States Minutes 12 December 2023

THE STATES assembled on Tuesday 12th December 2023, at 9.30 a.m. under the Presidency of the Deputy Bailiff , Robert James MacRae , Esquire.

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His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, Vice-Admiral Jeremy Paul Kyd, C.B.E. was present.  __________________

All members were present at roll call with the exception of –

Connétable Deidre Wendy Mezbourian of St. Lawrence – excused attendance

Deputy Louise Mary Catherine Doublet of St. Saviour – en défaut (défaut raised at 10.29 a.m.) Deputy Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf of St. Saviour – excused attendance (arrived in the Chamber at 11.08 a.m.)

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Prayers

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Standing Order 55A – remote participation

THE STATES, with reference to their Act dated 14th September 2021, in which they had agreed that, notwithstanding Standing Order 55A(1), members who did not wish to attend in the States Chamber might continue to take part in States meetings using Microsoft Teams (until the States had considered and voted upon a proposition to re-apply Standing Order 55A(1) or to repeal or vary the terms of the Standing Order), assembled in accordance with Standing Order 55A with members able to participate remotely using Microsoft Teams.

Proposed Government Plan 2024-2027 P.72/2023

THE STATES, resuming consideration of a proposition of the Council of Ministers entitled Proposed Government Plan 2024-2027' (P.72/2023), as amended, resumed consideration of an amendment of the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel (P.72/2023 Amd.(25)) and, adopting parts 1 and 2 of an amendment of the Council of Ministers (P.722023 Amd.(25) Amd.) agreed that –

in paragraph (1), the sum "£2,090,000" should be substituted with "£1,033,000", the word "freezing" should be substituted with "reducing", the words ", and subsequent figures updated accordingly" should be deleted and the table should be substituted as follows –

in paragraph (2), the word "freezing" should be substituted with "reducing", the sum "£1,045,000" should be substituted with "£1,033,000" and the subsequent sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) should be deleted.

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 27  CONTRE: 19  ABSTAIN: 1 Connétable of St. Peter Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of St. Clement

Connétable of St. John Connétable of Trinity

Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Martin

Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of St. Saviour

Connétable of St. Mary Deputy G.P. Southern

Deputy C.F. Labey Deputy M. Tadier

Deputy S.G. Luce Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy K.F. Morel   Deputy C.S. Alves

Deputy S.M. Ahier   Deputy L.J. Farnham

Deputy I. Gardiner   Deputy S.Y. Mézec

Deputy I.J. Gorst   Deputy T.A. Coles

Deputy K.L. Moore   Deputy B.B.de S.V.M. Porée

Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf   Deputy M.R. Scott

Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache   Deputy C.D . Curtis

Deputy D.J. Warr   Deputy L.V. Feltham

Deputy H.M. Miles   Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy J. Renouf   Deputy A. Howell

Deputy H.L. Jeune   Deputy R.S. Kovacs

Deputy M.E. Millar

Deputy T.J.A. Binet

Deputy M.R. Ferey

Deputy A.F. Curtis

Deputy B. Ward

Deputy K.M. Wilson

Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson

Deputy M.B. Andrews

THE STATES, adopting part 3 of the amendment of the Council of Ministers to the amendment of the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel, agreed that, in paragraph (3), the new paragraph (l) should be substituted with the following –

"(l) to agree that the Government of Jersey should publish a broader review of alcohol policy and

consider what additional support could be provided for the hospitality sector and the Island's small spirits producers.".

Members presented voted as follows –

POUR: 43  CONTRE: 2  ABSTAIN: 2

Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of Trinity Connétable of St. Peter Connétable of St. Martin Connétable of St. John Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of St. Mary

Deputy M.R. Scott Connétable of St. Clement Deputy A. Howell Deputy A.F. Curtis

Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy G.P. Southern Deputy C.F. Labey

Deputy M. Tadier

Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy K.F. Morel

Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat Deputy S.M. Ahier

Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves

Deputy I. Gardiner

Deputy I.J. Gorst

Deputy L.J. Farnham Deputy K.L. Moore

Deputy S.Y. Mézec

Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache Deputy T.A. Coles

Deputy B.B.de S.V.M. Porée Deputy D.J. Warr

Deputy H.M. Miles

Deputy J. Renouf

Deputy C.D . Curtis

Deputy L.V. Feltham Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy H.L. Jeune

Deputy M.E. Millar

Deputy T.J.A. Binet

Deputy M.R. Ferey

Deputy R.S. Kovacs

Deputy B. Ward

Deputy K.M. Wilson Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson Deputy M.B. Andrews

THE STATES, adopting the amendment of the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel, as amended, agreed that –

in paragraph (a), after the words "Article 9(2)(a) of the Law" there should be insert the words –

", except that total estimate for 2024 Impôt Duties shall be decreased by £1,033,000 by reducing the Impôt Duties for Spirits, Wine, Cider and Beer, with the relevant figures in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 1 updated in line with the following table –

in paragraph (h), after the words "of the Report" there should be inserted the words –

", except that, to accommodate a drop in States income caused by reducing the Impôt Duties for Spirits, Wine, Cider and Beer –

(a)  the Head of Expenditure for the Central Reserve shall be reduced by £1,033,000."; and

after paragraph (k)  there  should be  inserted  the  following new paragraph (l) and the  existing paragraph (l) re-designated as paragraph (m) –

"(l) to agree that the Government of Jersey should publish a broader review of alcohol policy and

consider what additional support could be provided for the hospitality sector and the Island's small spirits producers.".

