States Minutes 10 December 2025

THE STATES assembled on Wednesday 10th December 2025, at 9.30 a.m. under the Presidency of the Bailiff ,

Robert James MacRae , Esquire.

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All members were present at roll call with the exception of –

Connétable Deidre Wendy Mezbourian of St. Lawrence – ill

Connétable Richard Vibert of St. Peter – en défaut

Connétable Karen Shenton-Stone of St. Martin – ill

Deputy Carolyn Fiona Labey of Grouville and St. Martin – en défaut (défaut raised at 9.53 a.m.) Deputy Lyndon John Farnham of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter – en défaut (défaut raised at 9.53 a.m.) Deputy Kristina Louise Moore of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter – en défaut (défaut raised at 9.53 a.m.) Deputy Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf of St. Saviour – suspended

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Prayers

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Standing Order 55A – remote participation

THE STATES, with reference to their Act dated 14th September 2021, in which they had agreed that, notwithstanding Standing Order 55A(1), Members who did not wish to attend in the States Chamber might continue to take part in States meetings using Microsoft Teams (until the States had considered and voted upon a proposition to re-apply Standing Order 55A(1) or to repeal or vary the terms of the Standing Order), assembled in accordance with Standing Order 55A with Members able to participate remotely using Microsoft Teams. The following Members attended remotely, either for all or part of the meeting –

Connétable Richard Anthony Kingston Honeycombe of St. Ouen Deputy Montfort Tadier of St. Brelade

Deputy Max Brennan Andrews of St. Helier North

Documents presented

Office of Financial Services Ombudsman: Intended re-appointment of Chair.  R.174/2025. Presented: 10th December 2025, Minister for Sustainable Economic Development.

Notification of lodged propositions

Proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2026-2029 (P.70/2025): thirty-third amendment  P.70/2025. (P.70/2025 Amd.(33)) – second amendment.  Amd.(33). Arts, Culture and Heritage funding.  Amd.(2). Lodged: 10th December 2025, Minister for Sustainable Economic Development.

Arrangement of Public Business of the Present Meeting

THE STATES noted that, in accordance with Standing Order 34(1), the Connétable of St. Martin had informed the Greffier of the States that her amendment (P.70/2025 Amd.(25)) to the proposition of the Council of Ministers entitled Proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2026-2029' (P.70/2025) had been withdrawn.

Proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2026-2029 P.70/2025

THE STATES, resuming consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers entitled Proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2026-2029' (P.70/2025), as amended, resumed consideration of the amendment of Deputy Karen Margaret Wilson of St. Clement (P.70/2025 Amd.(28)) and rejected part 1 of the amendment that, in paragraph (b)(viii), after the words "in Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report" there should be inserted the words –

", except that in Table 5(i), the Head of Expenditure for the Central Reserve should be decreased by £525,000, to be allocated from the growth bid funding for Assisted Dying, and the head of expenditure for Health and Care Jersey should be increased by £525,000, to be allocated to the funding line for Respite Care".

Members presented voted as follows –

POUR: 9  CONTRE: 31  ABSTAINED: 3

Connétable of Trinity Connétable of St. Ouen Deputy I. Gardiner Deputy I.J. Gorst Deputy K.L. Moore Deputy D.J. Warr Deputy H.M. Miles Deputy R.S. Kovacs Deputy K.M. Wilson

Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of St. John Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Mary Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy G.P. Southern

Deputy C.F. Labey

Deputy M. Tadier

Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat

Deputy S.M. Ahier

Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves

Deputy L.J. Farnham

Deputy S.Y. Mézec

Deputy T.A. Coles

Deputy B.B. de S.V.M. Porée   Deputy M.R. Scott

Deputy J. Renouf

Deputy L.V. Feltham

Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy H.L. Jeune

Deputy M.E. Millar

Deputy A. Howell

Deputy T.J.A. Binet

Deputy M.R. Ferey

Deputy A.F. Curtis

Deputy B. Ward

Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache Deputy C.D. Curtis

THE STATES resumed consideration of the amendment of Deputy Karen Margaret Wilson of St. Clement (P.70/2025 Amd.(28)) and rejected part 2 of the amendment that, in paragraph (b)(xii), after the words "as set in the Appendix to the accompanying Report", there should be inserted the words –

", except that, on page 42, after Table 9, there should be inserted the words "Within the Revenue Head of Expenditure for Health and Care Jersey, the growth funding for Assisted dying' should be removed, with funding for Respite Care increased by £525,000 in 2026, £727,000 in 2027, £688,000 in 2028 and £718,000 in 2029, with any consequential amendments to be reflected as necessary throughout the Budget.".

