XN000022-1987-01-21 — Page 37

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1987

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HE SAID DELAYS HAD OCCURRED IN TWO CASES WHICH WERE REFERRED TO BY THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT IN HIS 1985-86 REPORT.

+ IN BOTH CASES, THE DELAY WAS ABOUT TWO YEARS, HE SAID.

MR CHAMBERS POINTED OUT THAT THE UNSATISFACTORY SITUATION WAS DUE PARTLY TO INADEQUATE COMMUNICATION AND CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED AND PARTLY DUE TO THE LACK OF AGREED PROCEDURES ON THE HANDLING OF SUCH PROJECTS, WHICH WERE A RELATIVELY NEW ARRANGEMENT.

TO PREVENT SIMILAR DELAYS OCCURRING IN FUTURE, MR CHAMBERS SAID, A SET OF PROCEDURES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF PROJECTS OF THIS TYPE HAD BEEN INTRODUCED IN MARCH 1985.

+IN ADDITION, PLANNING OF THIS TYPE OF PROJECT BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL BEGIN FIVE YEARS AHEAD OF THE EXPECTED AVAILABILITY OF THE PREMISES INSTEAD OF TWO YEARS AS PREVIOUSLY HE SAID.

+THIS SHOULD ALLOW ADEQUATE TIME FOR THE SELECTION OF SUITABLE OPERATING AGENCIES AND FOR THE SUBSEQUENT NEGOTIATIONS OVER LAYOUT PLANS AND FINANCING OF THE PROJECTS, HE ADDED.

CHILD CARE CENTRE SERVICES BEING REVIEWED

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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS REVIEWING SEVERAL ASPECTS OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY CHILD CARE CENTRES, INCLUDING CRECHES FOR CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS OLD AND NURSERIES FOR CHILDREN AGED TWO TO SIX, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HUI YIN-FAT, MR CHAMBERS SAID A RECENT STUDY OF ALL 19 DAY CRECHES IN THE TERRITORY REVEALED THAT A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THOSE ENROLLED OR WAIT-LISTED DID NOT MEET THE INCOME AND SOCIAL NEED CRITERIA.

MR CHAMBERS SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAD ALSO EXAMINED THE POLICY ON THE PROVISION OF DAY CRECHES, THE EXPANSION OF WHICH HAD BEEN SUSPENDED SINCE 1979 ON THE ADVICE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. HE ADDED THAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD BE CONSULTED AGAIN ON THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SERVICE.

/TURNING TO