WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1975
DURING THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL, MISS KO ALSO RAISED ANOTHER POINT REGARDING THE SUBVENTION FOR DAY NURSERIES.
IN REPLY, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES SAID THAT SUBVENTED NURSERIES WILL BE ASSISTED ON THE ADVICE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE UP TO A MAXIMUM RATE OF $90 PER MONTH PER PLACE. +THIS REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF $10 OVER LAST YEAR'S RATE TO COVER INCREASED COSTS,+ HE SAID.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, NO ADDITIONAL ELEMENT HAS BEEN INCLUDED FOR IMPROVED STANDARDS AND NURSERIES WILL BE EXPECTED TO MAINTAIN THEIR EXISTING STANDARDS FOR THIS YEAR.
HE FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT THE EFFECT OF THIS SUSPENSION IS THAT ANNUAL INCREASES IN SUBVENTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PHASED OVER A FIVE- YEAR PERIOD COMMENCING FROM THE YEAR 1973-74 IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE CERTAIN AGREED IMPROVEMENTS IN STANDARDS WILL NOW TAKE SIX YEARS TO COME INTO EFFECT.
MR. LI ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO EMPHASISE THAT SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTIONS ARE DISCRETIONARY AND AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACCEPTED NO COMMITMENT TO MAKE GOOD ANY REDUCTION OF AGENCIES' INCOME WHETHER FROM OVERSEAS DONATIONS OR ANY OTHER SOURCE. HOWEVER, HE ADDED, THIS DOES NOT PRECLUDE THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FROM REVIEWING THE POSITION OF INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES.
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