States to vote on recession package

Saturday 16th May 2009, 2:59PM BST.

Treasury Minister Philip Ozouf

POLITICIANS will next week vote on whether to back an unprecedented package of measures designed to support Jersey’s economy through the recession.

Last month Treasury Minister Philip Ozouf announced plans to release £44 million from a States account to fund what could be one of the States’ biggest gambles to date.

He has proposed a number of short-term schemes to create and protect jobs in the Island and provide extra support to workers and businesses.

The Senator also outlined plans to earmark £112 million to balance the States budget during 2010 and 2011 to plug a drop in tax revenue and increase in income support payments caused by a decline in the economy.

During the last six weeks States departments have submitted bids to the Treasury for schemes which could be funded by the fiscal stimulus package. If the release of the money is approved by States Members this week, it is hoped that some of the schemes will be launched early next month.

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1
Nellie Macon

May 17, 2009 at 6:17 pm

During the “Sunday Roast” program Senator Ozouf refused to confirm that any of this £44M would not be given to Harcourt or similar companies, only stating that funding would go “where it would be in the best interests of the Island’s economy”. Is it so difficult to say yes or no? We can only infer that the Treasury Department has not ruled this out.

He also stated that it would not be right to only fund “Jersey” companies. I thought this £44M boost to our economy was to keep local people in work – not fund more immigrant labour…..maybe I’ve got the wrong end of the stick once again?

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2
Phil

May 17, 2009 at 6:37 pm

Surely not again- last time the £10M IT fund got wasted by the States on IT projects for the States – now lets waste £44M shall we? The States should be reducing expenditure not increasing it?

When will they or we ever learn, Government always waste and never invest…

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3
Nellie Macon

May 18, 2009 at 9:03 am

Could anyone who was listening to the radio program also clarify for me whether the Senator actually said that as it was unfair for those not on mains sewers to be paying large amounts to have their cesspits emptied, he was looking at charging those on the mains more for this service, to even things up? I’m not sure if I heard this correctly?

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4
Pip Clement

May 18, 2009 at 11:39 am

I think that the CoM and others are very keen on the Esplanade Quarter being built so if they can see their way to some sort of support for the project that would help Harcourt finally secure its financing from the banks they would not be averse to doing so.
Phillip Ozouf is evidently keeping his options open just in case a little ‘pump priming’ is required in my opinion.

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