Making no Allowance for Putting Children First

This was the proposition which was rejected:

This amendment has been lodged alongside our amendments to Stamp Duty, the FirstTime Buyer Loan Scheme, and the Food Cost Bonus, to improve the cost of living within Jersey. By increasing the child allowance for the first time since 2011 (and childcare allowance for the first time since 2017), we will provide help to families dealing with the rising cost of living. 

It is in line with the Government’s strategic priority to “Put Children First”. 

Households with a child under the age of 16 can currently claim a marginal rate exemption increase of £3,000. The additional child allowance available to single parents is £4,500. We propose to increase these amounts to £3,100 and £4,650 respectively. The childcare allowances are available to all parents. Households with children aged between 4–12 can claim “Child Care Tax Relief” up to £6,150. We propose to increase this to £6,350. Parents with children under the age of 4 can claim “Enhanced Child Care Tax Relief” up to £16,000. We propose to increase this to £16,500. Our proposed increases use the same figure of 3.1% that has been applied to increase the personal tax exemption thresholds in the Government Plan.

Voted down!

So much for "putting children first"! Not when the need for an economic squeeze becomes more important.

All that talk about children first is fine when it comes to things like "Children's Day" but when it comes down to real concrete measures, it is just so much hot air.

The Council of Ministers was solid in its opposition to the measure, including the Minister for Children, Sam Mezec who was now putting children second. Only one Assistant Minister broke ranks and showed that he was not a "nodding dog".

A curiosity: the promoter of breastfeeding, Louise Doublet, and the "breastfeeding fad", John Le Bailly, were both against the proposition.

It is interesting to note that Reform voted "en bloc" against the proposal! Meanwhile, the Constables were split, with 6 in favour and 5 against  (one ill) - Gary Burgess take note!!

In favour were independents, not Reform.

Steve Ahier  For (Pour)
Connétable  Simon Crowcroft  For (Pour)
Deputy  Inna Gardiner  For (Pour)
Connétable  Mike Jackson  For (Pour)
Connétable  Sadie Le Sueur-Rennard  For (Pour)
Deputy  Jeremy Maçon  For (Pour)
Connétable  Deidre Mezbourian  For (Pour)
Senator  Kristina Moore  For (Pour)
Deputy  Kirsten Morel  For (Pour)
Senator  Steve Pallett  For (Pour)
Deputy  Kevin Pamplin  For (Pour)
Deputy  Jess Perchard  For (Pour)
Connétable  Karen Shenton-Stone  For (Pour)