XN000022-1978-04-13 — Page 24

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

ON SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTIONS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY STRESSED THAT THE ALLOCATED SUM WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO ENABLE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO PLAY THE IR PROGRAMMED ROLE IN THEIR DEVELOPING SERVICES IN 1978-79.

+ IF I AM PROVED WRONG, AND CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT, SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION WILL BE SOUGHT,+ HE SAID.

BUT HE ADDED: THE PRESENT-DAY ROLE OF PARTICULAR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN OUR NETWORK OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES NEEDS TO BE DEFINED AND, IN APPROPRIATE CASES, PRESENT FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD THEN BE REVISED TO ENABLE THEM TO FULFILL THEIR DEFINED AGREED ROLES.

+ IN RETURN, THEY WILL HAVE TO ACCEPT A LESSER DEGREE OF INDEPENDENCE, FOR WE CANNOT INTEGRATE THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE WITH THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND CONTINUE TO SUBVENT THEM ON THE PRESENT LUMP-SUM DISCRETIONARY GRANT BASIS.+

AS REGARDS HOUSING AUTHORITY'S FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY NOTED THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE OF $296 MILLION BETWEEN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT'S ESTIMATES OF WHAT IT WILL SPEND.. AND THE AMOUNT WHICH WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FROM THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND.

BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT THE DIFFERENCE WOULD BE MET FROM THE AUTHORITY'S OWN FUNDS AND ON-LENDING FROM THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND WILL BE INCREASED ACCORDINGLY IF, IN THE EVENT, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS ABLE TO SPEND AS FAST AS IT ENVISAGES.

ON LOTTER IES FUND, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID HE AGREED WITH THE HON. F.W. LI THAT THE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE FUND SHOULD BE AMENDED TO ALLOW A WIDER RANGE OF NON-CAPITAL ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE TO BE FINANCED FROM THE FUND.

+ACCORDINGLY I HAVE ASKED THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO SUGGEST A SUITABLE AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES.+

BILLS PASSED

***

THREE BILLS WERE PASSED INTO LAW TODAY AT THE LEGISLATIVE

COUNCIL.

THEY ARE THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1978, THE HOUSING (AMENDMENT} BILL 1978 AND THE LAW AMENDMENT AND REFORM (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978.

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