Members presented voted as follows –

POUR: 8  CONTRE: 32  ABSTAINED: 4

Connétable of Trinity Connétable of St. Clement Deputy I.J. Gorst

Deputy K.L. Moore Deputy D.J. Warr

Deputy H.M. Miles Deputy R.S. Kovacs Deputy K.M. Wilson

Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of St. John Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of St. Mary Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy G.P. Southern

Deputy C.F. Labey

Deputy M. Tadier

Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy K.F. Morel

Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat

Deputy S.M. Ahier

Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves

Deputy L.J. Farnham

Deputy S.Y. Mézec

Deputy T.A. Coles

Deputy B.B. de S.V.M. Porée   Deputy M.R. Scott

Deputy J. Renouf

Deputy L.V. Feltham

Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy H.L. Jeune

Deputy M.E. Millar

Deputy A. Howell

Deputy T.J.A. Binet

Deputy M.R. Ferey

Deputy A.F. Curtis

Deputy B. Ward

Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson Deputy M.B. Andrews

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy I. Gardiner Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache Deputy C.D. Curtis

THE STATES noted that, in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 106, Deputy Louise Mary Catherine Doublet of St. Saviour declared an interest in the subject of the amendment of Deputy Karen Margaret Wilson of St. Clement , in that she was Chair of the Assisted Dying Review Panel, and withdrew from the Chamber for the duration of the debate on the proposition.

THE STATES, resumed consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers, as amended, and rejected an amendment of Deputy Inna Gardiner of St. Helier North (P.70/2025 Amd.(27)) that –

in paragraph (b)(viii), after the words "in Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report" there should be inserted the words –

", except that in Table 5(i), the revenue head of expenditure for the Ministry of External Relations should be decreased by £137,000, to be allocated from the funding line entitled Investment in Competitiveness, and the head of expenditure for Education and Lifelong Learning should be increased by £137,000, to be allocated to the funding line for Nursery 2–3-year-olds"; and

in paragraph (b)(xii), after the words "in the Appendix to the accompanying report" insert the words –

", except that on page 42, in Table 9 – Revenue Heads of Expenditure, the revenue head of expenditure for the Ministry of External Relations should be decreased by £137,000 for each of 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029, to be allocated from the funding line entitled  Investment in competitiveness, and the head of expenditure for Education and Lifelong Learning should be increased by £137,000 for each of 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029, to be allocated to the funding line for Nursery 2-3-year-olds, with any consequential amendments to be reflected as necessary throughout the Budget.".

Members presented voted as follows –

POUR: 10  CONTRE: 30  ABSTAINED: 2

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy I. Gardiner Deputy K.L. Moore Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache Deputy D.J. Warr

Deputy H.M. Miles Deputy J. Renouf

Deputy H.L. Jeune Deputy K.M. Wilson Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson

Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of St. John Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy G.P. Southern

Deputy M. Tadier

Deputy K.F. Morel

Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat

Deputy S.M. Ahier

Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves

Deputy I.J. Gorst

Deputy L.J. Farnham

Deputy S.Y. Mézec

Deputy T.A. Coles

Deputy B.B. de S.V.M. Porée   Deputy C.D. Curtis

Deputy L.V. Feltham

Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy M.E. Millar

Deputy A. Howell

Deputy T.J.A. Binet

Deputy M.R. Ferey

Deputy R.S. Kovacs

Deputy A.F. Curtis

Deputy B. Ward

Deputy M.B. Andrews

Deputy C.F. Labey Deputy M.R. Scott

THE STATES noted that, in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 106, Deputy Lucy Kate Frances Stephenson of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter declared an interest in the subject of the amendment of Deputy Inna Gardiner of St. Helier North , in that she had a young child.

THE STATES, resumed consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers, as amended, and rejected an amendment of Deputy Raluca Kovacs of St. Saviour (P.70/2025 Amd.) that, in paragraph (b)(viii), after the words "Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report" there should be inserted the words –

", except that, in Summary Table 5(ii), under the heading "Feasibility", there should be inserted a new Head of Expenditure entitled "Development Levies Feasibility Study" with an allocation of £100,000 to the 2026 estimate.".

