In the States...

Tuesday 16 July 2019

Major changes to the Island Development Plan, finding an alternative to fuel duty and the future of overseas aid are all up for debate, starting from today.

This week's States meeting is the last before the summer recess and will begin with personal statements by Deputies Richard Graham and Rob Prow, who resigned from Home Affairs last month following a damning governance report.

Their former President Mary Lowe will then give an update on Home Affairs' work - which could lead to questions about her committee's future. 

Separately, there will be updates from the President of HSC and by P&R on the extension of the Bailwick's territorial seas. 

Deputy Charles Parkinson. 

This will be followed by question time, during which Economic Development President Charles Parkinson will express his anger at his colleagues on the STSB for putting No 2, Cornet Street up for sale when his committee wanted to use the States-owned building for a dedicated Victor Hugo centre.

Deputy John Gollop will ask Sacc about electronic voting for members in the Assembly, the possibility of broadcasting proceedings and funding for general training into good committee management and corporate governance practice.

The debate will then turn to the taxation of motoring, which has seen proposals for a distance-based charging system or, alternatively, a return to motor tax. 

Another issue likely to generate lengthy discussion is a requete that seeks major changes to the IDP in order to address issues in the system before the end of the States term. 

Long-term funding objectives for Overseas Aid will also be discussed as the States looks to set a strategy for the next ten years. 

The final proposal to be debated will be moving the May Day Bank Holiday on Monday 4 May 2020 to Friday 8 May in order to create a longer Liberation weekend, since the 75th anniversary falls on a Saturday. 

Once that has been approved, P&R will set out its proposed schedule for the first States debate back on 4 September, when the future of secondary and post-16 education is expected to go before the States.