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2.11 Deputy K.C. Lewis of St. Saviour of the Chief Minister regarding reconsideration of the proposal to fund the winter fuel allowance from the senior citizens' Christmas Bonus: Does the Chief Minister have any plans to ask the Minister for Social Security to reconsider the proposal to fund the winter fuel allowance from the senior citizens' Christmas bonus? If I may, I am aware that my submitted question was largely answered in the media Friday last and as the Chief Minister is away I am more than happy for the body of this question to be answered by the Deputy Chief Minister or indeed the Minister for Social Security himself.
Senator T.A. Le Sueur ( Deputy Chief Minister - Rapporteur):
The question is addressed to me, although as the Deputy rightly says, I think events have overtaken this question and that the winter fuel allowance proposals have been modified. Given that said, I am not sure whether we need to go into much detail on this but I just point out 2 matters for the information of States' Members really to justify the original decision which Council of Ministers has made, and that is that the Council of Ministers are fulfilling 2 decisions made by this House. The first decision made by this House in 2004 was that the Christmas bonus should be subject to an income bar. The second decision was made in the contents of the 2007 Business Plan when the States agreed that the winter fuel allowance should be funded from within existing States' expenditure limits. It is within that context, Sir, that the proposition was originally lodged the Council of Ministers were, in fact, carrying out the States' instructions. But, Sir, as I say, events have now overtaken us, the proposition has been amended, winter fuel allowance will be funded without touching the Senior Citizens' Christmas bonus and I think that probably deals with the question.
2.11.1 Deputy J.A. Martin of St. Helier :
Just a quick one, Sir. On both the meetings, one to means-test the fuel and the one to now not means-test the fuel, can the Minister confirm these were both formal meetings of the Council and as soon as the minutes are signed off they will be available to Scrutiny?
Senator T.A. Le Sueur :
Yes, Sir, they were both formal meetings of the Council of Ministers and the minutes will be available as soon as possible.