stressed the suffering of Bermudians from unemployment and the efforts of Government to help.

But he admitted: "We still have a long way to go.'' Effects of the recession, still being felt, had contributed to ills in society including drug-dealing. Unemployment was the Island's most serious problem.

His Ministry was "aggressively'' trying to respond to hardship caused by recession, streamlining the way assistance was given and paying out more.

Homelessness was being tackled, and a drop-in centre was being considered -- where homeless people could go for lunch, recreation and counselling.

He praised a "tremendous'' success in dealing with deadbeat dads.

The Ministry had ably faced the challenge of increased demand while resources had been severely restrained.

Major initiatives included the new prison, the new emphasis on rehabilitation of offenders and a review on the Island's health system.

It was generally true Bermuda had a good system, he said. The review was looking into access to affordable care, why people went overseas for treatment, and possibilities for treating people in the "community'' rather than in hospital, where it was more expensive.

The review team, headed by former Belco head Mr. Alf Oughton, would probably produce results by 1995.

The Ministry had continued fighting drugs, child abuse and AIDS -- major ills in the community.

An increase in reports of child abuse had prompted the formation of a special task force.

Suggestions from the House's recent AIDS debate would be taken up, primarily the idea that workplaces should have policies on HIV and drugs.

Despite $2.5 million given to social assistance and about $400,000 more to the LCCA, spending increases in 1993/4 had been modest.

Estimates for 1994/5 reflected the transfer of the National Drug Commission to Human Affairs and the shift of legal aid to the judiciary.

Child and Family Services was a new department, as was Financial Assistance.

The 1994/5 estimate was $5.7 million up on the original 93/4 estimate. But taking into account the National Drug Commission and legal aid moves, the effective increase was $7.2 million.

Reasons for the increase included higher grants to the hospitals and a boost to social assistance.

Capital costs would include work to improve disposal of medical waste at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, which was not working properly.

Building a residential drug treatment centre had been postponed until it was discussed by the NDC.

In the meantime outpatient help at Addiction Services would be beefed up.

Residential care for problem teens was being upgraded, to stop adolescents being kept in the co-ed facility.

Consideration of the Ministry will be continued tomorrow. Ministry of Health, Social Ser. and Housing, 1994/5 estimates Ministry responsibility: "To promote and maintain the physical, mental and social well-being of the people of Bermuda, and to implement a housing policy.'' Budget estimate $89,062,000 (last year $84,764,000) Budget allocation Ministry HQ $670,000 Health department $10,184,000 Child and family services $5,601,000 Hospitals $44,288,000 Prisons and senior training schools $11,201,000 Bermuda Housing Corporation $2,091,000 Financial assistance $15,027,000 Revenues $662,000 The Hon. Quinton Edness.