The senior committee was asked to include a clearer commitment to increasing the size of the island’s economy in a draft Government Work Plan which was published last week.
‘We made clear representations that economic development and growth should feature more prominently in the Government Work Plan, including as a super priority,’ said Economic Development president Sasha Kazantseva-Miller.
She said that P&R subsequently amended the plan and accepted that some of the intended actions in it would support economic development. But the five super priorities setting out the most pressing work for the rest of the political term will include increasing economic activity only if it is added by amendment when the plan is debated by the States Assembly next month.
Economic Development member Deputy Haley Camp said on social media that it contained ‘no real economic growth strategy’.
After taking inflation into account, the size of the economy per person actually shrank between 2017 and 2023, the last year for which figures are available, and living standards have suffered.
Listen to a full interview with P&R president Lindsay de Sausmarez on the latest Guernsey Press Politics Podcast
P&R president Lindsay de Sausmarez insisted that the economy and living standards were ‘a big focus’ for her committee and would be improved by achieving its super priorities – tax reform, housing at Leale’s Yard, a new model of healthcare, more focus on early years and families, and redesigning the harbours.
‘This is what investment in economic growth looks like. These are the nuts and bolts of what government can do to stimulate economic growth,’ said Deputy de Sausmarez, speaking on the latest edition of the Guernsey Press Politics Podcast.
‘I am interested to hear ideas about investing in economic growth if it’s not investing in our infrastructure and regeneration and looking at workforce participation and things like that. What are the nuts and bolts, if not these? It’s all about sustainable economic growth.
‘None of this precludes committees from going about their everyday business and we have an entire committee whose single focus is the economic development of the islands.’
The plan also contains more than 50 specific items of work which committees intend to undertake during the 2025-29 political term.
They include productivity and participation in the workplace and an economic development strategy, both of which have been scheduled for the first and second half of the term.
‘We believe it is essential that a clear, longer-term economic strategy is developed and progressed, and this will be a key focus of the Economic Development Committee’s work,’ said Deputy Kazantseva-Miller.
‘While it has not been designated as a super priority, this work is reflected early within the “Empowered Economy” theme under the “Foundations for the Future” pillar.
‘The committee will progress this work early next year, with further consideration to be given to timing and publication as the strategy develops.’