The spending pressures I identified earlier have emphasised the requirement that my Department ensures prudent management of the social welfare budget with a view to making sure the resources are best focused at the areas of greatest need. In two areas of social welfare spending we made commitments to our older people and to our children. All of our budgets have been characterised by pension measures designed to improve the position of older people in our society. Year on year, we have increased the pension. Today our record points to a duty of care.