Big decisions that brought four years to a conclusion

SO THIS is it. The last in our series of rounding up key recorded votes of this term.

And what an end it was.

Having for most of the four years ticked along, even at times wading through treacle, the States packed key decisions into the last couple of months and was faced with accusations of rushing to a conclusion. Suddenly island-wide voting was on, despite having already rejected the exact same option earlier, increased social insurance contributions seemed to go through under the radar and then there was the 11-plus debate, which has left the threat of a school closure dangling over this election.

In the last four years there have been a few highs, but there have been far too many costly lows.

To some members we say a final goodbye, to others a la perchoine.

Tomorrow, the electorate will set the course for the next four years.

Reciprocal health agreement –January 2016

EVER since Health and Social Services decided it did not want to shell out for a reciprocal health agreement there has been a clamour for another deal to be struck.

A Jan Kuttelwascher requete aimed to do just that, using money from the tourism budget. It received a furious response from Commerce and Employment and a series of warnings that an RHA did not cover anything like what people thought it would. There remains the problem of older people and those with health conditions being unable to get travel insurance, therefore being landlocked, but there is already work going on to provide a States-backed insurance scheme.

How they voted on the requete calling for the introduction of a reciprocal health agreement with the UK at the earliest opportunity:

For: Deputies Wilkie, De Lisle, Inglis, Kuttelwascher, Gollop, Sherbourne, Conder, Lester Queripel, Le Pelley, Laurie Queripel, Lowe and Alderney representatives Jean and McKinley. 13

Against: Deputies Perrot, Brouard, Burford, Soulsby, Sillars, Luxon, O'Hara, Quin, Hadley, Harwood, Brehaut, Domaille, Langlois, R. Jones, Le Clerc, Parkinson, Bebb, St Pier, Stewart, Gillson, Trott, Fallaize, Le Lievre, Spruce, Collins, Duquemin, Green, Dorey, Paint, Le Tocq, James, Adam. 32

Absent: Deputies Ogier and D. Jones.

Island-wide voting – February 2016

There were two key votes on island-wide in February that brought the States to where it is today. Deputy Arrun Wilkie ignited the issue with a requete calling for a hybrid system. That provided a platform for the Deputy Peter Gillson amendment to introduce island-wide for all deputies for the 2020 election – that is the same Deputy Gillson who voted against the system when it was an option earlier this term. Then members very narrowly backed a Deputy Matt Fallaize amendment to make that dependent on a positive result from a referendum – there was considerable concern about the costs.

How they voted on the Gillson amendment to have full island-wide voting for the next general election:

For: Deputies Soulsby, Sillars, Luxon, Hadley, Harwood, Kuttelwascher, Le Clerc, Gollop, Sherbourne, Lester Queripel, St Pier, Stewart, Gillson, Trott, Fallaize, Lowe, Spruce, Collins, Duquemin, Green, Le Tocq, James, Adam, Burford, Inglis and Alderney representative McKinley. 26

Against: Deputies O'Hara, Quin, Brehaut, Domaille, Langlois, R. Jones, Conder, Parkinson, Bebb, Ogier, Dorey, Paint, Le Lievre, Perrot, Brouard, Wilkie, De Lisle and Alderney representative Jean. 18.

Absent: Deputies Le Pelley, D. Jones, Laurie Queripel.

How they voted on the Fallaize amendment to introduce full island-wide voting if there is a positive result in a referendum:

For: Deputies Soulsby, O'Hara, Harwood, Brehaut, Domaille, Langlois, R. Jones, Sherbourne, Conder, Parkinson, Bebb, Ogier, Fallaize, Le Lievre, Green, Dorey, Paint, Adam, Brouard, Wilkie, De Lisle, Burford. 22

Against: Deputies Sillars, Luxon, Quin, Hadley, Kuttelwascher, Le Clerc, Gollop, Lester Queripel, St Pier, Stewart, Gillson, Trott, Lowe, Spruce, Collins, Le Tocq, James, Perrot, Inglis and Alderney representatives Jean and McKinley. 21

Absent: Le Pelley, D. Jones, Laurie Queripel, Duquemin.

Supported Living and Ageing Well Strategy

The Supported Living and Ageing Well Strategy was a major strategic piece of work to find ways to fund care costs for Guernsey's ageing population. The most controversial subject was the idea that someone might have to sell their home to help fund their long-term care. While there is no hard decision on the topic, members easily voted to keep that option, which in reality would mean including capital assets in any means testing of benefits associated with care, under review. Personal contributions will rise by at least 0.5% from January after only seven members – deputies Kuttelwascher, Lester Queripel, St Pier, Spruce, Adam, Perrot and De Lisle – voted against the idea.

How they voted on whether the inclusion of capital assets in any means testing of benefits associated with the provision of long-term care should be kept under review:

For: Deputies Hadley, Harwood, Brehaut, Langlois, R. Jones, Le Clerc, Gollop, Sherbourne, Conder, Parkinson, St Pier, Stewart, Gillson, Le Pelley, Ogier, Fallaize, Le Lievre, Duquemin, Green, Le Tocq, James, Adam, Perrot, Brouard, Wilkie, De Lisle, Inglis. 27.

Against: Deputies Soulsby, Sillars, Luxon, O'Hara, Quin, Kuttelwascher, Domaille, Lester Queripel, Trott, Laurie Queripel, Lowe, Spruce, Collins, Dorey, Paint and Alderney representatives Jean and McKinley. 17

Absent: Deputies Bebb, D. Jones, Burford.

Secondary education – March 2016

It was a hugely controversial way to end this term. Finally Education came out with its plans for ending selection and rebuilding La Mare de Carteret. In doing so, on selection it had gone against the majority view of the public in its survey, which had backed retaining some form.

The department won the selection debate, with members rejecting an option to replace the 11-plus with an improved method, but lost out on the plans for La Mare with members backing a Treasury move to review closing one of the secondary schools. This is not the end of a debate which has been prominent during the election. Education's successor is set to come back with three- and four-school models for comparison. It remains to be seen if the electorate's views on selection will spark another debate there too.

How they voted on scrapping the 11-plus:

For: Deputies Harwood, Brehaut, R. Jones, Le Clerc, Sherbourne, Conder, Parkinson, Bebb, Lester Queripel, St Pier, Stewart, Gillson, Ogier, Fallaize, Laurie Queripel, Le Lievre, Collins, Duquemin, Green, Le Tocq, Adam, Wilkie, Burford, Sillars, O'Hara, Hadley. 26.

Against: Deputies Kuttelwascher, Domaille, Langlois, Gollop, Trott, D. Jones, Lowe, Spruce, Dorey, Paint, James, Perrot, Brouard, De Lisle, Inglis, Soulsby, Luxon, Quin and Alderney representatives Jean and McKinley. 20.

Abstained: Deputy Le Pelley.

How they voted on closing a secondary school:

For: Deputies Harwood, Kuttelwascher, Brehaut, Domaille, Langlois, R. Jones, Le Clerc, Bebb, St Pier, Stewart, Gillson, Le Pelley, Ogier, Fallaize, Le Lievre, Spruce, Duquemin, Dorey, Le Tocq, James, Adam, Perrot, Inglis, Soulsby, Luxon, Quin. 26.

Against: Deputies Gollop, Sherbourne, Conder, Parkinson, Lester Queripel, Trott, D. Jones, Laurie Queripel, Lowe, Collins, Green, Paint, Brouard, Wilkie, De Lisle, Burford, Sillars, O'Hara, Hadley. 19

Absent: Alderney representatives Jean and McKinley.