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Discrimination Law and delay on pension reform (P.118/2011): comments.

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STATES OF JERSEY

DISCRIMINATION LAW AND DELAY ON PENSION REFORM (P.118/2011): COMMENTS

Presented to the States on 18th July 2011 by the Council of Ministers

STATES GREFFE

2011   Price code: A  P.118 Com.(3)

COMMENTS

The  amendment  of  the  Council  of  Ministers  to  P.118/2011  clearly  shows  that Ministers are committed to the principle of introducing a Discrimination Law for Jersey.

However, the Council of Ministers does not support part (c) of the proposition of Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier and rejects any suggestion that changes to pension age legislation should be delayed until such time as discrimination legislation is in place.

Given the Council's commitment to prioritise discrimination legislation and to give both  disability  and  age  discrimination  a  high  priority,  it  is  neither necessary  nor appropriate to rescind the previous decision of the States.

Ministers strongly believe that raising the pension age is a responsible and logical step to take in dealing with the ageing population issues affecting Jersey, and will maintain its relevance to an ageing society.

Deputy Southern 's proposal to remove the commitment to bring forward changes to the pension age legislation would therefore be counter-productive, create uncertainty and remove the pressure to pursue the other changes that are necessary to meet the challenges in dealing with an ageing population.

The Council of Ministers endorses the comments of the Minister for Social Security and urges States members to reject part (c) of the proposition.

Statement under Standing Order 37A [Presentation of comment relating to a proposition]

The Council of Ministers was unable to approve the comments before the deadline as a result of the States Sitting beginning on Monday 18th July.

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P.118/2011 Com.(3)