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But the proposal
is being published in a Green Paper to test public opinion, and the
Government looks forward to receiving the views of the public and of
trades unions and employers and will be very ready to enter into
discussion on it. If, as the Government believes likely, public reaction
does indicate a reasonably widespread demand for a scheme of this sort,
the Government will proceed to establish an actuarial basis and work
out the details es a basis for further discussion. If these hurdles
are successfully taken the legislation will need to be prepared, which
I should hope would be before the end of 1980. Phasing of Proposals
The demand for it is therefore difficult to predict.
128.
These proposals fer expansion of payments and services to the less fortunate in our community cover a large number of items. Most of them require staff who must be trained or require differing degrees of
administrative preparation, so in any case will take time to introduce.
If the detailed proposals commend themselves to you and to the public,
carefully phased implementation will be essential. The Green Papers set out time-tables for each subject, but these time-tables cannot be
viewed in isolation of other items competing for inclusion in each year's
estimates, and consequently will be subject to our budgetary situation
each year.
Nevertheless the cost of the items in its time-tables falling
within the budgetary forecast period are regarded as within our means,
The Director of Socia assuming average growth is maintained during it. Welfare will be elaborating later in the debate on the items he proposed
to include in the estimates for next year.
Conclusion
129.
Honourable Members I apologise for the length at which I have
spoken this year. It reflects the very wide front on which your Government
is now advancing. To our major programmes for housing, crime prevention,
/the various
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