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States Minutes 26 November 2024

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THE STATES assembled on Tuesday 26th November 2024, at 9.30 a.m. under the Presidency of the Deputy Bailiff , Robert James MacRae , Esquire.

 __________________

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 – ill

Connétable Richard Anthony Kingston Honeycombe of St. Ouen en défaut (défaut raised at 12.43 p.m.) Deputy Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf of St. Saviour – en défaut (défaut raised at 9:51 a.m.)

Deputy Lucy Kate Frances Stephenson of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter – parental responsibilities

 __________________

Prayers

 __________________

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. The following Members attended remotely, either for all or part of the meeting –  

Connétable Richard Anthony Kingston Honeycombe of St. Ouen Deputy Carolyn Fiona Labey of Grouville and St. Martin

Deputy Louise Mary Catherine Doublet of St. Saviour

Deputy Catherine Dolores Curtis of St. Helier Central

Deputy Rosemary Esther Binet of Grouville and St. Martin

Proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2025-2028 P.51/2024

THE STATES, commencing consideration of a proposition of the Council of Ministers entitled Proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2025-2028' (P.51/2024), considered an amendment of the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel (P.51/2024 Amd.(11)), and, adopting an amendment of the Council of Ministers (P.51/2024 Amd.(11).Amd.), agreed that –

in part 1, for the words "151 grams" there should be substituted "176 grams" and for the figures presented  in  the  table  for  "Impôt  Duties  Vehicle  Emissions  Duty",  the  following  should  be substituted –

 

2025  Estimate (£000)

2026  Estimate (£000)

2027  Estimate (£000)

2028  Estimate (£000)

3,190

3,045

2,906

2,783

in part 2, for the words "151 grams" there should be substituted "176 grams" and for the proposed amendments to the proposed transfers from the Consolidated Fund to the Climate Emergency Fund, the following should be substituted –

 

2025 Proposed

2026 Proposed

2027 Proposed

2028 Proposed

4,358

4,313

4,269

4,226

in part 3, for the words "151 grams" there should be substituted "176 grams" and, in the column of the table headed "2025 Estimate (as amended)", the following should be substituted for the figures provided –

5,950 4,358 (8,346) 1,962

in part 4, for the words "10%, 15% and 25%" there should be substituted "5%, 15% and 25%".

for the figures provided in the first table against vehicles with emissions from 151 to 175 grams of CO2 the following should be substituted

 

2024 Actual

2025  proposed  (as amended)

Proposed Increase %

1,367

1,435

5%

in the second table, for "315" there should be substituted "301" each time it appears.

THE STATES, adopting the amendment of the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel, as amended, agreed that –

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

", except that the total estimate for 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 Vehicle Emissions Duty (VED) shall be increased to reflect increased duties for non-commercial vehicles with CO2 mass emissions above 176 grams, with the relevant figures in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 1 updated in line with the following table, and subsequent figures updated accordingly

 

 

2025 Estimate (£000)

2026 Estimate (£000)

2027 Estimate (£000)

2028 Estimate (£000)

Impôt Duties Vehicle Emissions Duty (as amended)

3,190

3,045

2,906

2,783

in paragraph (c), after the words "Article 9(2)(b) of the Law" there should be inserted the words –

", except that proposed transfer of monies from the Consolidated Fund to the Climate Emergency Fund shall be increased in 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028 to reflect increased duties for non-commercial vehicles with CO2 mass emissions above 176 grams, with the relevant figures in Appendix 2 – Table 3 updated in line with the following table, and subsequent figures updated accordingly –

 

£'000

 

2025 Proposed

2026 Proposed

2027 Proposed

2028 Proposed

Transfer from

Transfer to

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Fund

Climate Emergency Fund

4,358

4,313

4,269

4,226

".

in paragraph (j), after the words "Summary Table 8 to the Report", there should be inserted the words –

", except that the proposed transfer of monies from the Consolidated Fund to the Climate Emergency Fund shall be increased in 2025 to reflect increased duties for non-commercial vehicles with CO2 mass emissions above 176 grams, with the relevant figures in Appendix 2 – Table 8 updated in line with the following table, and subsequent figures updated accordingly –

 

£'000

 

 

