Politicians back to the Chamber after two-month break

Tuesday 09 September 2014

As the election draws closer, the States have finally returned to action after a summer break of almost two months.

This week’s sitting has a full list of debates, with Members set to decide whether to hold an inquiry into the scuppered sale of the Broad Street post office, sort out funding for a child contact centre for separated parents, approve two petitions on the decriminalisation of cannabis, and change rules for widows’ and widowers’ pensions.

There are also 52 questions tabled to ministers, with Chief Minister Ian Gorst and Transport Minister Kevin Lewis each due to face 15 of questions without notice.

The current crop of politicians have just two sittings left before the elections on 15^th October, and the one that is taking place in a fortnight will be dominated by the Budget and the new £95 million “black hole” in States’ finances over the next three years.

Questions due to be asked this morning mainly focus on the deficit that was revealed when the Budget was published earlier in the summer, but there are also questions listed on a trade embargo against Israel and plans for an indoor shooting facility.