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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) –
- the Head of Expenditure for the Cabinet Office should be reduced by £86,215; and
- 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