2025  Estimate  (as amended)

Opening balance

 

 

5,950

Transfer  from Consolidated Fund

the

Climate Emergency Fund

4,358

Expenditure

 

 

(8,346)

Closing balance

 

 

1,962

in paragraph (o), after the words "to the accompanying Report", there should be inserted the words –

", except that in the section "Vehicle Emissions Duty" on page 32 after the words "the highest three emission bands will be increased by" replace the figures "5%, 10% and 20%" with the figures "5%, 15% and 25%" with the relevant figures in Table 5 and Table 6 updated in line with the following figures –

 

CO2  Mass emissions (grams)

2024 Actual

2025 proposed (as amended)

Proposed  Increase %

0

-

-

-

1-50

35

35

-

51-75

73

73

-

76-100

240

240

-

101-125

422

422

-

126-150

715

715

-

151-175

1,367

1,435

5%

176-200

4,200

4,830

15%

201 or more

7,937

9,921

25%

 

£'000

Proposed vs Forecast (as amended)

Proposed vs no change (as amended)

Vehicle  Emissions  Duty increases

301

301

THE STATES resumed consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers and, adopting an amendment of the Council of Ministers (P.72/2023 Amd.(26)), agreed that, in paragraph (g), after the words "of the Report" there should be inserted the words ", except that, in Summary Table 5(i), the head of expenditure for Education and Lifelong Learning should be increased by £5,862,000 with an equal decrease to Children and Families head of expenditure".

THE STATES resumed consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers and, adopting an amendment of Deputy Louise Mary Catherine Doublet of St. Saviour (P.51/2024 Amd.(7)), agreed that, in paragraph (g) –

after the words "set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report." there should be inserted the words –

", except that, in Summary Table 5(i) –

  1. the Head of Expenditure for the Cabinet Office should be reduced by £86,215; and
  2. the Head of Expenditure for Customer and Local Services should be increased by £86,215 to support the funding of the Connect Me project."; and

in paragraph (o), after the words "Appendix to the accompanying Report" there should be inserted the words –

", except that on page 14, after the words "support the ongoing well-being of Islanders", there should be inserted the following words –

"As part of the prioritisation of community well-being, the Social Security department has allocated £391,215 of funding to the Connect Me project for the year 2025, to ensure the continuation of the project and support the introduction of social prescribing.".

THE STATES resumed consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers, and commenced consideration of an amendment of Deputy Hilary Louise Jeune of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity (P.51/2024 Amd.(9)), and, adopting an amendment of the Council of Ministers (P.51/2024 Amd.(9).Amd.), agreed that the words "funding the" should be deleted.

THE STATES, adopting paragraph (a) of the amendment of the Deputy Hilary Louise Jeune of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity , as amended, agreed that in paragraph (o), after the words "as set out in the Appendix of the accompanying Report" there should be inserted the words –

", except that, on page 38 –

(a)  after the words "improve the competitiveness of the Island" there should be inserted the words "with a specific focus on funding the delivery of the Sustainable Finance Action Plan and supporting the transition to a net-zero economy".

THE STATES resumed consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers and, adopting an amendment of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel (P.51/2024 Amd.(4)), agreed that, in paragraph (o), after the words "as set out in the Appendix of the accompanying Report", there should be inserted the words –

", except that, on page 42 after the words ", for indicative purposes." there should be inserted the following new paragraph –

"The establishment of a Public Services Ombudsperson, as approved in principle by the States Assembly in March 2018 [P.32/2018] and progressed by the preceding Government, remains under review by the Council of Ministers. The Complaints Panel is itself conducting a review of its own procedures and processes. In July 2024, the Jersey Law Commission published a report entitled "Keeping the Complaints Panel or creating the Ombudsperson", which worked through the different choices about the basic design of Jersey's independent complaints handling body with the aim of taking an informed decision as to whether to keep a reformed Complaints Panel or go forward with the Ombudsperson. Subsequent to that report, a consultation paper was published. The Council of Ministers will fully consider the consultation results published by the Jersey Law Commission and Complaints Panel respectively when considering the appropriate way forward. Detailed proposals will be brought forward in 2025 for States Assembly approval and also detailed in the successive Government Plan."