Members presented voted as follows –

POUR: 45  CONTRE: 0  ABSTAIN: 1 Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of St. Clement

Connétable of St. Peter

Connétable of St. Martin

Connétable of St. John

Connétable of Grouville

Connétable of St. Ouen

Connétable of St. Mary

Connétable of St. Saviour

Deputy G.P. Southern

Deputy C.F. Labey

Deputy M. Tadier

Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet

Deputy K.F. Morel

Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat

Deputy S.M. Ahier

Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves

Deputy I. Gardiner

Deputy I.J. Gorst

Deputy L.J. Farnham

Deputy K.L. Moore

Deputy S.Y. Mézec

Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf

Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache

Deputy T.A. Coles

Deputy B.B.de S.V.M. Porée

Deputy D.J. Warr

Deputy H.M. Miles

Deputy M.R. Scott

Deputy J. Renouf

Deputy C.D . Curtis

Deputy L.V. Feltham

Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy H.L. Jeune

Deputy M.E. Millar

Deputy A. Howell

Deputy T.J.A. Binet Deputy M.R. Ferey Deputy R.S. Kovacs Deputy A.F. Curtis Deputy B. Ward

Deputy K.M. Wilson Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson Deputy M.B. Andrews

THE STATES resumed consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers, as amended and rejected an amendment of Deputy Samuel Yves Mézec of St. Helier South (P.72/2023 Amd.(14)) that, in paragraph (b), after the words "domestic liquid and solid waste", there should be inserted the words –

", but excluding the consideration of any charges that are regressive and do not take into account the proportionality of payments to the income of the payee".

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 16  CONTRE: 31  ABSTAIN: 1 Connétable of St. Martin Connétable of St. Helier Deputy M.R. Scott

Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Brelade

Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of Trinity

Deputy G.P. Southern Connétable of St. Peter

Deputy M. Tadier Connétable of St. John

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Connétable of St. Clement

Deputy R.J. Ward Connétable of St. Mary

Deputy C.S. Alves   Connétable of St. Saviour

Deputy L.J. Farnham Deputy C.F. Labey

Deputy S.Y. Mézec   Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy T.A. Coles   Deputy K.F. Morel

Deputy B.B.de S.V.M. Porée   Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat

Deputy C.D . Curtis   Deputy S.M. Ahier

Deputy L.V. Feltham   Deputy I. Gardiner

Deputy R.S. Kovacs   Deputy I.J. Gorst

Deputy M.B. Andrews   Deputy K.L. Moore

Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf

Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache

Deputy D.J. Warr

Deputy H.M. Miles

Deputy J. Renouf

Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy H.L. Jeune

Deputy M.E. Millar

Deputy A. Howell

Deputy T.J.A. Binet

Deputy M.R. Ferey

Deputy A.F. Curtis

Deputy B. Ward

Deputy K.M. Wilson

Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson

THE STATES resumed consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers, as amended and, adopting an amendment of Deputy Sir Philip Martin Bailhache of St. Clement (P.72/2023 Amd.), agreed that –

in paragraph (e), after the words "Article 9(2)(b) of the Law" there should be inserted the words – ", except that in Summary Table 3, the transfers in the last two rows of the table shall be replaced as follows –

in paragraph (h), after the words "Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report" there should be inserted the words –

", except that in Summary Table 5(i) the figures in the columns Expenditure and Head of Expenditure for Treasury and Exchequer shall each be increased by £20 million in 2024, so as to reinstate the States grant to the Social Security Fund in full.".

