States Minutes 10th February 1981

THE STATES assembled on Tuesday, 10th  February,  1981  at  10.15 a.m. under the Presidency of the Bailiff , Sir Frank Ereaut.

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All members were present with the exception of –

Senator Mrs. Gwyneth Clare Huelin – out of the Island.

Senator William John Morvan – ill.

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Prayers. _____

Lycée Guillaume Budé, Paris – welcome to Headmaster and students.

The   Bailiff  welcomed  to  the  Island  the  Headmaster  and  a group of students from the Lycée Guillaume Budé, Paris.

Teachers from St. Brieue.

The   Bailiff  welcomed  to  the  Island  two  teachers  from St. Brieue.

Island  Development  Committee –  Statistical  Information  for 1980. R.C.2/81.

The  Island  Development  Committee,  by  Act  dated  28th January, 1981, presented to the States a Statistical Report for the year 1980.

THE STATES ordered that the said Report be printed and distributed.

Cottage Homes Committee Report for 1980. R.C.3/81.

The Cottage Homes Committee, by Act dated 30th January, 1981, presented to the States its Report for 1980.

THE STATES ordered that the said Report be printed and distributed.

31  [ Price : 12p.]

Milk at a reduced price scheme. Statement.

The President of the Social Security Committee made a statement in the following terms –

"Children under the age of five, expectant mothers, persons over the age of seventy and certain categories between sixty-five and seventy may on application receive a specified quantity of milk at a reduced price.

The scheme is based primarily on health considerations and since the economic value to the individual beneficiary is relatively small, the Committee hitherto has tried to encourage take-up by keeping the application process simple and free of any sort of income test. This has also helped to keep down the administrative costs.

For a number of years the Committee has reviewed the value of milk at a reduced price towards the end of each year, taking into account any changes that have taken place throughout the year in the retail price of milk. In accordance with that policy, the Committee carried out a review towards the end of last year and having noted that the retail price of the pure Jersey milk has been increased by 2p per pint, was minded to recommend to the States that the burden of the increase should be shared equally and the amount to be deducted from the retail price be increased by 1p.

In the present economic climate it is open to question as to whether there should be an opportunity for all persons over the age of 70 on application to purchase milk at a reduced price. The Committee therefore seeks the co-operation of all persons over 70 who are currently recipients and who on reflection feel their financial circumstances are such that they really do not need the circumstances are such that they really do not need the benefit, to withdraw voluntarily from the scheme. Should this approach not prove successful, the Committee may, regretfully, have to consider the introduction of some kind of income bar.

In addition, in the light of views expressed in the Budget Debate, the Committee, having regard to the added choice of low fat milk at 2p per pint below pure Jersey milk, has reluctantly decided not to bring forward a proposal for an increase at the present time."

Revenue expenditure and index linked pensions.

THE STATES, having rejected paragraph (a) of a Proposition of Deputy John Stephen Rothwell of St. Helier that the Finance and Economics Committee be instructed to ensure that the total revenue expenditure budgeted for 1982 should not exceed by more than 10% the net revenue expenditure for 1981 based on the estimates approved by the States in December, 1980;

Members present voted as follows –

"Pour" (10) Senators

Sandeman, de Carteret.

Connétable s

Grouville , Trinity .

Deputies

St. Ouen , Grouville , Le Gallais(S), Roche(S), St. Martin , Rothwell(H);

"Contre" (40)

Senators

Vibert , Le Marquand, Shenton, Jeune , Averty, Binnington, Riley, Horsfall.

Connétable s

St. Peter , St. Ouen , St. Clement , St. Lawrence , St. Martin , St. Helier , St. Mary , St. Saviour , St. John , St. Brelade .

Deputies

Ellis(H), Mourant(H), Marett(B), Luce (B), St. Mary , Morel (S), Le Maistre(H), St. John , Farley(H), Quenault(B), Perkins(C), Troy (S), Baal(H), Le Brocq(H), Dupré(H), Le Quesne(S), Trinity , Filleul(H), Vandervliet(L), Le Feuvre(L), St. Peter , O'Connor(C);

adopted paragraph (b) and instructed the Establishment Committee to prepare a report for presentation to the States on the pension arrangements for civil servants and other Government workers, with particular emphasis on the history and cost of index linked pensions.

THE STATES rose at 12.47 p.m.

R.S. GRAY,

Deputy Greffier of the States.