A CHARGE of over £14 for a major States report on the future of the Island’s government has been scrapped.

The States Greffe bookshop was charging £14.45 to provide a copy of the Strategic Aims Report and discussion document published by the Policy and Resources Committee on 30 December last year.The document was hailed as important, as, drawing on sources including the Imagine Jersey public consultation, it contains the raw material on which a strategic plan for the future of the States will be drawn.

P & R president Senator Frank Walker said when the document was published he wanted as many people as possible to participate in the process and to read the Strategic Aims report.Although the report, RC55/2003, was available free of charge on the internet, the Jersey Evening Post pointed out to P & R chief executive Bill Ogley that a hard copy from the States Greffe bookshop cost £14.45 and could mean some people would not be able to participate in the debate as a result of the relatively high cost.Mr Ogley confirmed that he had instructed the States Greffe to scrap the charge as a result of the comments from the JEP.A States Greffe spokesman said the document was now being distributed free of charge at the bookshop in Morier House.It is not known at this stage whether those who have paid for the report will be reimbursed.