Single political lead needed for children and families – St Pier
GUERNSEY’S children and young people would benefit from having their interests championed by a politician dedicated to representing them.
That was the conclusion of the deputy who successfully moved to have the island’s Children & Young People’s Plan debated in the States on Friday.
Deputy Gavin St Pier suggested the change could be incorporated into the new machinery of government proposals, which are due in the next few months.
‘It does strike me that the potential need within our system of government for there to be a single political lead for children and families is perhaps captured well by this plan,’ he said.
As he worked through the plan, picking out areas of particular interest, he also referred to an email sent to all deputies from the Bright Beginnings charity, which he said had indicated it would need to move to a commissioning model with the States in order to continue its work.
Several deputies took the opportunity to contribute to an unplanned debate, which only went ahead after they backed an amendment from Deputy St Pier to have that discussion.
Deputy John Gollop reminded members that commitment to the plan would have to be matched by a commitment to fund it. ‘If we want all of this done, there’s a cost to it,’ he said.
Echoing this, Home Affairs president Deputy Rob Prow said many aspects of the plan would require work from his committee but there was very limited capacity to carry out the work.
Members had to ‘wake up and smell the coffee’ as regards its deliverability, he said.
Deputy St Pier also echoed this when pointing out that the plan included a commitment to fund Activ8 in secondary schools until 2030, which would have to come out of general revenue as it was being deprioritised by Education, Sport & Culture.
Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez highlighted the importance of keeping children active, with 27% of Year 5 children being identified as having a ‘raised weight status’.
She also stressed the importance of tackling the increasing prevalence of pornography and noted the effects on attitudes towards many of the young people on which the report focussed.
Alderney representative Steve Roberts, who has previously spoken in the Assembly about his own traumatic experiences in childhood, said he was reassured by the emphasis in the plan on protection for young people.
All 32 deputies present at the conclusion of the debate duly voted to note the report.
