XN000022-1994-11-02 — Page 27

REPLY:

16

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1994

(A)

(B)

(C)

WHAT SPECIFIC LONG-TERM POLICY HAS THE GOVERNMENT IN PLACE TO ASSIST SINGLE-PARENT

OVERCOMING FINANCIAL AND ENCOUNTERED IN THEIR DAILY LIVES;

OTHER

FAMILIES

PUT

IN

DIFFICULTIES

REGARDING THE STATEMENT IN THE GOVERNOR'S 1994 POLICY ADDRESS THAT EACH SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT OF $200 IN 1995-96, WHAT CRITERIA HAVE BEEN ADOPTED IN DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF THE SUPPLEMENT; AND

WHAT ARE THE REASONS FOR THE DOWNWARD TREND IN THE PROPORTION OF THE SINGLE PARENT ALLOWANCE TO THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX ALLOWANCES SINCE 1992-93 (THE PROPORTION IN 1992-93 WAS 50% WHILE THE FIGURES FOR 1993-94 AND 1994-95 WERE 48% AND 44% RESPECTIVELY), AND WHAT CRITERIA ARE USED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN CALCULATING THE SINGLE PARENT ALLOWANCE?

MR PRESIDENT,

THE FAMILY IS THE CORNERSTONE OF SOCIETY. THE GOVERNMENT HAS A WELL-DEFINED FAMILY WELFARE POLICY TO PRESERVE AND STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY. THIS POLICY AIMS TO ASSIST FAMILIES ΤΟ COPE WITH THEIR PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK OF SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE RENDERED BY DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS.

TO ALLEVIATE THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP WHICH MAY BE FACED BY SOME SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES CASH ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE (CSSA) SCHEME. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO COORDINATES A RANGE OF SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE TO HELP SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES то OVERCOME OTHER DIFFICULTIES WHICH THEY MAY ENCOUNTER IN THEIR DAILY LIVES. FOR EXAMPLE, FAMILIES IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE HOUSING ASSISTANCE CAN BE REHOUSED UNDER THIS COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING SCHEME ADMINISTERED BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT. FURTHERMORE, TO HELP SINGLE PARENTS ΤΟ ACHIEVE SELF RELIANCE, THE EMPLOYEES RETRAINING BOARD OFFERS SPECIFIC RETRAINING PROGRAMMES TO THOSE WHO WISH TO EQUIP THEMSELVES WITH SOME SKILLS FOR TAKING UP EMPLOYMENT. IN VIEW OF THEIR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES ARE ALSO ACCORDED PRIORITY FOR DAY NURSERY AND DAY CRECHE SERVICES.

AS REGARDS THE SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT FOR SINGLE PARENTS ΤΟ BE INTRODUCED NEXT APRIL, THE $200 MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT IS ABOUT ONE-FIFTH OF THE CSSA STANDARD RATE TO WHICH THESE SINGLE PARENTS ARE NOW ENTITLED. THIS IS ON TOP OF THE STANDARD RATE AND THE SPECIAL GRANTS WHICH THEY CURRENTLY RECEIVE. THE AMOUNT WAS DETERMINED HAVING REGARD ΤΟ ITS PURPOSE WHICH IS TO HELP THESE SINGLE PARENTS JOIN SUPPORT GROUPS AND ESTABLISH MORE SOCIAL CONTACTS WITH FRIENDS AND RELATIVES.

/SINGLE PARENT