIES RATHER THAN THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE OR THE STATE FOR HELP, BUT THE ADDITIONAL PRESSURES OF LIFE TODAY WERE ERODING THIS TRADITION.
"FAMILIES CANNOT ALWAYS COPE ANY MORE. SO PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO THE WIDER COMMUNITY FOR ASSISTANCE,' HE NOTED.
"AND IT IS HERE THAT OUR NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANISATIONS HAVE
SUCH A VITAL ROLE TO PLAY.
**WORKING WITH GOVERNMENT, THEY PROVIDE A LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR THOSE LESS FORTUNATE THAN OURSELVES: SINGLE PARENTS OR THOSE HAVING DIFFICULTIES WITH THEIR MARRIAGES, THE ELDERLY, THE MENTALLY ILL, PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY, YOUNGSTERS WITH PROBLEMS, AND 30 ON.
"OUR AIM IS TO HELP THOSE IN NEED TO LIVE AS AN INDEPENDENT LIFE AS POSSIBLE, EITHER ON THEIR OWN OR WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
A
/MR PATTEN