BUDGET cuts of £116m over five years would lead to failing States services which would affect every Islander, says Home Affairs Minister Wendy Kinnard.

This morning the States continued discussing a Business Plan amendment to cut £12m from next year’s spending plans, and a total of £116m over the next five years. But Senator Wendy Kinnard says that the amendment by the Public Accounts Committee is over the top. It would lead, she warned, to failing services both in her own areas and the wider public sector. ‘This would have a potential detrimental effect on the community we represent,’ she told the House yesterday. ‘I have one failing service at the prison. If I had to cut other services I would end up with a series of failing services, not just one. Customs are teetering on the brink themselves. We are doing everything we can to keep this ship afloat, but it won’t take much to make other services suffer in the same way that the prison is suffering.’ She said that more than 80% of the Home Affairs budget – which covers police, fire service, ambulance, the prison and Customs – was made up of staff costs and that she could not just lay people off at the drop of a hat.