XN000022-1983-02-23 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1983

10.7 PER CENT INCREASE PROPOSED FOR 1983-84 EXPENDITURE

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TOTAL EXPENDITURE FOR 1983-84, TAKING TOGETHER THE GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT AND THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND, IS ESTIMATED AT $36.8 BILLION, AN INCREASE OF 10.7 PER CENT OVER 1982-83.

IN PRESENTING HIS BUDGET IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE SAID THE PRINTED DRAFT ESTIMATES PROVIDED FOR TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF $35.5 BILLION= BUT THIS FIGURE INCLUDED A TRANSFER OF $8 BILLION TO THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND, WHEREAS EXPENDITURE FROM THE FUND WAS ESTIMATED AT $9.3 BILLION.

ON RECURRENT ACCOUNT. MR BREMRIDGE SAID THE PROVISION SOUGHT OF $23.8 BILLION REPRESENTED AN INCREASE OF $3 BILLION, OR 14.5

THE ACCOUNT PER CENT, ON THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1982-83. INCLUDES EXPENDITURE ON:

* PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS AT $8.2 BILLION OR 37 PER CENT OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, COMPARED WITH AN AVERAGE OF NEARLY 38 PER CENT OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. THIS PROVISION DOES NOT MAKE ALLOWANCE FOR ANY SALARY ADJUSTMENT. IF REQUIRED THE FUNDS FOR THIS WILL HAVE TO BE FOUND FROM THE ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS VOTE. THE PROVISION SOUGHT FOR THIS VOTE IS $1.3 BILLION, WHICH IS FOR ALL UNFORESEEN COMMITMENTS NOT PROVIDED FOR IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES:

*

PERSONNEL RELATED EXPENSES AT $1.9 BILLION OR 8.6 PER CENT OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE COMPARED WITH AN AVERAGE

THIS INCREASE OF 5.8 PER CENT OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

IS DUE PRINCIPALLY TO HOME PURCHASE ALLOWANCES PAYABLE TO CIVIL SERVANTS JOINING THE HOME PURCHASE SCHEME;

* DEPARTMENTAL EXPENSES AND OTHER CHARGES AT $6.7 BILLION

OR 30 PER CENT OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, WHICH IS ABOUT THE SAME AS THE AVERAGE PROPORTION OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS; AND

*

SUBVENTIONS AT $5.7 BILLION OR 25 PER CENT OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE COMPARED WITH AN AVERAGE OF 26 PER CENT OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

ON CAPITAL ACCOUNT, THE PROVISION SOUGHT IS $11.7 BILLION. THIS INCLUDES $8 BILLION FOR TRANSFER TO THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND BUT EXCLUDES EXPENDITURE OF $9.3 BILLION WHICH WILL BE A CHARGE ON THE FUND. TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FROM THE GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT AND THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND TAKEN TOGETHER IS $13 BILLION, WHICH REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF $545 MILLION OR 4.4 PER CENT ON THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1982-83.

THE CAPITAL ACCOUNT ALSO PROVIDES $1.8 BILLION FOR TRANSFER TO THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND FOR ON-LENDING TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND $1.9 BILLION FOR ALL OTHER COMPONENTS, INCLUDING $200 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS.

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