XN000022-1994-03-02 — Page 41

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1994

SHARE OF LOTTERY PROCEEDS TO LOTTERIES FUND TRIPLED

THE

TODAY LOTTERY THE

FINANCIAL

HAMISH SECRETARY, THE HON SIR

MACLEOD, (WEDNESDAY) PROPOSED TO TRIPLE, FROM 5% TO 15%, THE SHARE OF PROCEEDS TO BE ALLOCATED TO THE LOTTERIES FUND AT THE EXPENSE OF GOVERNMENT'S SHARE.

PRESENTING HIS BUDGET FOR 1994/95, SIR HAMISH SAID THIS

THE NEXT FOUR GENERATE

MILLION FOR THE LOTTERIES FUND OVER $1,800 YEARS TO MEET CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.

WOULD

THE FINANCIAL

FUND

PLAYED

AN

THE LOTTERIES SECRETARY SAID IMPORTANT PART IN FINANCING PLANS TO IMPROVE SOCIAL SERVICES.

30% PRESENT,

WENT OF MARK SIX PROCEEDS AT

TO THE GENERAL REVENUE AS LOTTERY DUTY AND 5% TO THE LOTTERIES FUND, HE NOTED.

POLICY

HE ADDED: "DURING LAST YEAR'S DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS, I UNDERTOOK TO REVIEW MY POSITION ON THE PROPOSAL MADE BY THE WELFARE PANEL TO REDUCE THE GOVERNMENT'S SHARE OF LOTTERY PROCEEDS FAVOUR OF THE LOTTERIES FUND.

IN

SIR

OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, THE HAMISH SAID WOULD FACE INCREASING DEMANDS.

LOTTERIES

FUND

IN

TARGETS PAPER ON HIS POLICY AND TO TWO YEARS,

"THERE IS THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO MEET THE KEY THE WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL

AND WELFARE

THE GREEN REHABILITATION. IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED IN ADDRESS LAST YEAR PLANS TO BUILD SEVEN NURSING HOMES BY 1997 PROVIDE 800 ADDITIONAL CARE-AND-ATTENTION PLACES WITHIN OVER AND ABOVE THE WHITE PAPER TARGET.

HAVE, "I

TO 15%, THE

THEREFORE, DECIDED TO TRIPLE, FROM 5% SHARE OF LOTTERY PROCEEDS TO BE ALLOCATED TO THE LOTTERIES FUND AT THE EXPENSE OF LOTTERY DUTY, HE SAID.

0

TASK FORCE TO TACKLE TOBACCO SMUGGLERS

*

*

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR HAMISH MACLEOD, TODAY

PROPOSED TO MAINTAIN THE TOBACCO DUTY (WEDNESDAY)

RATES AT THEIR PRESENT LEVEL, AND SUGGESTED TO SET UP A TASK FORCE IN THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT TO TACKLE TOBACCO SMUGGLING.

PRESENTING HIS BUDGET FOR 1994/95 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR HAMISH SAID REVENUE FROM TOBACCO DUTY DECREASED SUBSTANTIALLY 1993/94, DESPITE A MODERATE INFLATION-RELATED ADJUSTMENT OF 9.5% IN THE DUTY RATE.

IN

HE SAID THIS REDUCTION WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A CAUSE OF CONCERN HAD IT RESULTED FROM A REDUCTION IN SMOKING.

/"AFTER ALL,