THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, March 15, 1995              TAG: 9503150453
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B6   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: MCLEAN                             LENGTH: Short :   50 lines

ALLEN COURTS BRITISH BUSINESSES, DEFENDS WELFARE REFORM PLAN

Gov. George Allen promoted Virginia as a partner for British businesses, defended his welfare reform plan and announced a new health-care plan for University of Virginia employees and retirees Tuesday.

The day's itinerary took Allen from Richmond, to Charlottesville and then to McLean, where he spoke to the British-American Business Association.

Statistics dominated Allen's address to the business group. Twenty-four percent of Virginia's 570 foreign-affiliated firms in 1994 were from the United Kingdom, which also was the state's fourth largest export market, he said.

After listing some of the top British firms in Virginia, Allen said the state is ready for more.

``Virginia's many assets support a healthy, diversified and growing economy,'' Allen said. ``We'll work to accommodate the needs of those who want to invest and expand in - as well as trade with - Virginia.''

Earlier Tuesday, Allen defended his welfare reform plan against criticism that it is too punitive. One component of the bill, approved by the General Assembly on Feb. 25, would deny benefits for additional children born to welfare recipients.

In an interview, Allen was asked about complaints that the provision punishes children.

``But it's no more punishing the children than if somebody is working for a living and their wife, or the woman, has a third child,'' Allen said. ``She can't go to the boss and say, `Hey, I've had a third child. I'd like an increase in my salary.' That's simply not the case. What we're trying to do is foster personal responsibility.''

After the interview, Allen traveled to Charlottesville to announce that the QualChoice of Virginia Triple Option Point-of-Service Health Care Plan will be available for U.Va. employees and pensioners beginning July 1.

All U.Va. health care professionals already are enrolled in the QualChoice plan under an agreement made last year. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gov. George Allen, right, and state Sen. Edgar Robb, R-Batesville,

announced at U.Va. Tuesday that the school's new managed-care health

plan will be available to all employees and pensioners on July 1.

by CNB