Independent review of Covid-19
The debate on Constable Mike Jackson’s second amendment to the Government Plan continued. Yesterday, the Constable requested that £500,000 is used to fund an independent review of Jersey’s response to Covid-19 by 30 April 2022, as amended by himself. The Council of Ministers proposed an amendment to Constable Jackson’s amendment which requested that this review be completed by 29 July 2022.
The States Assembly voted to APPROVE Constable Jackson’s amendment, as amended by the Council of Ministers. 37 States Members voted in favour, five voted against and one Member abstained. This means that an independent review of the Island’s response to Covid-19 will be carried out by 29 July 2022.
Bus pass scheme
Deputy Rob Ward proposed the sixth amendment to the Government Plan. The Deputy asked that funding is provided for a £20 per year bus pass scheme for those aged 18 and under from 1 January 2022.
The States Assembly voted to APPROVE Deputy Ward’s amendment. 23 States Members voted in favour and 20 voted against.
Skip to 40 minutes into this morning’s meeting to watch the debate.
School headroom funding
Deputy Rob Ward proposed the 11th amendment. He requested that all schools are guaranteed a minimum of 15% headroom funding (funding available after the costs of staffing, accommodation, and the general running of school facilities have been taken into account).
The States Assembly voted to REJECT the amendment. 21 members voted in favour and 22 voted against.
Skip to two hours and 25 minutes into this morning’s meeting to watch the debate.
Nursery Education Fund funding increase
The Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel proposed the 16th amendment to the Government Plan. The Panel asked that £2.05 million is used to fund the increased costs of the Nursery Education Fund for 3-4-year-olds. This follows the hourly rate increase and increase in provision from 20 to 30 hours per week for free Government funded nursery education. However, the Panel withdrew the 16th amendment and, in turn, the 17th and 20th amendment after the Minister for Children and Education committed to providing the Panel with a report detailing the position of the Nursery Education Fund and an action plan for progressing the Early Years report work before the end of the first quarter of 2022.
Skip to five minutes into this afternoon’s meeting to watch the debate.
Special educational needs and school funding increase
The Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel proposed the 18th amendment to the Government Plan. The Panel asked to increase the budget for Children, Young People, Education and Skills (CYPES) by £10 million in order to fund special educational needs and cover any shortfall in the 2022 school funding formula.
The proposition was narrowly REJECTED by the States Assembly. 21 States Members voted in favour of the amendment and 21 voted in favour. One Member abstained.
Skip to 20 minutes into this afternoon’s meeting to watch the debate.
Social Security caps
Senator Sam Mézec proposed the final (12th) amendment to the Government Plan. Senator Mézec asked that the Upper Earnings Limit is removed, abolishing the upper earnings limit cap on Social Security Contributions and Long Term Care contributions, in turn raising £7 million and £8.5 million.
The States Assembly adjourned midway through the debate to allow the Bailiff to consider a ruling on this amendment overnight. The meeting will continue at 9:30am tomorrow, Friday 17 December.
Skip to one hour and 50 minutes into this afternoon’s meeting to watch the beginning of this debate, which continued into this evening.