To deliver on these, Policy and Resources has now published proposals to be debated in October.
The Policy Letter includes a breakdown of the work each committee will be expected to prioritise for the remainder of this term – if approved – and was developed through a collaborative approach with each committee.
It has been roundly supported by the committee presidents who spoke to Express following its publication.
Deputy Peter Roffey, President of Employment and Social Security, said it didn’t “raise any alarm bells”.
“All of the obvious, necessary, work streams are there. The only exception being the much flagged reform of the social security contribution system – but it couldn’t be as the States will only debate it in October.
“That said it would fit squarely within the funding and taxation theme of the GWP. So, in short – no real concerns at first reading.”
Pictured: Deputy Roffey.
The President of Health and Social Care, Deputy Al Brouard, said due to a collaborative approach the contents of each work stream shouldn’t be a surprise.
“The P&R Workplan for HSC (2023 to 2025) is based on re-set exercise that was carried out earlier in the year. The plans are shared with Committees before they are published and are not viewed as a directive from P&R, rather the result of a collaborative approach to prioritising the work load of the Committee,” he said.
“As you can see from the published plan, there is a large number of policy or legislative based work that has been prioritised between now and 2025 all with a view to improve services/outcomes for our community.”
Examples of the work referred to include: The review of NICE TAs – due to be completed this year, improving outcomes for children and families through implementation of Phase 1 of the Children’s Law and drafting and enactment of an Adoption Law, work on the Capacity Law and the Supportive Living and Ageing Well Strategy (SLAWS)
“This policy and legislation work is carried out alongside business as usual, responding to external drivers such as post-Brexit and post COVID, and the delivery and oversight of HSC’s mandated public service and operational functions,” concluded Deputy Broaurd.
Pictured: Deputy Brouard.
Deputy Neil Inder, President of Economic Development, said everything that has been done to support P&R’s plan has been “very sensible”.
“Irrespective of what happened earlier this year – [the GST vote] – the economy just has to carry on. We’re happy to have helped [P&R].”
During a brief phonecall Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen said the work stream didn’t raise any red flags for Education, Sport and Culture – of which she is President, and she said she was looking forward to a sober, collaborative debate in October.
Finally, the President of Environment and Infrastructure, Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez said the Government Work Plan continues to support E&I’s “very significant focus on housing”.
“It focuses on our recently published Guernsey Housing Plan, our work on the General Housing Law and our work on infrastructure such as coastal defences that will be necessary to meet the island’s housing needs,” she said.
“It also recognises the need for energy security and a long-term policy on electricity generation and supply – another of our committee’s top priorities.”
Pictured: Deputy de Sausmarez.
Despite general support, Deputy de Sausmarez did raise concerns about continued delays to debate.
“My key frustration is that this is all taking so long,” she said.
“We were originally supposed to debate the GWP in June: that was pushed back till July, then September, and now October – yet we were told back in early March that we couldn’t submit funding requests (even for projects the Assembly has already approved) until it’s been debated, meaning some important areas of work will have been in a state of paralysis for around eight months.
“I worry that that lack of action is causing problems in its own right.”
The President of Home Affairs, Deputy Rob Prow, did not reply to Express’ request for comment.