XN000022-1976-11-10 — Page 11

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976.

SAFEGUARDS FOR PROPOSED EXTENSION OF P.A. SCHEME

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THE PROPOSED EXTENSION OF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME TO COVER ABLE-BODIED PEOPLE AGED BETWEEN 15 AND 55 WHO ARE UNABLE TO FIND WORK WOULD NOT ENCOURAGE IDLENESS, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON. THOMAS LEE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON A MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OPENING ADDRESS, MR. LEE STRESSED THERE WOULD STILL BE A SIGNIFICANT GAP BETWEEN THE LEVEL OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND THE PREVAILING WAGE RATES.

ALL NECESSARY SAFEGUARDS TO PREVENT ABUSE WOULD ALSO BE BUILT INTO THE EXTENDED SCHEME, HE ADDED.

MR. LEE AGREED WITH DR. THE HON. HENRY HU THAT ACTIVE SOCIAL SERVICES MUST BE COMPLEMENTARY WITH CASH AID PROGRAMMES AND THAT NO MATTER HOW MUCH WERE BEING PAID OUT IN SOCIAL SECURITY, PROBLEMS REQUIRING THE SKILL OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS WOULD ALWAYS ARISE.

+ IN OTHER WORDS, CASH IS NOT A COMPLETE ALTERNATIVE TO PERSONAL CONCERN FOR THE POOR, THE OLD AND THE DISABLED, HE SAID.

REGARDING THE PROPOSAL TO LOWER THE MINIMUM AGE OF 75 LAID DOWN TO QUALIFY FOR INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE, MR. LEE SAID THAT SERIOUS CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO REDUCING THE AGE LIMIT.

HOWEVER, HE NOTED THAT THE SCHEME WAS NON-CONTRIBUTORY AND IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES ANY REDUCTION IN THE QUALIFYING AGE MIGHT HAVE TO DEPEND ON THE APPLICANTS' PROVING THAT THEY NEED SUCH SUPPORT.

+THIS WOULD, OF COURSE, INVOLVE A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN THE DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE SCHEME WHICH AT PRESENT IS NOT MEANS TESTED.+

MR. LEE AGREED WITH THE PROPOSAL THAT THE CHRONICALLY SICK, THE DISABLED, THE WIDOWED AND THE OLD SHOULD BE TREATED MORE GENEROUSLY AS SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF PERSONS WITH GREATER NEED, AND ASSURED THE COUNCIL THAT THE PROPOSAL WOULD RECEIVE THE MOST CAREFUL STUDY'.

TURNING TO THE CARE FOR THE ELDERLY, MR. LEE SAID THAT IN THIS AND THE FOLLOWING FINANCIAL YEAR, ANOTHER 919 PLACES IN HOMES AND HOSTELS FOR THE AGED WOULD BE PROVIDED BY THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF OLD PEOPLE BEING LOOKED AFTER TO OVER 4,000.

+ IN THE SAME TWO YEARS, FURTHER INITIATIVE BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WILL PROVIDE ANOTHER 600 PLACES IN TRAINING CENTRES, SHELTERED WORKSHOPS AND OTHER CENTRES FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED.

/+IN THE