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The Government should consider giving food or energy vouchers to low-income households, a backbench review has concluded.
A panel led by Reform leader Deputy Sam Mezec thinks this additional support – on top of the £56m package of support proposed in a ‘mini-budget’ due to be debated next week – should be considered in the next Government Plan.
The Deputy’s Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel has published its findings following a review of that Government response to rising prices.
If the States agree, tax thresholds and pensions will rise, social security contributions will fall, the Community Costs Bonus will double, cold weather payments will rise, and a planned drop in the GST threshold for good bought online will be delayed by six months.
Reviewing those proposals and how they were reached, the panel have concluded that consultation was limited, there was no assessment on how they would impact children, there was no clarity on how the measure might reduce income equality, and there was an absence of ‘real-time’ data.
Pictured: Reform Jersey's Deputy Sam Mézec is Chair of the Scrutiny panel that conducted the review.
It recommends that the Council of Ministers provide an “abridged statement” to “clarify what consideration was given... to Children’s Rights” and it “ensures that reference is specifically made to stakeholder consultation” when the mini-budget is proposed.
When considering extra support not included in the mini-budget, the panel, which also had Deputies Max Andrews, Carina Alves and Geoff Southern on it, concluded: “We note that throughout the submissions received, concern was raised in respect of impact of cost-of-living increases in food - the increased reliance on foodbanks has been raised - housing, road fuel, energy, utility bills and doctors’ fees for all islanders during this time.
“The panel notes that these areas are not being directly supported through the mini budget proposals.
“Further emphasis is placed on the significant impact of these areas on the most vulnerable islanders and those already on the poverty line who require urgent support.
“The default impact on carers and voluntary organisations to support islanders in need is also emphasised and therefore the increased support required by these individuals and organisations to continue to meet the most vulnerable Islanders’ needs who may otherwise fall through the gaps is highlighted.
“It is stressed that more direct support measures may be beneficial to support these areas, for example through vouchers for food, energy and fuel that could be targeted to those islanders that require the greatest support.”
The panel also think the Government should produce a timeline for the implementation of its 'Fair Rents Plan', which the previous Housing Minister launched last December. This includes capping social rents at 80% of market value and widening entry to the Affordable Housing Gateway.
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