THE STATES resumed consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers and, adopting an amendment of the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel (P.51/2024 Amd.(5)), agreed that, in paragraph (o), after the words "as set out in the Appendix of the accompanying Report" there should be inserted the words –

", except that on Page 43, after the words "This investment will meet the cost of enhancing grants to students both in distance learning and in person learning." should be inserted the words "We will also review the scheme available for apprenticeships and increase the funding and support available.".

THE STATES resumed consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers and, adopting an amendment of the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel (P.51/2024 Amd.(10)), agreed that, in paragraph (o), after the words "as set out in the Appendix of the accompanying Report" there should be inserted the words –

"except that in the section "Other Revenue Expenditure Growth Spending" on page 45 after the words "funding of In Vitro Fertilisation, recently approved by the Assembly" there should be inserted the following new paragraph –

"Funding for the Termination of Pregnancy (Jersey) Law 1997 Amendments workstream will be reviewed to ensure that both policy and law drafting resource for this workstream is prioritised by the Council of Ministers in the 2025 Legislative Programme and in order for amendments to the current outdated law to be lodged prior to the end of 2025."

THE STATES resumed consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers, and, adopting an amendment of the Council of Ministers (P.51/2024 Amd.(27)), agreed that, in paragraph (o), after the words "as set out in the Appendix of the accompanying Report" there should be inserted the words –

", except that on page 46, under the subtitle Formula Driven Growth, for the words –

"As  budgets for Arts,  Heritage and  Culture  have  now been increased  to 1% of Net Revenue Expenditure, in future, this level will now be maintained and increased by RPI."

there should be substituted the words –

"Following approval of Funding for Culture, Arts and Heritage (P.69/2024), the Government continues the commitment to maintain funding to this sector based on 1% of overall States revenue expenditure."."

THE STATES, resuming consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers, commenced consideration of an amendment of Deputy Inna Gardiner of St. Helier North (P.51/2024 Amd.(18)), and, adopting an amendment of the Council of Ministers (P.51/2024 Amd.(18).Amd.(2)), agreed that

in part 1, for the words "Existing resources will be utilised" there should be substituted "An allocation of £66,000 will be made within the Funding for Public Realm budgets"; and

in part 2, after the words "Bridging Island Plan 2022-2025" there should be inserted the words ", with the work of the Jersey Youth Parliament Right to Play' Group and of the previous Play Strategy Steering Group to be incorporated into the final Strategy".

THE STATES, adopting the amendment of Deputy Inna Gardiner of St. Helier North , as amended, agreed that, in paragraph (o), after the words "as set out in the Appendix to the accompanying Report" there should be inserted the words –

", except that, on Page 59, after the words "in subsequent Budgets subject to affordability." there should be inserted the following new paragraph –

"Existing resources will be utilised to take forward the work to deliver a Play Strategy for Jersey, in conjunction with the Minister for Children and Families, the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, and the Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, as detailed within Proposal 29 of the Bridging Island Plan 2022-2025, with the work of the Jersey Youth Parliament Right to Play' Group and of the previous Play Strategy Steering Group to be incorporated into the final Strategy."

THE STATES, resuming consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers, commenced consideration of an amendment of Deputy Inna Gardiner of St. Helier North (P.51/2024 Amd.(23)), and, adopting an amendment of the Council of Ministers (P.51/2024 Amd.(23).Amd.), agreed that, for the words "The Treasury Minister will request additional funding for" there should be substituted the word "Across"; that the words "from the States of Jersey Development Company (SoJDC) of" should be deleted; that, after the words "up to £500,000", there should be inserted the words "within the Infrastructure Rolling Vote (Public Realm) will be used"; that for the words "recognising that a", there should be inserted the words "provided always that additional"; that, for the words "allocation will also be made", there should be inserted the words "is contributed"; and that, after the words "Parish of St Helier", there should be inserted the words "to meet the costs of relevant projects.

