Any Deputy wanting to challenge the latest Tax Reform proposals during next month’s States debate has just one week left to get their amendments ready.
Express understands that a number of deputies are planning to challenge P&R’s plans – which include a goods and services tax, changes to motor taxes, and wider changes to income tax and social security systems.
Among them is Deputy Garry Collins who said a recent meeting saw a number of States Members gather to discuss the plans “in a private space away from the civil service”.
He is planning to lay amendments to P&R’s Tax Reform plans, and said it was clear from last Friday’s meeting that other deputies are also planning their own challenges.
“We had 31 members in attendance and one online, the meeting lasted just over two and a half hours and discussed the six parts of the tax package, £20 million in savings, £28m on reducing income tax, £2m on the net social security changes increase, £7m in new transport taxes, £55m on a new consumption tax and £6m on the new corporate tax increases.
“Unfortunately we ran out of time to discuss all the amendments and alternative packages, including mine, which will not be published now until next week. Members will be meeting again on Friday 10th July in the same space to discuss the final amendments proposed, but the meeting today raised a number of amendments that are likely to be laid and the package will be challenged heavily.
“The deadline for amendments is 7 July, so members have very little time left to get them in.”
Deputy David Goy is also working on finalising his ‘Productivity Incentivisation Tax’ which he plans to lay as amendment during next month’s debate.
The ‘PIT’ plan proposes widening the tax take from wealthy individuals who live in the island before targeting ‘middle Guernsey’ with new taxes.
Deputy Goy published his plan earlier this month, asking for feedback from the public and his political colleagues.
His consultation period closes tomorrow so he can finalise the PIT plan before lodging it as an amendment next week.
The Productivity Incentivisation Tax can be read in full HERE.
As deputies work on finalising their amendments to P&R’s Tax Reform plans, the senior States committee also has to face a Scrutiny panel to explain their workings.
That is being held on Monday morning, with Scrutiny President Deputy Andy Sloan, Deputy Liam McKenna, and Deputy Haley Camp asking the questions.
Deputy McKenna has been a vocal opponent of GST being introduced in Guernsey, while Deputy Camp has been vocal on social media questioning P&R’s current plan.
She and others, including deputies Rob Curgenven, Sloan, and Collins, have been raising concerns with the P&R proposals publicly.
Deputy Sloan said everyone has had to work quickly to understand the latest Tax Reform plan, after it was only published earlier this month.
That’s why his committee has called a Scrutiny hearing to air some concerns in public.
“The Policy & Resources Committee has brought forward a significant package of tax reform proposals which, despite their importance, have only been available for a relatively short period before they are due to be debated by the States.
“The Scrutiny Management Committee considered it important, and part of its public duty, to hold a public hearing so that these proposals can be examined openly before the debate. We have also received requests from members of the public asking the Committee to scrutinise the proposals, reflecting the level of public interest in the issues involved.
“The hearing will provide an opportunity to explore the evidence underpinning the proposals, test the assumptions that have been made and help both Deputies and the wider public better understand the issues before the Assembly is asked to make its decision.”
Members of the public can watch the Scrutiny Hearing in person at the Castel Douzaine Room between 10:00 and 12:00 on Monday 6 July, or via Youtube using the above link.
No one can ask questions except for the Scrutiny panel.
