"Hard-working families are having to choose between dinner or the doctor"

Wednesday 26 June 2019

Families on the breadline are having to choose between "going to the doctor or having baked beans on toast that evening", according to a Deputy who wants the States to tackle in-work poverty.

Deputies Jennifer Merrett and Chris Green put forward an amendment to the Policy & Resource Plan, which is being debated this week, which would commit the States to a focus on the affordability of primary and emergency care, housing, and the way in which taxation and benefits can help address in-work poverty.

"People who aren’t working may have or indeed do have access to services and healthcare that members of our community who are working would need to dig into any savings they have, if they have any," said Deputy Merrett, a member of the Scrutiny Management Committee.

"These families are making a decision between going to the doctor or having baked beans on toast that evening - it’s as simple as that."

Scrutiny President Chris Green said some of the Deputies who spoke against the amendment were "making a mountain out of a molehill".

"[The purpose of the amendment] is to restore explicit focus on the areas of concern and make it absolutely clear that it is not just the third sector that they [P&R] are going to be working with, but the States committees as well."

Deputy John Gollop was one of those who supported the amendment.

"It is a gesture, but more than that it says we are going to prioritise our resources on real issues. We need to target it on what the public wants and not what we want."

Pictured top inset: Deputy Jennifer Merrett.