Research on projects wanted

Press, 28 June 1983, Page 3

Research on projects wanted

Parliamentary reporter Research is needed to determine whether public money was being wasted on youth employment projects, according to Mrs Ann Hercus (Lab., Lyttelton) who has returned from a threeweek United States visit. Mrs Hercus said yesterday that one research institution she visited had found, in a five-year study, that some youth employment projects were ineffective. She said the projects studied were not of the same type as New Zealand ones, and the research findings were not directly applicable. But, she said, “the key point is that public funding into some employment projects may in fact be money down the drain compared with others.” Research was the only way to find whether the Government’s programmes were working. “We have no idea which ones, if any, are the most effective, and whether we are making the most sensible use of limited public funds in this area.” The United States study found that the most effective youth employment programmes were started either at school or immediately afterwards.

Gaps between leaving school and the start of programmes made the programmes less effective. “If the young people got into the pattern of unemployment it was much more difficult to get them out of it,” she said. “There' is a moral in that for New Zealand.” Publishing simplified versions of the Budget for the public was another idea from the “suitcases full” she had brought back. The announcement of the United States Federal Budget was accompanied by the release of such a simplified version. She said a similar publication here would be of great value to schools, community groups, and anybody wishing to better understand the Budget. Other United States practices she would like to see adopted were the provision of independent Budget advice to Congress (the equivalent of Parliament) and the provision of estimates of expenditure for four years beyond the Budget year. “These are areas of potential reform which I believe are urgently needed in the area of public expenditure in New Zealand,” she sajd.