Population growth "good news for Jersey" despite no clear plan

Wednesday 29 June 2016

The Chief Minister has defended the Island's population policy - or lack of it.  

Facing relentless, rapid-fire questions about the island’s rising population numbers in the Chamber, Senator Ian Gorst and Assistant Minister Paul Routier, who has responsibility for population policy, said permits are carefully evaluated and as many are refused as granted.

Senator Gorst said many businesses are desperate for new workers that they cannot find within the local population.

States Members pressed the Chief Minister on population in response to recently released stats showing that net migration to the Island in 2015 was 1,500 persons – almost five times the working target used for policy planning of 325 a year. 
 
Many Members wanted statistics broken down further while others called for the working target of 325 to be scrapped as it appears wholly unrealistic. And fears were expressed over whether Jersey’s infrastructure – and particularly health care system and schools – can cope with the influx.
 
But Senator Gorst said these numbers were “good news” in his opinion, and indicative of the Island’s strong economy. “In the simplest terms, the economy performed really well in 2015,” the Chief Minister said and, as a result, businesses sought more workers.
 
With five questions asking about net migration and its effects, as well as countless follow-up questions, discussion of the Island’s population dominated the two hours dedicated to oral questions at yesterday’s sitting. 
 
St Helier Deputy Mike Higgins led the charge. “Will the Chief Minister advise members what research, if any, has been undertaken by the Council of Ministers into the effect of rapid and large increases in net inward migration, in particular on education, house prices, hospital and primary care provision, traffic congestion and inflation?” he asked.  
 
Senator Paul Routier said, under further prompting specifically about what research is done, that each department undertakes its own research, leading Mr Higgins to add: “The Minister just admitted there is no joined-up thinking”. 
 
Senator Routier said a comprehensive, new population plan is under development and will be presented early in the new year. And he said each request from a business seeking to bring in an employee from outside the Island is carefully considered. 
 
“I can assure that we refused the same amount as we’ve given and we have taken the flak for that from some businesses,” Senator Routier said. 
 
In later questions, Mr Gorst re-iterated that a population plan is coming and will look extensively at balancing economic growth with the overall quality in life in Jersey. “We have to have an informed debate,” he said.

As the population questions continued to roll, the Chief Minister eventually lowered his forehead to the tableau before him. He said he realised that net migration “for some is a very controversial issue”.

Jersey’s population has grown by 12,000 over the last decade and is now estimated at 102,700.