The Health and Social Services Ministry is again proving central to the Progressive Labour Party Government's plans for "the New Bermuda'' receiving the largest funding in this year's Budget.

With an 11 percent increase in its budget this year, Health now accounts for $124.2 million of the economic pie, up from $111.7 million last year.

The Health Ministry now takes up 19 percent of the overall budget and that 11 percent year-to-year increase is well ahead of the pace set by the general budget increase of 7.2 percent.

The political hot potato of housing continues to be a major part of the Ministry's services and will get a non-recurring injection of $1.2 million to buoy the Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) until rent from 134 additions to its stock are on the market.

Once that happens, Finance Minister Eugene Cox expects the overall budget for the BHC to return to hover around $2.5 million.

Mr. Cox told the House of Assembly that the housing programme is an example of Government's "commitment to provide adequate housing for low income families in Bermuda''.

In all, Government has boosted its support for health care since the last United Bermuda Party budget in 1998 from $68.2 million in 199 7/98 to $81 million in 2000/01, an increase of nearly 20 per cent over the period.

Mr. Cox explained: "Government has heard the plea of those families who need affordable housing or the chance to own their own homes.

"We have heard the concerns of senior citizens for dignified elder care and homes with proper care facilities,'' he added.

In the coming year, $400,000 in new funding will go toward financial support of the parish rest homes, because, according to Mr. Cox "the welfare and well-being of our senior citizens is of paramount importance''.

Health Minister Nelson Bascome will have his hands full with several projects, particularly the start of construction of the new $9 million juvenile home complex at Aeolia Drive, Devonshire.

For the year 2001/2002 $4.2 million has been allocated for the purpose built facility for "at risk'' adolescents.

And the Ministry will also see an increase of more than $1 million more for King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for the care of the aged, indigent, and youth patients.

St. Brendan's Hospital will receive an additional $1.4 million for operational costs and a detoxification unit.

Hospitals will receive $71 million dollars this year, an increase of 11 percent.

Grants to King Edward and St. Brendan's hospitals top out at $47 and $22 million respectively.

A grant of $1.34 million will go to the Lady Cubitt Compassionate Society's overseas medical care programme to assist locals needing assistance.

Overall, $81 million will be spent on public health services in the 2001/2002 financial year.

Financial assistance, which Mr. Cox called "protection'' to the "financially vulnerable'', will see a five percent increase to $16.12 million.

Since coming to power in 1998, more than $5 million has been added to the Department of Financial Assistance's budget.

Most of the Financial Assistance Department's budget is in the form of $10.8 million in payouts via the Social Assistance programme, with just over a million more going to the Parish Councils.

The Department of Health will get an additional $818,000 for additional posts, job regrades, and increased operational costs at the Orange Valley School and the Opportunity Workshop.

The National Drug Commission gets nearly double its grant from the Ministry from $2.6 million to $4 million.