Currently, States rules mean that each member can speak for 15 minutes on each amendment. The member proposing an amendment can speak for 15 minutes when laying an amendment and 15 minutes when wrapping up before a vote is taken.
Forward Guernsey member Deputy Sally Rochester said the motion proposes that speeches should be limited to five minutes for the proposer to open and seven-and-a-half minutes to close. Other speakers would get five minutes.
‘We believe this will provide ample opportunity for arguments on each amendment to be clearly and fully set out, while helping the debate to progress efficiently and recognising the Assembly’s wider obligation to progress other matters of government business in a timely manner,’ she said.
Party member Tom Rylatt said it was in the island’s interests for the States to reach a decision on tax and spending next week.
‘We are faced with an exceptional situation with a debate that has already taken three days in July and is now facing up to 40 amendments still to be debated,’ he said.
‘The whole States has a responsibility to ensure that we reach a decision, so we hope that our motion is supported.’
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