XN000022-1991-07-03 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1991

- 6

INFLATION ONLY ONE FACTOR IN FRAMING BUDGET

THE FINANCE

THE

ADMINISTRATION OF

OF

OF THE SEEK COST TOLD THE

BRANCH CONSTANTLY REMINDS DEPARTMENTS NEED ΤΟ IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND SAVINGS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

PIERS SAID

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON NELLIE FONG, SIR TOP DOWN REVIEWS AND VALUE FOR MONEY STUDIES HAD BEEN EMPLOYED IN ADMINISTRATION FOR MUCH OF THE PAST DECADE.

TO

HE SAID IN HIS 1991-92 BUDGET EARLIER THIS YEAR, HE

OF SOME DETAILS

NUMBER OF

OF INITIATIVES A

DESIGNED REDUCTION IN THE OVERALL COST OF GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE.

THE

HAD GIVEN ACHIEVE A

WAS ONLY ONE OF THE FRAMING BUDGETARY IN

THE OVERALL FISCAL AND SAID, ADDING THAT HE ANY SPECIFIC BUDGETARY

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID INFLATION FACTORS THAT HAD

TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT

PROPOSALS.

BE TO

"ANY BUDGET SHOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO BCONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DAY," SIR PIERS

то SUCCESSOR WOULD NOT SEEK TO COMMIT POLICIES OR INITIATIVES.

HIS

"NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IS FOR HIM, NOT FOR ME, SIR PİERS SAID. HOWEVER, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT HIS SUCCESSOR WOULD WISH TO KEEP A FIRM CONTROL ON PUBLIC EXPENDITURE.

THAT

LAST HIS

FIVE

BUDGETS HAD SURPLUS,

SIR PIERS ALSO POINTED OUT CONSISTENTLY BEEN BASED ON THE STRATEGY OF RUNNING A BUDGET AN ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE STRATEGY IN TIMES OF RISING INFLATION.

FURTHERMORE, HE SAID, MEMBERS MIGHT ALSO RECOLLECT THAT IN

INTRODUCE A PROGRAMME OF LAST BUDGET HE INDICATED THE INTENTION TO GOVERNMENT BORROWING, AGAIN AN APPROPRIATE MEASURE IN RELATION TO GOVERNMENT POLICY OF REDUCING INFLATIONARY PRESSURES.

HIS

THE

CHARGES ON APPEAL TO THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS TO FREEZE FEES AND

SAID MEMBERS WOULD BE AWARE THAT THE FOR NINE MONTHS, SIR PIERS MUNICIPAL COUNCILS ARE AUTONOMOUS IN THEIR FINANCIAL AFFAIRS.

"THEY ARE MORE RELIANT ON FEE INCOME THAN IS THE GOVERNMENT MEETING THEIR EXPENDITURE NEEDS, HE SAID.

BE

MORE

"IT WOULD,

MY VIEW, IN ANTI-INFLATIONARY MEASURE, TO CONSIDER WAYS

GROWTH.

"I

IN

AS AN MEANINGFUL, OF REDUCING EXPENDITURE

THE REGIONAL NEED TO PROVIDE

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT

MANOEUVRE COUNCIL HAD LITTLE

GIVEN THE SERVICES TO THE GROWING POPULATION IN THE NEW TOWNS.

то ROOM

HE SAID HE WAS SURE THE REGIONAL COUNCIL FULLY NEED TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT.

RECOGNISED THE

"THE URBAN

+