XN000022-1980-12-17 — Page 11

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1980

+ IN MANY CASES INSURANCE IS EFFECTED TO COVER THE POLICY HOLDER AGAINST CALAMITY, AND AN INSURANCE COMPANY'S FAILURE TO MEET ITS LIABILITIES CAN BE DISASTROUS FOR INDIVIDUAL POLICY HOLDERS, HE SAID,

MR JACOBS DISCLOSED THAT THE FIRST DRAFT OF A COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE BILL, MENTIONED BY THE GOVERNOR AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE COUNCIL, WAS CIRCULATED AND COMMENTED UPON BY A WORKING GROUP COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES OF THE INDUSTRY AND CHAIRED BY THE REGISTRAR GENERAL.

THE COMMENTS HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED, AND WHERE APPROPRIATE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN A SECOND DRAFT BILL, WHICH IS IN THE COURSE OF PREPARATION, HE SAID.

HE EXPECTED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT TO BRING THE WHOLE OF THE LEGISLATION INTO EFFECT OR TO ENJOY THE SAFEGUARDS THAT THE LEGISLATION WOULD PROVIDE.

THE INTER IM LEGISLATION NOW INTRODUCED IS NOT A COMPLETE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM.

+BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BRING ABOUT A CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT IN THE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION IN RELATION TO THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY AND WILL THUS BE OF VALUE TO POLICY HOLDERS,+ MR JACOBS SAID.

REASONS FOR DECISION ON WOMEN OFFICERS' FRINGE BENEFITS

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ONE OF TWO MAIN REASONS WHY THE GOVERNMENT HAS FELT UNABLE TO ACCEPT IN FULL THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AS REGARDS FRINGE BENEFITS FOR MARRIED WOMEN OFFICERS IS THAT IT CONSIDERS

IT UNDESIRABLE FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE TO MOVE TOO FAR AHEAD OF PRIVATE SECTOR PRACTICE.

THE SECOND REASON IS THAT IT SEES OBJECTION TO THE TAXPAYER SUBSIDISING THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AS COULD HAPPEN WHERE THE HUSBAND OF A WOMAN CIVIL SERVANT WORKS FOR A PRIVATE EMPLOYER, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON MARTIN ROWLANDS SAID TODAY.

HE WAS REPLYING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO A QUESTION BY THE REV THE HON JOYCE BENNETT,

MR ROWLANDS EMPHASIZED THAT, WHILE THE GOVERNMENT'S RECENT DECISION DID NOT GO AS FAR AS THE STANDING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED,

IT NONETHELESS REPRESENTED A SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE PROVISION OF FRINGE BENEFITS FOR MARRIED WOMEN OFFICERS.

DETAILED RULES OF ELIGIBILITY USING THE NEW CRITERIA ARE NOW BEING DRAWN UP, AND WILL HOPEFULLY COVER COMPASSIONATE AND OTHER EXCEPTIONAL CASES, HE SAID.

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