Government Plan amended and approved by States Assembly

The Government Plan 2021-24 has been approved by the States Assembly (with 13 amendments) by 40 votes to 5, with 1 abstention. 3 members were either not present for the vote, ill or excused.

The Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré said: “I’d like to thank States Members for their time during the course of this robust, three-day debate. We have covered some important issues which are critical for the future our Island. 

“I appreciate the careful consideration Members have given to this Plan, which combines a four-year package of spending, investment, efficiencies and modernisation proposals. 

“The Plan has been strengthened through a number of amendments which have been accepted by the Assembly, including bringing forward funding to set up a Public Services Ombudsman to next year, the allocation of additional funds for the Care Leavers Package and funding to contribute towards the running costs of Beresford Street Kitchen.

“The Council of Ministers considered all amendments fully and accepted or amended where we could to meet objectives that are sustainable, especially considering the unprecedented time we find ourselves in.

“The Plan clearly sets out our priorities for the years ahead, which focus on our continuing response to Covid-19, investing in our economic recovery, rebalancing the public finances and investing in our future healthcare and education to protect the future of Islanders.”

The Government will be funding new economic growth through a series of initiatives that will drive the recovery, alongside the Co-funded Payroll Scheme and Visitor Accommodation Scheme, which will provide timely, targeted and temporary fiscal support throughout 2021.

The Government will continue in delivering the Council of Minister’s Common Strategic Priorities, through initiatives such as:

The Minister for Treasury and Resources, Deputy Susie Pinel, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who has worked on and considered the Government Plan, including officers, our Scrutiny Panels and States Members, and I’m pleased that it has been adopted with such a high level of support.

“2020 has been a year like no other and this Government Plan provides us with a clear roadmap for meeting the costs of the pandemic, investing in our priorities and returning to a balanced budget by 2024.” 

The Government Plan Debate
Before the debate began, the following Amendments were adopted as amended and, therefore, not debated: