‘Wrong-headed decision not to boost benefits’ says ESS president
Households in Guernsey will be put ‘on the edge’ by States members’ refusal yesterday to approve a one-off, temporary increase in benefits.
That was the assessment of Employment & Social Security president Peter Roffey after his committee’s proposals to put pensions, income support, carer’s allowance and other benefits up temporarily by 2.9% were voted down by the barest of margins.
The result of the vote was 18-18 with one abstention and three absentees. Under the rules of procedure in the Assembly, this meant the vote was lost.
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‘Frankly, I’m gutted,’ he said, ‘not so much on my committee’s behalf but on behalf of all of those people for whom life is incredibly difficult at the moment. I think it’s a very wrong-headed decision.’
The increase was intended to reflect unusually high inflation over the last 18 months. Pensions and benefits were last uprated in January, by 7%, and will again be increased next January, in accordance with a previously agreed formula based on RPIX and median earnings.
However, Deputy Roffey said the sharp rises in prices were being felt now and January was still a long way off.
‘I do worry that it’s going to put quite a few households on the edge,’ he said.
