XN000022-1976-10-06 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976.

SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES UNDERGOING MAJOR REVIEW

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THE GOVERNMENT IS CONDUCTING A MAJOR REVIEW OF ITS SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID

IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE SAID THE PROGRAMMES FALL INTO THREE MAIN CATEGORIES: PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCES AND SERVICES.

REGARDING THE PROVISION OF SERVICES, HE SAID: +ON THESE YOUR GOVERNMENT IS PREPARING COSTED PROGRAMME PLANS COVERING THE MAJOR FIELDS OF SERVICES TO THE HANDICAPPED, THE ELDERLY AND YOUTH.+

THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT PLANS ON REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE HANDICAPPED WILL BE PUBLISHED NEXT WEEK, PLANS ON SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY SHOULD BE READY EARLY NEXT YEAR AND PLANS ON PREVENTIVE SERVICES FOR YOUTH SHOULD BE READY BY THE LATE SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER.

+ONCE WE HAVE THESE PLANS WE WILL UNDERTAKE AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF WHAT NEEDS DOING TO COMPLETE THE SAFETY NET FOR OUR SOCIETY AND MAKE SURE IT HAS NO HOLES, HE SAID.

+CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR PAYMENTS ARE AN ENORMOUS ADVANCE ON THE DRY RATIONS OF SIX YEARS AGO.

+BUT NOW THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY HAS BEEN RUN IN, WE SHOULD LOOK CLOSELY AT HOW WELL IT REALLY WORKS- AT WHETHER METHODS OF PROVING NEED FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ARE REASONABLE, AT WHETHER THE LEVELS OF PAYMENTS ARE APPROPRIATE AND CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY INCLUDING FOR INSTANCE THE AGE FOR INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE ARE RIGHT.

+IN SHORT, AT WHETHER OUR ARRANGEMENTS COVER PROPERLY THE VULNERABLE GROUPS THE COMMUNITY WISHES TO HELP, AND IF NOT WHAT ADJUSTMENTS WOULD BE NECESSARY.

+WE INTEND TO COMBINE THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE REVIEWS OF PAYMENTS AND OF SERVICES IN AN AMENDED AND MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND SPECIFIC SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMME, WHICH WE INTEND SHOULD BE READY BY ABOUT THE END OF 1977, AND SUBJECT TO VIEWS OF HONOURABLE MEMBERS, BEGIN IMPLEMENTED IN 1978, HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME WHICH MADE ITS PRESENCE FELT DURING THE RECESSION WHEN MANY ABLE-BODIED PERSONS BETWEEN 15 AND 55 WERE EXCLUDED.

DURING THE RECESSION, HE SAID, IT WAS QUITE WRONG THAT UNEMPLOYED SINGLE MEN OR COUPLES WITHOUT CHILDREN HAD TO LIVE OFF THEIR FRIENDS OR THEIR WITS, OR THAT SOME MARRIED MEN HAD TO LIVE OFF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE GRANTED TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY.

/+WE PROPOSE