News

States Meeting Summary: 04-05 July

Tuesday 04 July

Question Time

Questions with notice 

To begin this week's States Meeting, the Ministers answered States Members' questions with notice. Skip to page 6 of the Order Paper to find out which questions were asked and watch from 10 minutes into this morning's recording to hear questions with notice in full. 

Questions without notice

States Members then asked the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture, Deputy Kirsten Morel; Minister for Social Security, Deputy Elaine Millar; and the Chief Minister, Deputy Kristina Moore, questions without notice for 15 minutes each.

Skip to 2 hours and 30 minutes into this morning's recording to watch the questions without notice.

Statement

The Minister for Infrastructure, Deputy Tom Binet, then gave a statement regarding the Strategic Outline Case and Feasibility Study of the New Healthcare Facilities.

Skip to the beginning of this afternoon's recording to watch the statement.
 

Public Business

Draft Taxation (Exchange of Information – Amendment) (Jersey) Regulations

The Minister for Treasury & Resources, Deputy Ian Gorst, acting as rapporteur for the Minister for External Relations, Deputy Philip Ozouf, proposed regulations that would clarify what tax information may be shared with third countries, to ensure that Jersey can comply with the international standard.

The States Assembly voted to APPROVE the Minister for External Relations' proposition, in a standing vote.

Skip to 30 minutes into this afternoon's recording to watch the debate.
 

Draft Income Tax (High Value Residents – Amendment) (Jersey) Law

The Minister for Treasury & Resources, Deputy Ian Gorst, proposed a Draft Income Tax Law which would amend the tax rate for High Value Residents with Entitled status to a 20% tax rate for the first £1,250,000 of income, with tax charged at 1% on all other income.

The States Assembly voted to APPROVE the Minister for External Relations' proposition, with 41 votes for, 1 vote against, and no abstentions.

Skip to 47 minutes into this afternoon's recording to watch the debate.
 

Amendment to Standing Orders – various amendments

The Privileges and Procedures Committee proposed various amendments to the Standing Orders.

The States Assembly voted to APPROVE the Privileges and Procedures Committee's proposition unanimously, with 42 votes for.

Skip to 1 hour and 33 minutes into this afternoon's recording to watch the debate.
 

Removal of compulsory independent taxation for existing married couples and civil partnerships

Deputy Lyndon Farnham proposed that the compulsory element of independent taxation for existing married couples and civil partners should be removed.

This was proposed as amended by the Deputy's own amendment, as well as a second amendment from Deputy Alves. Deputy Farnham's amendment would ensure couples who choose to remain subject to joint taxation have shared responsibility for their tax return, and both parties will be required to sign it. Deputy Alves second amendment would allow those who are automatically assessed independently for tax to opt for application of the current marriage and civil partnership exemption thresholds and allowances.

Skip to 1 hour and 45 minutes into this afternoon's recording to watch the beginning of the debate.

The States Meeting then adjourned. The debate on Deputy Farnham's proposition will continue tomorrow morning at 09:30am.
 

Wednesday 05 July

Public Business

Removal of compulsory independent taxation for existing married couples and civil partnerships

The debate continued this morning on Deputy Lyndon Farnham's proposition for the compulsory element of independent taxation for existing married couples and civil partners to be removed.

This was proposed as amended by the Deputy's own amendment, as well as a second amendment from Deputy Alves. Deputy Farnham's amendment would ensure couples who choose to remain subject to joint taxation have shared responsibility for their tax return, and both parties will be required to sign it. Deputy Alves second amendment would allow those who are automatically assessed independently for tax to opt for application of the current marriage and civil partnership exemption thresholds and allowances.

The States Assembly voted to REJECT parts A, C and D of Deputy Farnham's proposition. The Assembly APPROVED part B of the proposition, with 21 votes for and 20 votes against.

Draft Act declaring that the Income Tax (High Value Residents – Amendment) (Jersey) Law has immediate effect

Deputy Ian Gorst proposed that the Draft Income Tax (High Value) Residents – Amendment) (Jersey) Law approved yesterday should have immediate effect, so that it can come into force on 14 July 2023.

The States Assembly has voted to APPROVE the proposition in a standing vote.

Watch from 2 hours and 54 minutes in this morning's recording to watch the debate in full.

Jersey Police Complaints Authority – Appointment of Member

The Minister for Home Affairs, Deputy Helen Miles, lodged a proposition to appoint Mrs Rachel Catchpole as a member of the Jersey Police Complaints Authority for a period of 3 years, commencing immediately.

The States Assembly voted to APPROVE Deputy Miles' proposition unanimously with 38 votes for.

Watch from 2 hours and 56 minutes in this morning's recording to watch the debate in full.

Taxation of High Value Residents

Deputy Lyndsay Feltham proposed amendments to the taxation of High Value Residents, including removal of the prescribed limit relating to income tax contribution and suspension of the High Value Residents' scheme.

Watch from 2 hours and 58 minutes in this morning's recording to watch the beginning of the debate. The debate then continued after the lunch adjournment. Go to the start of this afternoon's recording to watch.

The States Assembly voted to REJECT parts A and C of Deputy Feltham's proposition, and part B fell away due to the rejection on Part A.

The States Meeting now stands adjourned until Monday 17 July at 2:30pm.