XN000022-1991-11-06 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1991

IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT, FOR EXAMPLE, COMPETITION ALREADY EXISTED BETWEEN DIFFERENT TRANSPORT MODES.

"BUT WE HAVE CONTINUED TO INCREASE COMPETITION IN THIS AREA FOR EXAMPLE, BY COMPETITIVE TENDERS FOR BUS ROUTES, HE SAID.

MR MACLEOD ALSO SAID THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVED IN PRIVATISATION, IS, HANDING OVER TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR ACTIVITIES BEST RUN BY ENTREPRENEURS RATHER THAN CIVIL SERVANTS.

THAT

OF

"WE ARE ALREADY AHEAD OF MANY OTHER ECONOMIES IN THE NUMBER SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR BY STATUTORY CORPORATIONS RATHER THAN BY THE ADMINISTRATION ITSELF," HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PRIVATISATION OF TUNNELS WAS A GOOD

EXAMPLE.

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"WE INTEND TO DO MORE IN THIS AREA, HE SAID.

TIGHTER GRIP ON GOVERNMENT FINANCES MANAGEMENT: FS

STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO ENSURE TIGHTER MANAGEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT FINANCES SO THAT AGGRAVATE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES ARE NOT AGGRAVATED, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS, MR MACLEOD SAID THE OVERALL GROWTH IN PUBLIC SPENDING MUST BE KEPT IN LINE WITH THE OVERALL GROWTH RATE FOR THE ECONOMY.

"THIS ENSURES THAT WE DO NOT CROWD OUT THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WHICH GENERATES THE WEALTH THAT RAISES OUR STANDARD OF LIVING, HE SAID.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THIS GUIDELINE WAS NOT APPLIED

INFLEXIBLY.

WHEN ECONOMIC GROWTH SLOWED, IT WAS DIFFICULT ΤΟ SLOW DOWN PUBLIC SPENDING SIMULTANEOUSLY.

IN THIS

"INDEED, IT WOULD BE WRONG TO APPLY THE BRAKES TOO ABRUPTLY AVOID A STOP-GO EFFECT ON OUR PROGRAMMES. RESERVES HELP ADJUSTMENT," HE SAID.

ΤΟ

/IN THE

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