XN000022-1994-03-02 — Page 33

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1994

TOTAL PUBLIC

1994/95.

EXPENDITURE WILL AMOUNT то $174 BILLION IN

"THIS FIGURE INCLUDES NOT ONLY THE GOVERNMENT'S OWN SPENDING BUT, IN ADDITION, THE EXPENDITURE BY TRADING FUNDS, THE TWO MUNICIPAL COUNCILS, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE LOTTERIES FUND.

"PUBLIC EXPENDITURE WILL REPRESENT 18.1% OF GDP, AND PRESENT FORECASTS INDICATE THAT THE PROPORTION WILL REMAIN BELOW 20% OVER THE FORECAST PERIOD TO 1997/98," HE SAID.

FOR

WHEN HIGHLIGHTING SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO SERVICES PLANNED THE COMING YEAR, SIR HAMISH SAID HE BELIEVED THAT THE PRINCIPAL PRIORITIES IN ALLOCATING ADDITIONAL RECURRENT RESOURCES SHOULD BE SOCIAL SERVICES.

FOR THE COMING YEAR, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IS PROPOSING INCREASES IN RECURRENT EXPENDITURE:

* ON SOCIAL WELFARE, OF 8.4%,

*

ON HEALTH, OF 6.9%, AND

* ON EDUCATION, OF 6.5%.

"THESE INCREASES IN RECURRENT SPENDING ON OUR SOCIAL SERVICES ARE IN REAL TERMS, AFTER TAKING FULL ACCOUNT OF INFLATION."

SIR HAMISH SAID THESE INCREASES WOULD ALLOW US TO MEET IN FULL THE COMMITMENTS TO THE AMBITIOUS PROGRAMMES SET OUT BY THE GOVERNOR IN HIS POLICY ADDRESSES TO THIS COUNCIL. IN 1994, THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO PROVIDE:

*

FOR THE ELDERLY, AN EXTRA 1,660 PLACES IN CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES,

FOR THE DISABLED, AN EXTRA 1,460 PLACES IN RESIDENTIAL AND OTHER FACILITIES,

* FOR CHILDREN, AN EXTRA 1,825 PLACES IN NURSERIES,

*

FOSTER CARE AND SMALL GROUP HOMES,

CRECHES,

FOR THE SICK, 950 EXTRA HOSPITAL BEDS, AS WELL AS HOSPICE CARE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 500 PATIENTS,

*

*

FOR SCHOOLS, 980 ADDITIONAL GRADUATE TEACHERS.

FOR PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN, THE PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS KINDERGARTEN FEE REMISSION SCHEME WILL START THREE YEARS EARLIER THAN PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED.

TO

THE

FOR THE DISADVANTAGED, THE STANDARD RATE PAYABLE TO CHILDREN UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE SCHEME WILL BE INCREASED BY $100 PER MONTH. IN ADDITION, THERE WILL BE THE NORMAL INCREASES TO COMPENSATE FOR INFLATION.

/"I BELIEVE