XN000022-1974-12-30 — Page 3

MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1974

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THE INTEGRATION OF EXISTING FAMILY PLANNING CLINICS RUN BY THE FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION HAD BEEN SMOOTH AND SUCCESSFUL DUE LARGELY TO THE WORK OF THE STAFF AND THE COOPERATION OF THE FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION, DR. THONG SAID.

+COMPLETION OF THE INTEGRATION PROGRAMME NOW ENABLES THE GOVERNMENT TO GET ON WITH ITS TASK, WITH A VIEW TO CONSOLIDATING THE EXISTING SERVICE AND IMPROVING ITS SCOPE AND QUALITY,+ HE EXPLAINED.

+AT THE SAME TIME, THE FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY A ROLE IN CONCENTRATING ITS CLINICAL, THREE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH EFFORTS IN AREAS AT PRESENT NOT YET COVERED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S FAMILY HEALTH SERVICE.+

DISCONTINUATION OF CONSUMER ADVISORY SERVICE

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THE GOVERNMENT IS TO DISCONTINUE THE PUBLICATION OF THE WHOLESALE PRICES OF SELECTED FOODSTUFFS UNDER THE CONSUMER ADVISORY SERVICE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS FELT THE SERVICE WAS NO LONGER NECESSARY NOW THAT THE CONSUMER COUNCIL HAD BECOME FIRMLY ESTABLISHED.

THE CONSUMER ADVISORY SERVICE WAS FIRST INSTITUTED AT THE END OF NOVEMBER LAST YEAR TO PROVIDE A BASIS ON WHICH CONSUMERS COULD ASSESS WHETHER OR NOT CHANGES IN RETAIL PRICES WERE *REASONABLE'.

HOWEVER, THE PUBLISHING OF THE DAILY SUPPLIES AND WHOLESALE PRICES HAD NOT BEEN AS WELL RECEIVED AS WAS HOPED. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY INDICATED DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE THIS YEAR THAT THIS WAS ONE OF THE REASONS FOR ESTABLISHING A CONSUMER COUNCIL.

+THE PUBLIC APPEARS TO HAVE SHOWN A MARKED PREFERENCE

FOR THE KIND OF PRICE INFORMATION WHICH THE CONSUMER COUNCIL NOW REGULARLY PROVIDES AND IT IS FELT THAT IT WOULD NOW BE APPROPRIATE TO DISCONTINUE THE CONSUMER ADVISORY SERVICE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

THIS, HE SAID, IS STRENGTHENED BY THE FACT THAT THE GENERAL CONSUMER PRICE INDEX IS NOW NOT RISING ANYTHING LIKE AS RAPIDLY AS IT WAS EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN DAILY RECORDS OF SUPPLIES AND WHOLESALE PRICES SO THAT THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS COULD, AS IN THE PAST, CONTINUOUSLY REVIEW THE SITUATION.

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