HSSD says Budget cuts are too hard to handle

HEALTH and Social Services has placed an amendment to the 2012 Budget, to prevent its spending being slashed by more than £2m. next year.

The States-wide efficiency drive had asked it to cut £2.35m., but the department thinks this is a step too far, saying it has already delivered £6.1m-worth of savings during 2011 that have been included in the original Budget proposal.

It has asked Treasury and Resources to reinstate £1.35m. of its cash limit reduction, but said it could achieve the remaining £1m.-worth of efficiencies needed.

Minister Hunter Adam (pictured) was unavailable for comment, but his deputy, Peter Gillson, said the department had been given only six weeks' notice to establish where it could save the extra cash and the savings already implemented needed time to bed down.