site.btaSocial Policy Ministry Faced with Lv 50 Mln Deficit This Year

Plovdiv, South Central Bulgaria, August 22 (BTA) - The Labour and Social Policy Ministry is faced with a budget deficit of 50 million leva this year, Minister Yordan Hristoskov said on Friday. He said the matter has been raised with the Council of Ministers and Prime Minister Georgi Bliznashki.

Hristoskov noted that after Finance Minister Roumen Porozhanov reviewed the implementation of the national budget earlier in the week, there is every reason to believe that the government's public spending priorities will include welfare payments and social services, which will receive necessary funding.

He said that with the exception of disability aids, all other welfare supplies and payments are being provided on schedule. The latest child benefit payments have been ordered and should be available in the accounts of the beneficiaries.

A European Youth Guarantee programme will be launched at the end of September to provide internships, apprenticeships and jobs to 8,000 young Bulgarians. Another forthcoming event is the establishment of a European fund to support the poorest people. It will provide food packages to the neediest.

Hristoskov was in Plovdiv to meet with heads of social services.He assured them that no staff changes are planned in Plovdiv or other parts of the country.