Tax reform: ‘Increase social security instead’

Tuesday 13th July 2004, 12:00AM BST.

THE Island’s tourism industry is lobbying for a four per cent rise in social security payments instead of a goods and services tax.

The increase would be staged over four years, with half paid by the employer and half by the employee.

Tourism say it would bring in £50 million in revenue and require no extra public sector staff.

The Jersey Hospitality Association (JHA) and the Tourism Board have already put their views to the Policy & Resources, Finance, and Social Security committees and the JHA is now polling its members.

The Finance Committee are currently researching alternatives to a goods and services or sales tax – which nevertheless remains their preferred option – and are due to report back to the States early next year.

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