XN000022-1995-03-01 — Page 29

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Budget process explained

It is an essential feature of any administration which is both accountable and cost-conscious that its policies are carefully considered and that its programmes are meticulously planned, the Financial Secretary, the Hon Sir Hamish Macleod, said today (Wednesday).

Delivering his Budget Speech in the Legislative Council, he pointed out that the 1994 Policy Commitments set out 337 new, fully-costed initiatives and these were in addition to the 221 specific undertakings announced in the 1992 and 1993 Policy Addresses.

"It would be surprising if the Government could come forward today, only six months after the last Policy Address, with a further list of major policy proposals.

"This means that most of the new proposals which the Government wants to bring forward will be announced in the annual Policy Address," Sir Hamish said.

End/Wednesday, March 1, 1995

New initiatives for 1995 spelt out

The Financial Secretary, the Hon Sir Hamish Macleod, today (Wednesday) outlined some of the new spending initiatives in his Budget Speech.

He said in the Legislative Council that it might be

possible to make resources available in the Budget for new spending initiatives as explained in the budget strategy to tackle pressing problems.

One of the new spending initiatives is for improvements in kindergarten education.

Sir Hamish said the Governor announced in his last year's Policy Address that the Government would raise the quality of kindergarten education by upgrading the training and qualifications of teachers and by requiring kindergartens to employ a minimum percentage of trained teachers.