THE STATES, adopting the amendment of Deputy Inna Gardiner of St. Helier North , as amended, agreed that, in paragraph (o), after the words "as set out in the Appendix to the accompanying Report", there should be inserted the words –

"except that, on Page 59, after the words "in subsequent Budgets subject to affordability." there should be inserted the following new paragraph –

"Across the period 2025-2028, up to £500,000 within the Infrastructure Rolling Vote (Public Realm) will be used to support St. Helier 's Neighbourhood Improvement Area programmes, provided always that additional matching funding is contributed by the ratepayers of the Parish of St. Helier to meet the costs of the relevant projects."".

THE STATES, resuming consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers, commenced consideration of an amendment of Deputy Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf of St. Saviour (P.51/2024 Amd.(25)), and adopting an amendment of Deputy Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf of St. Saviour (P.51/2024 Amd.(25)Amd.), agreed that –

in part 1 –

the figure "£12,000,000" should be substituted with the figure "£10,500,000";

after the words "to reflect" there should be inserted the words "the cost of introducing.";

after the words "holiday during 2025", there should be inserted the words ", based on the Income Forecasting Group's estimates from May 2024,"; and

the words "which will incur a flat 3% stamp duty rate" should be deleted; and in part 2, the words "which will incur a flat 3% stamp duty rate" should be deleted.

THE STATES rejected the amendment of Deputy Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf of St. Saviour , as amended, that –

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

", except that in Summary Table 1 the income estimate for Stamp Duty in 2025 should be reduced by £10,500,000 to reflect the cost of introducing a stamp duty holiday during 2025, based on the Income Forecasting Group's estimates from May 2024, the reduction of income being based upon Stamp Duty being levied at 0% on properties valued up to £700,000, at 2.5% for those valued between £700,000 and £1,000,000, and with a taper for those valued between £1,000,000 and £1,200,000, and properties over £1,200,000 remaining subject to Stamp Duty at the full rate, such reduction to exclude buy-to let properties."; and

in paragraph (o), after the words "set out in the Appendix to the accompanying Report", there should be inserted the words –

", except that on page 30 after the words "the previously forecast", there should be inserted the words "In order to promote a positive increase in the sale of residential properties a Stamp Duty holiday has been instigated for 2025, allowing properties up to a value of £700,000 to pay no Stamp Duty, with Stamp Duty levied at 2.5% on properties valued between £700,000 and £1,000,000 and a taper for properties valued between £1,000,000 and £1,200,000. Properties over £1,200,000 will remain subject to Stamp Duty at the full rate. This Stamp duty holiday will exclude buy-to let properties."

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 7   CONTRE: 36  ABSTAIN: 1

Connétable of St. Saviour   Connétable of St. Helier   Connétable of St. Clement Deputy L.M.C. Doublet   Connétable of St. Brelade

Deputy I. Gardiner   Connétable of Trinity

Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf   Connétable of St. Peter

Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache   Connétable of St. Martin

Deputy D.J. Warr   Connétable of St. John

Deputy K.M. Wilson   Connétable of Grouville

  Connétable of St. Mary

  Deputy G.P. Southern

  Deputy C.F. Labey

  Deputy M. Tadier

  Deputy S.G. Luce

  Deputy K.F. Morel

  Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat

  Deputy S.M. Ahier

  Deputy R.J. Ward

  Deputy C.S. Alves

  Deputy I.J. Gorst

  Deputy L.J. Farnham

  Deputy K.L. Moore

  Deputy S.Y. Mézec

  Deputy T.A. Coles

  Deputy B.B. de S.V.M. Porée

  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 A. Howell

  Deputy M.R. Ferey

  Deputy R.S. Kovacs

  Deputy A.F. Curtis

  Deputy B. Ward

  Deputy M.B. Andrews

THE STATES noted that, in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 106, the following Members declared an interest in the subject of the amendment of Deputy Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf of St. Saviour , in that they were likely to be selling property in the near future –

The Connétable of St. Peter

The Connétable of St. Clement

Deputy Mary Rose Le Hegarat of St. Helier North

Deputy Ian Joseph Gorst of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter Deputy Mary Rose Scott of St. Brelade

THE STATES, resuming consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers, commenced consideration of an amendment of Deputy Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf of St. Saviour (P.51/2024 Amd.(28)), and, adopting an amendment of the Council of Ministers (P.51/2024 Amd.(28).Amd.), agreed that the words "reduced by £2,000,000 to reflect the removal of the current higher rate surcharge" should be substituted with the words "reduced by £665,000 to reflect the reduction of the current higher rate surcharge from 3 percentage-points to 2 percentage-points" and that the word "removed" should be substituted with the word "reduced".

