THE HAGUE, 20/09/00 - The Lower House is pleased with the new national budget. Only the staffing problems in the public sector put a slight damper on the festive atmosphere, the first reactions yesterday made it clear.

Labour (PvdA) parliamentary leader Ad Melkert declared that an in-depth analysis was necessary to bring the problems in the public services to the surface. He claimed that the Cabinet should do more to promote the recruitment of teachers, nurses, doctors, and police employees. The conservatives (VVD) agreed with this point of view. Parliamentary leader Hans Dijkstal also expressed concern that the problems in the public sector would endanger economic development.

In the Princes Day passages, the center-left (D66) party missed a convincing plan of attack on the deterioration of the public sector. Parliamentary leader Thom de Graaf declared that the extra sum of 14 billion guilders to be invested by the Cabinet next year was inadequate. The left-wing Green (GroenLinks) party endorsed this opinion and maintained that public confidence in the facilities is declining, and there is a danger of a solidarity crisis.

The Christian democrats (CDA) and the small Christian parties RPF and GPV called good plans better than large amounts of money. The other Christian mini-party SGP considered that the Queen's speech gave evidence of spiritual poverty, as immaterial issues were scarcely mentioned.

CDA leader Jaap de Hoop Scheffer observed a sharp contrast between the fantastic budget figures and the actual situation in the healthcare and education sectors. This must change, he insisted.

Prime Minister Wim Kok's memo on the monarchy did not come up to the expectations of D66 either. The party is disappointed that Kok declared the present situation sacred with no further comment.