An amendment presented yesterday by former States treasury lead Mark Helyar, but conceived by Deputy Andy Sloan, who was absent from the Chamber on a family matter, was a softer version of Deputy Sloan’s attempt to cut spending in real terms, which he had laid in last year’s Budget debate. It was supported by 15 votes to 12, with seven abstentions.
Deputy Helyar said the amendment’s aim was to ‘establish a presumption that increases in expenditure should, over the medium term, be funded through re-prioritisation and efficiency, rather than by increasing the overall size of government in real terms’.
Watch: Matt Fallaize spoke to Deputy Mark Helyar after the vote
‘Really, it is quite straightforward. We need to demonstrate to the public that we can exercise restraint in growth, and that’s what this amendment seeks to do,’ he said.
The Policy & Resources Committee said it did not oppose the move in principle, but all committees are now faced with the imminent prospect of making significant cuts or efficiencies. The proposal included the prospect of efficiencies needing to be found from States committees delivering both health services and pensions and benefits.
The amendment will have to be confirmed when the States meets again at the end of September and eventually votes on all P&R’s tax reform proposals.
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