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 30 CONTRE: 14 ABSTAIN: 0


Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of Trinity Connétable of St. Peter Connétable of St. John Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of St. Mary Deputy G.P. Southern Deputy C.F. Labey

Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy K.F. Morel

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

Deputy C.S. Alves

Deputy I. Gardiner

Deputy I.J. Gorst

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 R.E. Binet

Deputy M.E. Millar

Deputy A. Howell

Deputy T.J.A. Binet


  Connétable of St. Martin

  Connétable of St. Clement   Connétable of St. Saviour   Deputy S.M. Ahier

  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 H.L. Jeune

  Deputy A.F. Curtis

  Deputy K.M. Wilson

  Deputy M.B. Andrews


Deputy M.R. Ferey Deputy R.S. Kovacs Deputy B. Ward

THE STATES rejected the amendment of Deputy Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf of St. Saviour , as amended, that –

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

", except that in Summary Table 1 the income estimate for Stamp Duty in 2025 should be reduced by £665,000 to reflect the reduction of the current higher rate surcharge from 3 percentage-points to 2 percentage-points'"; and

in paragraph (o), after the words "set out in the Appendix to the accompanying Report" there should be inserted the words –

", except that on page 30 after the words "the previously forecast.", there should be inserted the words "In order to promote a positive increase in the sale of residential properties the additional higher rate of Stamp Duty in relation to the sale and purchase of second homes has been reduced for one year.".

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 23 CONTRE: 24 ABSTAIN: 0


Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of Trinity Connétable of St. Peter Connétable of St. John Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy K.F. Morel Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat Deputy I.J. Gorst

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

Deputy M.R. Scott Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy M.E. Millar Deputy A. Howell

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

Deputy K.M. Wilson


s Connétable of St. Martin

  Connétable of St. Clement

  Connétable of St. Ouen

  Connétable of St. Mary

  Deputy G.P. Southern

  Deputy C.F. Labey

  Deputy M. Tadier

  Deputy L.M.C. Doublet

  Deputy S.M. Ahier

  Deputy R.J. Ward

  Deputy C.S. Alves

  Deputy I. Gardiner

  Deputy K.L. Moore

  Deputy S.Y. Mézec

  Deputy T.A. Coles

  Deputy B.B. de S.V.M. Porée   Deputy H.M. Miles

  Deputy J. Renouf

  Deputy C.D . Curtis

  Deputy L.V. Feltham

  Deputy H.L. Jeune

  Deputy R.S. Kovacs

  Deputy A.F. Curtis

  Deputy M.B. Andrews


THE STATES, resuming consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers, commenced consideration of an amendment of Deputy Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf of St. Saviour (P.51/2024 Amd.(24)), and, adopting an amendment of Deputy Hiliary Louise Jeune of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity , agreed that, in part 1, after the words "cannabis in Jersey" there should be inserted the words ", that will be used in cannabis-based products for medicinal use"; and that, in part 2, after the words "cannabis in Jersey" there should be inserted the words ", that will be used in cannabis-based products for medicinal use".

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 27 CONTRE: 18 ABSTAIN: 0


Connétable of St. Martin Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy K.F. Morel

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 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 H.L. Jeune

Deputy A. Howell

Deputy R.S. Kovacs

Deputy A.F. Curtis

Deputy K.M. Wilson

Deputy M.B. Andrews Deputy C.F. Labey

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy R.E. Binet


  Connétable of St. Helier   Connétable of St. Brelade   Connétable of St. Peter

  Connétable of St. John

  Connétable of Grouville   Connétable of St. Ouen

  Connétable of St. Mary

  Deputy G.P. Southern

  Deputy M. Tadier

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

  Deputy C.S. Alves

  Deputy C.D . Curtis

  Deputy L.V. Feltham

  Deputy M.E. Millar

  Deputy T.J.A. Binet

  Deputy M.R. Ferey

  Deputy B. Ward


Suspension of Meeting

The Deputy Bailiff , following the adoption of the amendment of Deputy Hiliary Louise Jeune of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity to the amendment of Deputy Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf of St. Saviour to the proposition of the Council of Ministers entitled Proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2025-2028' (P.51/2024), suspended the meeting for a period of 20 minutes, in accordance with Standing Order 46, in order to consider a ruling on the amendment of the Council of Ministers (P.51/2024 Amd.(24).Amd.(2)) to the same amendment.