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 26  CONTRE: 21  ABSTAIN: 0

Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of Trinity Connétable of St. Martin Connétable of St. John Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of St. Mary Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy G.P. Southern Deputy M. Tadier

Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves

Deputy L.J. Farnham Deputy S.Y. Mézec

Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache Deputy T.A. Coles

Deputy B.B.de S.V.M. Porée Deputy C.D . Curtis

Deputy L.V. Feltham Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy A. Howell

Deputy R.S. Kovacs

Deputy B. Ward

Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of St. Peter Deputy C.F. Labey Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy K.F. Morel Deputy S.M. Ahier Deputy I. Gardiner

Deputy I.J. Gorst

Deputy K.L. Moore Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf Deputy D.J. Warr

Deputy H.M. Miles Deputy M.R. Scott Deputy J. Renouf

Deputy H.L. Jeune Deputy M.E. Millar Deputy M.R. Ferey Deputy A.F. Curtis Deputy K.M. Wilson Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson Deputy M.B. Andrews

THE STATES resumed consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers, as amended and, adopting an amendment of Deputy Carina Soares Alves of St. Helier Central (P.72/2023 Amd.(18)), agreed that –

in paragraph (e), after the words "Appendix 2 – Summary Table 3 in line with Article 9(2)(b) of the Law" there should be inserted the words –

", except that a new line should be inserted in Summary Table 3 to include a transfer of £75,000 from the Health Insurance Fund to the Consolidated Fund to allocate funds to extend the Free GP visits for Children and Young People Scheme to all full-time students, including students in full- time education undertaking Higher Education at Highlands College, Colleges, and Universities in the UK or abroad"; and

in paragraph (h), after the words "Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report" there should be inserted the words –

", except that, in Summary Table 5(i) the Head of Expenditure for Health and Community Services should be increased by £75,000 to allocate funds to extend the Free GP visits for Children and Young People Scheme to all full-time students, including students in full-time education undertaking Higher Education at Highlands College, Colleges, and Universities in the UK or abroad".

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 24 CONTRE: 20 ABSTAIN: 0

Connétable of St. Martin Connétable of St. John Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of St. Mary Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy G.P. Southern Deputy M. Tadier

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves

Deputy L.J. Farnham Deputy S.Y. Mézec

Deputy T.A. Coles

Deputy B.B.de S.V.M. Porée Deputy M.R. Scott

Deputy C.D . Curtis

Deputy L.V. Feltham Deputy A. Howell

Deputy R.S. Kovacs

Deputy B. Ward

Deputy M.B. Andrews

Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of St. Peter Deputy C.F. Labey

Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy K.F. Morel

Deputy S.M. Ahier Deputy I.J. Gorst

Deputy K.L. Moore Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache Deputy D.J. Warr

Deputy H.M. Miles Deputy J. Renouf

Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy M.E. Millar Deputy T.J.A. Binet Deputy M.R. Ferey Deputy A.F. Curtis Deputy K.M. Wilson

THE STATES, resuming consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers, as amended, commenced consideration of an amendment of the Council of Ministers (P.72/2023 Amd.(33) and rejected an amendment of Deputy Samuel Yves Mézec of St. Helier South (P.72/2023 Amd.(33) Amd.) that –

before Paragraph 1 there should be inserted a new paragraph as follows and the subsequent paragraphs re-designated accordingly –

"PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (e) –

After the words "in line with Article 9(2)(b) of the Law" insert the words – ",except that within Summary Table 3 the transfer from the Strategic Reserve to the Consolidated Fund should be increased by £3,000,000 for 2024, with this funding of £3,000,000 for subsequent years to be identified from an alternative sustainable funding source"."; and

in paragraph 2, the words following "increased by" should be substituted with "£3,000,000". Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 13 CONTRE: 35 ABSTAIN: 0

Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy G.P. Southern Deputy M. Tadier

Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves

Deputy S.Y. Mézec

Deputy T.A. Coles

Deputy B.B.de S.V.M. Porée Deputy C.D . Curtis

Deputy L.V. Feltham Deputy R.S. Kovacs

Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of Trinity Connétable of St. Peter Connétable of St. Martin Connétable of St. John Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of St. Mary Deputy C.F. Labey

Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy K.F. Morel Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat Deputy S.M. Ahier Deputy I. Gardiner Deputy I.J. Gorst

Deputy L.J. Farnham Deputy K.L. Moore Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache Deputy D.J. Warr

Deputy H.M. Miles Deputy M.R. Scott Deputy J. Renouf

Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy H.L. Jeune Deputy M.E. Millar Deputy A. Howell

Deputy T.J.A. Binet Deputy M.R. Ferey Deputy A.F. Curtis Deputy B. Ward

Deputy K.M. Wilson Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson Deputy M.B. Andrews

THE STATES resumed consideration of the amendment of the Council of Ministers. Changes in Presidency

The Bailiff retired briefly from the Chamber during consideration of the amendment of the Council of Ministers (P.72/2023 Amd.(33)) to the proposition of the Council of Ministers entitled Proposed Government Plan 2024-2027' (P.72/2023) and the meeting continued under the Presidency of Mr. William John Charles Millow , Deputy Greffier of the States, until the Bailiff 's return.

Adjournment

THE STATES adjourned, having agreed to reconvene on Wednesday 13th December 2023 to continue consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers entitled Proposed Government Plan 2024- 2027' (P.72/2023) and the other outstanding items of public business.

THE STATES rose at 5.28 p.m.

L.-M. HART Greffier of the States