Providers biggest problem for social policy?

Press, 7 October 1987, Page 2

Providers biggest problem for social policy?

By

TONY VERDON

in London

The Minister of Finance, Mr Douglas, yesterday entered the social policy review controversy, saying New Zealand could clear its hospital waiting lists if identified waste and savings were acted on. Speaking at the New Zealand High Commission in London, Mr Douglas said social policy objectives had to focus on the rights and requirements of the people in need, rather than those who served them.

“We have the potential in New Zealand to provide vastly improved standards of education, health care, and social services by using existing resources more effec.tively,” he said. “The major problem we face in doing so is the powerful voice of the interest groups which represent the providers of those services.” Mr Douglas made the speech after talking for more than an hour with the British Secretary of State for Health and Social Services, Mr John Moore. Mr Moore has re-

cently floated suggestions for reform of the British social services. He has been charged with taking the more mar- * ket philosophy of the British Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher, into the social services field with more vigour. After their discussion,, Mr Douglas said that Britain was facing many of the same problems which confronted New Zealand in the social policy area. The question of targeting benefits had been discussed, along with the additional revenue which had flowed after the British Government had reduced company and personal tax rates.