XN000022-1993-12-23 — Page 6

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1993

5

SOCIAL SECURITY FOR CHILDREN

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE,

THERE WAS NO DIRECT MR IAN

SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT STRACHAN, LINKAGE BETWEEN THEFT AMONG YOUNG CHILDREN AND INADEQUACY ASSISTANCE PAYMENT.

OF PUBLIC

CHILDREN

BUY

SOME SOCIAL WORKERS HAD BEEN REPORTED AS SAYING THAT

THREATENING ΤΟ AS YOUNG AS FOUR WERE INVOLVED IN STEALING, OR WERE STEAL SWEETS AND TOYS BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS COULD NOT AFFORD TO THEM, AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE ALLOWANCE.

CHILD

CARE AND OR COMMIT SUCH

MR STRACHAN SAID IT WAS OFTEN THE LACK OF PARENTAL PROPER FAMILY EDUCATION THAT INDUCED YOUNGSTERS TO STEAL CRIMES AS A MEANS TO ATTRACT THEIR PARENTS' ATTENTION AND LOVE. BEHAVIOUR HAD NO BEARING ON FAMILY INCOME.

HAD ALL ALONG

HE ADDED THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ATTACHED GREAT IMPORTANCE TO FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES.

"THESE

HAVE

BY BENEFITED MANY FAMILIES

HELPING THEM GET BECOME PARENTING SKILLS, CHILD DISCIPLINARY METHODS AND MOST OF ALL, RESPONSIBLE PARENTS, HE SAID.

NON-GOVERNMENTAL

FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES OF THE DEPARTMENT AND ORGANISATIONS ALSO PROVIDE COUNSELLING SERVICES TO HELP FAMILIES.

THE YOUNGER

GENERATION

POSITIVE SATISFY MEET ALL POOR," MR

ΤΟ ADOPT "WE ALSO WANT ATTITUDES TOWARDS LIFE. THEY SHOULD NOT USE UNLAWFUL MEANS TO THEIR MATERIALISTIC ASPIRATIONS WHEN THEIR PARENTS FAIL TO THEIR DESIRES. THIS APPLIES WHETHER THE FAMILY IS RICH OR STRACHAN SAID.

BOTH

THE

DEPARTMENT AND

THE

ORGANISATIONS NON-GOVERNMENTAL

CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME

ORGANISE FREE OR LOW-FEE PROGRAMMES FOR FAMILIES DURING FESTIVE AND SUMMER SEASONS.

FOR SUCH

DAY TOURIST

FORTHCOMING PROGRAMMES ARRANGED

FAMILIES AND THE PUBLIC ARE DISTRICT-BASED AND INCLUDE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS PICNICS, CAMPS, COACH TOURS, PARTIES AND OUTINGS TO COUNTRY PARKS AND ATTRACTIONS, KARAOKE COMPETITION, BUFFETS AND BARBECUES.

PARENT INTEGRATION

"SOME OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE NOT RESTRICTED TO SINGLE

PROMOTE FAMILIES OR FAMILIES ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AS WE RATHER THAN SINGLING THEM OUT,

ON

CRITICISM

WITH

HE SAID.

OF

OF THE

SOCIAL

MR SOCIAL COMPREHENSIVE

THE GOVERNMENT WERE

SECURITY,

ABOUT THE INADEQUACY STRACHAN

THE INTRODUCTION SAID SECURITY ASSISTANCE (CSSA) SCHEME ON JULY 1 THIS YEAR, WAS SATISFIED THAT THE BASIC NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME GROUP FAMILIES

MET.

RANGING SAID.

"SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS HAVE HAD A REAL BOOST IN

FROM FOUR PER CENT TO 37 PER CENT UNDER THE NEW

PAYMENTS

T SCHEME, HE

/HE ADDED