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Deputies debate again from tomorrow, in what promises to be the Employment & Social Security show - with the committee taking centre stage, attempting to ward off meddling from the other leading roles on the top bench, and below, in the Assembly.
Prepare for old battles to be refought along the lines of the nanny state, personal responsibility, tight public finances, and whether discrimination is really a problem in Guernsey.
In the weeks after the stalemate tax debate (yes, the GST one) Deputy Peter Ferbrache made clear the need for spending restraint.
He said it would be “very interesting” to see how States members vote on hiking benefit rates – thereby increasing government expenditure in the short term - after choosing, by a majority, to kick deciding a long-term public funding mechanism down the road.
Perhaps those arguments might stick better with other politicians if it were about an inefficient part of the bureaucracy rather than individuals and families living on the breadline. It may also prove hapless against a backdrop where inflation continues to bite all aspects of life deep into 2023, despite optimistic predictions.
But Deputy Ferbrache said he doesn’t trust ESS during the anti-discrimination debate, to a notable chorus of “hear hear’s” around the Assembly, so they will probably be made nonetheless.
As part of the wider anti-discrimination legislation, deputies will be asked by ESS to transfer existing powers, and create new ones, for a civil servant to head up the department dealing with discrimination complaints and ensuring equitable access to work for disabled people.
Debate could take a while, though, as three amendments have been laid by Deputy John Dyke seeking to limit some of these powers, better define others, and place the burden of proof in appeals onto the public sector.
Another debate will be shaped around giving ESS powers to grant businesses cash to help the make the reasonable adjustments to ensure disabled people can access a wide variety of work in companies big and small. The concept of reasonable adjustments caused something of a war last time so this could shape up to be round two.
The meeting will kick off with two update statements from Presidents in cash-hungry committees with wide mandates – it’s Education, Sport & Culture, and Environment & Infrastructure.
And you can bet your bottom dollar for some cameo appearances of the nodding dog question: “Does the President agree with me… x,y,z."
ESC will lay out updates with the transformation of secondary and post-16 education, as well as advanced plans for the big cultural and sporting events of the summer; coronation, liberation, and Island Games. But question time will probably be dominated by queries into the sixth form centre, whether the project is affordable, and if it should take precedence over the hospital.
Likewise E&I will delve into all things coastal defences, biodiversity and transport. But the now much delayed electricity strategy and housing - or lack thereof - will likely make up most of the post-speech scrutiny.
Also prepare for the obligatory and pointless points about noisy vehicle exhausts. The infamous questioning of the bus service from Deputies John Gollop and David de Lisle will likely sandwich that, but things in the CT Plus department appear to be much improved compared to last year, so Deputy de Sausmarez should be able to comfortably ward off most concerns.
The elections and appointments section of the meeting is usually either so empty or so inconsequential it doesn’t bear mentioning. But this time Economic Development are seeking to reappoint the Public Trustee for another term, which could ruffle some feathers given that ongoing saga.
Although since no States members gave a hoot when the first head of the Economic and Financial Crime Bureau was proposed (the one embroiled in an ongoing review for a bungled investigation at the Serious Fraud Office), don’t anticipate too much scrutiny on this one.
New members of the Guernsey Competition and Regulatory Authority will be confirmed, as well as handing the current interim Director of Civil Aviation the role for three years.
Deputies will customarily be asked to nod through legislation that has already been agreed and is now drawn up. One of these is a double taxation agreement with Qatar. Yes!!!!!! Finally!!!!!! Save your Veuve Clicquot until this one gets over the line.
A (hopefully) short debate to provide more flexibility to the retention of jurats will bookend it all. It ought to be the least controversial bit of it all.
With any luck, deputies should be home for tea on Friday evening. Or perhaps a treat in Town – it’s nearly payday after all.
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