49
before the end of 1980. Trained manpower will be an important consideration
as the proposals require about an additional 3,700 trained personnel, the
main increase being in teachers, nurses and graduate and non-graduate
social workers, as well as a much smaller but very important incrcase
in the numbor of doctors and pare-medical specialists deployed in the
field of rehabilitation.
123. In 1977/78 funds provided for all the types of services covered
by the one White and three Green Papers amounted to $407 M.; the new
complete package of proposals envisage recurrent expenditure rising to
$719 M. by 1982/83 and capital expenditure over the same period amounting
to $178 M. These are sizeable figures but about 30% was already calculated
when the forecasts attached to this year's estimates were prepared and
is included in them.
124.
Such an expansion of services will place a heavy additional
work load on the Social Welfare Department. I will leave the Director
of Social Welfare to expand on the various programmes and on his proposals
to re-structure his department so as to achieve a better regional service
and make the best use of his professional resources.
Contributory sickness and death insurance
125.
The Green Paper has ar additional proposal of considerable
interest. So far our social security schemes have been operated out of
revenue, with the addition of benefits provided by employers either
statutorily or voluntarily. But it is possible that this is an area
where employees would welcome the opportunity to play a more positive
role if encouraged to do so. I would therefore welcome Honourable
Members' views on a proposal in the Green Paper that we might introduce
a semi-voluntary contributory scheme providing insurance cover against
sickness, injury and death, and perhaps also a small retirement benefit.
/The main
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