States Meeting Summary 13-16 December
16 December 2021
Oral questions with notice
States Members asked Ministers oral questions with notice for two hours and 20 minutes. See what questions were asked by skipping to page eleven of the Order Paper. Listen to Ministers' answers to questions by skipping to 12 minutes into Monday afternoon's meeting.
Oral questions without notice
After questions with notice, States Members asked the following Ministers questions without notice for 45 minutes (15 minutes each):
- The Minister for External Relations and Financial Services, Senator Ian Gorst
- The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Richard Renouf
- The Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré
Catch up on questions without notice by skipping to two hours and 22 minutes into Monday afternoon's meeting.
Statement
The Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, made a statement regarding the Government Plan 2022 – 2025. Afterwards, States Members asked the Chief Minister questions for 30 minutes.
Public business
Government Plan 2022-2025
On behalf of the Council of Ministers, the Minister for Treasury and Resources, Deputy Susie Pinel proposed the Government Plan proposition as amended by the following amendments (which will not be debated):
- Social housing rents policy
- Sustainability regulation
- Inclusion project
- Covid-19 borrowing
- Jersey Child Care Trust grant
- Mental health services
- Picquet House use
- Women's safety
- Ministry of External Relations
- Health Insurance Fund
- Moving funding to CYPES
- First Tower Playing Field
- Air quality monitoring
Stamp Duty
The Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel proposed an amendment to the Government Plan which requested that a higher Stamp Duty rate is introduced for buy-to-let investment properties, second homes and holiday homes before the end of 2022.
The Minister for Treasury and Resources, Deputy Susie Pinel, proposed an amendment to the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel's amendment, asking that the proposed higher Stamp Duty is introduced subject to the outcome of a review completed by 1 January 2024.
The States Assembly voted to approve the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel's amendment to the Government Plan, unamended. This means that the Minister for Treasury and Resources will introduce a higher Stamp Duty rate for buy-to-let investment properties, second homes and holiday homes by the end of 2022. See how States Members voted here.
Tax on alcohol
The Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel proposed an amendment requesting that the proposed 5% increase of Impôt Duty on wines and spirits is reduced to 2.5% and applied to all alcohol, in turn decreasing revenue raised by £231,000.
The States Assembly voted to approve the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel's amendment to the Government Plan. This means that that the proposed 5% increase of Impôt Duty on wines and spirits will be reduced to 2.5% and applied to all alcohol, in turn decreasing revenue raised by £231,000. See how States Members voted here.
Revised borrowing and dept repayment
Senator Gorst proposed an amendment to reduce borrowing in the Government Plan by reducing borrowing from long-term pension liabilities by £345m per year and repaying £259m Covid debt by the end of 2026.
The States Assembly voted to reject part 1 and 2 of the amendment but adopt part 3 of the amendment. This means that borrowing in the Government Plan from long-term pension liabilities will not be reduced by £345m per year but borrowing of Covid-19 debt of £259m will be repaid by the end of 2026. See how States Members voted here.
Maintenance of the Health Insurance Fund
Deputy Geoff Southern proposed the third amendment to the Government Plan. The Deputy requested that no funds are transferred from the Health Insurance Fund to the Consolidated Fund, and that proposed transfer of funds from the Consolidated Fund to the Technology Fund is reduced to £7 million in 2022.
The States Assembly voted to REJECT this part of the amendment (part one) and part two regarding eligibility for the Health Access Scheme. However, the Assembly voted to APPROVE part three of the amendment. This requested that in a 2022 review of future health care costs, the Health Insurance Fund's role in subsidising the cost of GP consultations and the cost of prescriptions will remain.
Watch from the beginning of this morning's States Meeting for the full debate.
Removal of the Technology Fund
Chair of Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel, Senator Kristina Moore, proposed the 21st amendment to the Government Plan. The Panel asked for the £20 million Technology Fund to be removed from the Government Plan and for the Council of Ministers to create a new proposition seeking the Assembly's approval of that fund. This was proposed as amended by the Chief Minister, who requested that the original amendment was voted on in two parts.
The States Assembly voted to REJECT part one and APPROVE part two of the Panel's amended amendment. This means the £20 million Technology Fund will not be removed from the Government Plan; however, a proposition will be brought forward to seek the States Assembly's approval of this fund.
Skip to two hours and 30 minutes into this morning's meeting to watch the beginning of the debate.
Statement on the rise in Omicron cases
The Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, made a statement to the States Assembly regarding new measures in January to deal with the rise in Omicron cases. This was followed by States Members' questions for 30 minutes.
Watch from the beginning of this afternoon's meeting to hear the statement in full.
Independent review of Covid-19
Constable Mike Jackson proposed the second amendment to the Government Plan. The Constable requested that £500,000 is used to fund an independent review of Jersey's response to Covid-19 by 30 April 2022, as amended by himself.
The Council of Ministers proposed an amendment to Constable Jackson's amendment which requested that this review be completed by 29 July 2022.
The States Assembly voted to APPROVE Constable Jackson's amendment, as amended by the Council of Ministers. 37 States Members voted in favour, five voted against and one Member abstained. This means that an independent review of the Island's response to Covid-19 will be carried out by 29 July 2022.
Bus pass scheme
Deputy Rob Ward proposed the sixth amendment to the Government Plan. The Deputy asked that funding is provided for a £20 per year bus pass scheme for those aged 18 and under from 1 January 2022.
The States Assembly voted to APPROVE Deputy Ward's amendment. 23 States Members voted in favour and 20 voted against.
Skip to 40 minutes into this morning's meeting to watch the debate.
School headroom funding
Deputy Rob Ward proposed the 11th amendment. He requested that all schools are guaranteed a minimum of 15% headroom funding (funding available after the costs of staffing, accommodation, and the general running of school facilities have been taken into account).
The States Assembly voted to REJECT the amendment. 21 members voted in favour and 22 voted against.
Skip to two hours and 25 minutes into this morning's meeting to watch the debate.
Nursery Education Fund funding increase
The Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel proposed the 16th amendment to the Government Plan. The Panel asked that £2.05 million is used to fund the increased costs of the Nursery Education Fund for 3-4-year-olds. This follows the hourly rate increase and increase in provision from 20 to 30 hours per week for free Government funded nursery education. However, the Panel withdrew the 16th amendment and, in turn, the 17th and 20th amendment after the Minister for Children and Education committed to providing the Panel with a report detailing the position of the Nursery Education Fund and an action plan for progressing the Early Years report work before the end of the first quarter of 2022.
Skip to five minutes into this afternoon's meeting to watch the debate.
Special educational needs and school funding increase
The Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel proposed the 18th amendment to the Government Plan. The Panel asked to increase the budget for Children, Young People, Education and Skills (CYPES) by £10 million in order to fund special educational needs and cover any shortfall in the 2022 school funding formula.
The proposition was narrowly REJECTED by the States Assembly. 21 States Members voted in favour of the amendment and 21 voted in favour. One Member abstained.
Skip to 20 minutes into this afternoon's meeting to watch the debate.
Social Security caps
Senator Sam Mézec proposed the final (12th) amendment to the Government Plan. Senator Mézec asked that the Upper Earnings Limit is removed, abolishing the upper earnings limit cap on Social Security Contributions and Long Term Care contributions, in turn raising £7 million and £8.5 million.
The States Assembly adjourned midway through the debate to allow the Bailiff to consider a ruling on this amendment overnight. The meeting will continue at 9:30am tomorrow, Friday 17 December.
Skip to one hour and 50 minutes into this afternoon's meeting to watch the beginning of this debate, which continued into this evening.
