Marques Guedes ensures reduction of funds in the cabinets ... - Público.pt

Minister of Presidency and Parliamentary Affairs, Luis Marques Guedes, said on Wednesday that there was a reduction in funds allocated to ministerial offices in the order of 17%, in the State Budget for 2014 (OE).

“Trying to clarify here that there has been some confusion, particularly in the media, I can say that, looking at the money, the average allocation is a reduction of 17% in the house,” said Marques Guedes, during one parliamentary hearing on the OE.

The official was responding to a question from the PSD, a hearing focused on sectors that oversees (gender equality, sport and Young Pulse) and without being asked about politics in general.

Marques Guedes said that there has been “a comparison liar” because in 2013 there were 10 members of the Government in the Council of Ministers, and now there are 14, so “an increase of 40%.”

“In terms of comparable offices, the differences are in the order of 25% less spending. For example, my office has a decrease of 50 000 euros and I was secretary of state and now am a minister of the Presidency. Today it has 14 people when the previous government had 15 and Secretary of State other 16, “he added. As for expenses, the office of the Prime Minister expects to spend “least 250,000 euros compared to 2013 and 15% less compared to 2010,” even with the Socialist government of José Sócrates in office.

How to Boost Youth program, which was cited by the opposition benches, Marques Guedes indicated that 77 000 young people joined the stage, according to the end of October this year.

“The retention level in companies after the stage, the employment rate is two-thirds,” the minister said, explaining that the job can not be given in the company where he held the stage. Despite criticism of the socialist deputies about the program, the minister argued that it is a “positive experience”.

Regarding domestic violence, equality and human trafficking, Marques Guedes said the current government “consigned 3.75% of revenues from social games (2.5 million euros) to these areas.”