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1240/5(1860)
QUESTION TO BE ASKED OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY 13th MAY 2003,
BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER
Question
- Will the President inform membersof the measures to betakenbythe Committee which will enable it to restrict the growthin its 2004budget to only £100,000?
- Does the Presidentaccept that, given the intrinsic natureof the Committee'ssphereof activity, any reduction of services will inevitably lead to an increaseinhardshipforthosedependenton benefit?
Answer
- No, I cannot inform membersat the present time, as the Committee is still consideringtheoutcomesofthe Decision Conference process and the impact on its' 2004 budget which is, in fact, an increase of only £65,000.
H owever, so that members are fully aware of the measures we have been asked to implement and are
currently considering, the outcome of the Decision Conference was to give inflation growth for Supplementation and Health Insurance Exemption and cut expenditure by –
( a ) i n troducing an income bar for the Christmas Bonus;
( b ) co n t aining the current subsidy rates on the Dental, Optical and Chiropody Scheme for the over 65's; ( c ) a c hieving administrative savings on non native welfare;
( d ) in t ro ducing a new criteria for Disabled Transport Allowance, which would effectively exclude those
in residential homes; and,
( e ) f re ezing non-native welfare and non contributory benefits at 2003 levels.
- Not entirely because there is always the possibility of targeting and administering benefitsmore effectively. However, I would accept that someofthese expenditure cuts,whichdidnot receive a high enough priority in the DecisionConference, would certainly have animpacton the lesswell off. Itisfor this reason that the Employment and Social Security Committee is lookingatwaysof lessening the impactbeforecoming to the States with specific proposalsasmaybe required underanyrelevant legislation. The Committee will do all it can to protect thoseonthelowest incomes.