Senator McLAREN —I ask a question of the Minister for Social Security. Is it a fact that the Government, as a result of election promises, is overcommitted to the amount of $8m in respect of the funding of child care community services and is now unable to provide this funding with the result that many established child care centres are in danger of shutting down unless the respective State governments continue interim funding? If this is the position, what action does he, as the Minister responsible, intend taking to ensure that existing child care centres do not have to close?

Senator CHANEY —The position is that the child care program is continuing to make payments in accordance with the commitments which had been entered into. It is a fact that at the moment the program is overcommitted. It is not as high as the one mentioned by the honourable senator. I think it is more in the vicinity of $7m. That is a matter which is being examined in more detail at the moment. All projects which were being funded at the beginning of the year, as I understand it, are continuing to be funded on the basis on which funding was originally agreed. The questions which are arising are questions as to the funding of new projects. In this respect I intend to make no decisions until the position in respect of the present commitments is clarified and until I have had a chance to examine the total new claims which are likely to be made on the program, and they are considerable. There is therefore likely to be a delay of some time before any new commitments are entered into.