Q. How much do the States spend every day, will each candidate put a figure on it with Senator Ozouf being last to answer?
A. Our States net revenue expenditure is around £720 Million p.a which is equal to approx £2 Million per day. I once attended a presentation on the UK’s public spend when an analogy was drawn with money flowing out of a pipe . The government’s task being to put a tap on the pipe to control it. That’s what we need to do here. If I had time I would have added, this figure excludes payments from the social security fund, pensions etc which are about another £160 Million pa and capital spending. Around 80% of the revenue spends goes on health education and social security.
Q. If elected will you ensure that if the proposed property tax is introduced that all the money raised will be available to the parish?
A. The Treasury Minister’s property tax proposals would replace the parish rate which is set by a parish assembly and spent on the parish services (apart from the additional all island rate to defray a share of social security costs). He proposes a new centrally controlled system where the property tax rate will be set by the Treasury Minister and is imposed on the occupiers and owners of property, enabling extra income to be raised. I would not support this proposal. Neither would I support the proposal for this tax to be based on capital values, nor applying it to unrealised increases in property values , nor to capital gains tax on property disposal . The only positive element in the proposal is to impose a windfall tax on land rezoned for housing development
Q. Will candidates say whether they will accept the result of the referendum on the constables automatic right to sit in the States?
A. It is not the right question on States reform, but the question is a big step forward as the last referendum questions were subject to much argument about their meaning. This time we have a proper referendum question, a clear Yes / No choice which I argued for. I will accept the result what ever way it goes.
Q. Can’t Jersey access EU money for investments in the development of the blue economy?
A. The potential for utility scale renewable energy from our offshore waters is enormous. Offshore wind power technology can already deliver 14 times our needs as will tidal power when the technology is mature in around 10 years time . We need to work in partnership with JEC, businesses and France, who can access EU money for these projects. The French will do it anyway and we must take the opportunity to join them. We can’t ourselves access EU grants, so even the National Lottery which would provide funding for arts sports and heritage projects. is not available to us.
Q. Do the candidates consider our investing in big building projects is wise in view of our limited construction workforce and capability?
A. The Construction Council event highlighted the skills shortage in Jersey; we have lost 500 tradesmen in the recession and there are only a small number of apprentices in training. We will have to import skilled labour so there is a big risk of leakage from our economy, as the Fiscal Policy Panel identified. The States will need to manage the flow of work to iron out peaks and troughs. Of the big projects, housing is essential to bring our estate to a good standard and to build new homes. The new hospital is also essential but I want a single site and alternative funding options considered. The sewage treatment works project costing £200 M can be phased and slowed to match the availability of workers, but specialists will be required. In the long run we have to do more to train our young people.
Q. Where do candidates place themselves on the political spectrum?
A. I do not favour political labels; they have limited benefit. One only has to look at the UK party political scene. I make an independent judgment on the merits of each issue. I am an environmentalist with social awareness, and would not categorize myself as green. Often I find myself supporting both sides of politics at different times. I am in the centre, and a consensus builder.
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