Amendments to the Twenty-Fourth Amendment to Proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2025- 2028' (P.51/2024) – ruling by the Deputy Bailiff

The Deputy Bailiff made the following ruling regarding the interaction between the amendments that had been lodged to the amendment of Deputy Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf of St. Saviour (P.51/2024 Amd.(24)) to the proposition of the Council of Ministers entitled Proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2025-2028 (P.51/2024) –

"In adopting the amendment that Deputy Jeune lodged to the twenty-fourth amendment, which of course still must be debated as amended, the Assembly has adopted an amendment to the effect that loans from the Agricultural Loans Fund cannot be used for any purpose related to the cultivation of cannabis used in products for medicinal use. The Council of Ministers' second amendment has as its central purpose the permitting of loans from the fund for the purpose of assisting medicinal cannabis producing businesses. Accordingly, in view of the Assembly's adoption of the first amendment, in my judgment the Council's amendment must fall away. Indeed, the only effect of the Council of Ministers' amendment if it was debated and adopted would be to limit the extent to which loans could be made to hemp producers, which as a consequence of the adoption of the first amendment are currently not subject to any such exclusion."

Proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2025-2028 P.51/2024

THE STATES noted that, following the ruling of the Deputy Bailiff and in light of the Assembly's adoption of the amendment of Deputy Hiliary Louise Jeune of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity to the amendment of Deputy Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf of St. Saviour to the proposition of the Council of Ministers entitled Proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2025-2028 (P.51/2024), the amendment of the Council of Ministers to the same amendment (P.51/2024 Amd.(2)) was deemed to have been withdrawn.

THE STATES, resuming consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers, rejected the amendment of Deputy Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf of St. Saviour , as amended, that –

in paragraph (e), after the words "identified before 31st December 2025" there should be inserted the words –

", subject also to restrictions on the provision of Agricultural Loans to exclude provision of such loans for any purposes relating to the cultivation of cannabis in Jersey, that will be used in cannabis-based products for medicinal use"; and

in paragraph (o), after the words "as set out in the Appendix to the accompanying Report" there should be inserted the words –

", except that that on page 75, after the bullet points, there should be inserted a new paragraph as follows –

"The utilisation of funds from the Agricultural Loans Fund will be subject to restrictions and exclude the provision of such Loans for any purposes relating to the cultivation of cannabis in Jersey, that will be used in cannabis-based products for medicinal use".

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 19 CONTRE: 24 ABSTAIN: 3


Connétable of St. Martin Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Saviour Connétable of St. Ouen Deputy C.F. Labey Deputy I. Gardiner Deputy I.J. Gorst

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

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

Deputy H.L. Jeune Deputy B. Ward


  Connétable of St. Helier

  Connétable of St. Brelade

  Connétable of Trinity

  Connétable of St. Peter

  Connétable of St. John

  Connétable of St. Mary

  Deputy G.P. Southern

  Deputy M. Tadier

  Deputy K.F. Morel

  Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat

  Deputy S.M. Ahier

  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 A. Howell Deputy R.S. Kovacs Deputy A.F. Curtis

STATES MINUTES

Deputy K.M. Wilson Deputy M.B. Andrews


26 November 2024

  Deputy C.D . Curtis

  Deputy L.V. Feltham

  Deputy M.E. Millar

  Deputy T.J.A. Binet

  Deputy M.R. Ferey

  Deputy L.M.C Doublet   Deputy R.E. Binet


Adjournment

THE STATES adjourned, having agreed to reconvene on Wednesday 27th November 2024 in order to continue consideration of a proposition of the Council of Ministers entitled Proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2025-2028' (P.51/2024), as amended and the other outstanding items of public business.

THE STATES rose at 5.32 p.m.

L.-M. HART Greffier of the States