Members presented voted as follows –

POUR: 15  CONTRE: 27  ABSTAINED: 0

Deputy G.P. Southern Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves

Deputy I. Gardiner

Deputy S.Y. Mézec

Deputy T.A. Coles

Deputy B.B. de S.V.M. Porée Deputy D.J. Warr

Deputy H.M. Miles

Deputy J. Renouf

Deputy C.D. Curtis

Deputy L.V. Feltham

Deputy H.L. Jeune

Deputy R.S. Kovacs

Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of Trinity Connétable of St. John Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy C.F. Labey Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy K.F. Morel Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat Deputy S.M. Ahier Deputy I.J. Gorst

Deputy L.J. Farnham Deputy K.L. Moore Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache Deputy M.R. Scott Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy M.E. Millar Deputy A. Howell

Deputy T.J.A. Binet Deputy M.R. Ferey Deputy A.F. Curtis Deputy B. Ward

Deputy K.M. Wilson Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson Deputy M.B. Andrews

THE STATES, resumed consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers, as amended, and rejected an amendment of Deputy Karen Margaret Wilson of St. Clement (P.70/2025 Amd.(29)) that –

in paragraph (b)(viii), after the words "Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report", there should be inserted the words –

", except that in Summary Table 5(ii), the 2026 Estimate for the line Fort Regent Redevelopment should be reduced by £4,500,000, and the 2026 Estimate for the line Le Squez should be increased by £4,500,000"; and

in paragraph (b)(xii), after the words "Appendix to the accompanying Report", there should be inserted the words –

", except that on page 56 in Table 20 – Estates the lines entitled Le Squez and Fort Regent Redevelopment should be substituted with the following –

Members presented voted as follows –

POUR: 14  CONTRE: 29

Connétable of St. Clement   Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of St. Ouen   Connétable of St. Brelade Deputy M. Tadier   Connétable of Trinity

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet   Connétable of St. John

Deputy I. Gardiner   Connétable of Grouville

Deputy T.A. Coles   Connétable of St. Mary

Deputy D.J. Warr   Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy H.M. Miles   Deputy G.P. Southern

Deputy J. Renouf   Deputy C.F. Labey

Deputy C.D. Curtis   Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy H.L. Jeune   Deputy K.F. Morel

Deputy B. Ward   Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat

Deputy K.M. Wilson   Deputy S.M. Ahier

Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson   Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves

Deputy I.J. Gorst

Deputy L.J. Farnham

Deputy K.L. Moore

Deputy S.Y. Mézec

Deputy B.B. de S.V.M. Porée   Deputy M.R. Scott

Deputy L.V. Feltham

Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy A. Howell

Deputy T.J.A. Binet

Deputy M.R. Ferey

Deputy R.S. Kovacs

Deputy A.F. Curtis

Deputy M.B. Andrews

ABSTAINED: 1

Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache

THE STATES resumed consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers, as amended, and, adopting an amendment of Deputy Inna Gardiner of St. Helier North (P.70/2025 Amd.(21)), agreed that –

in paragraph (b)(viii), after the words "Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report", there should be inserted the words –

", except that in Summary Table 5(ii) there should be inserted a new row entitled "Neighbourhood Regeneration of St. Helier " with an allocation of £167,000 to each of 2026, 2027 and 2028, and a corresponding decrease for each year to the row titled Infrastructure Rolling Vote and Public Realm"; and

in paragraph (b)(xii), after the words "in the Appendix to the accompanying report" there should be inserted the words –

", except that –

1. on page 60, after the words "to revitalise St. Helier ." there should be inserted a new paragraph as follows –

"The Budget allocates £167,000 in each of 2026, 2027 and 2028 to provide funding for the specific regeneration of St. Helier Neighbourhoods, as previously agreed within the Amendment to the 23rd Amendment to the Proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2025- 2028."; and

2. on page 60, in Table 25 – Infrastructure, there should be inserted a new row entitled "Neighbourhood Regeneration of St. Helier " with an allocation of £167,000 to each of 2026, 2027 and 2028, and a corresponding decrease for each year to the row entitled Infrastructure Rolling Vote and Public Realm".".

Members presented voted as follows –

POUR: 42  CONTRE: 0  ABSTAINED: 0

Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of Trinity Connétable of St. John Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of St. Mary Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy G.P. Southern Deputy C.F. Labey

Deputy M. Tadier

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy K.F. Morel

Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat Deputy S.M. Ahier

Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves

Deputy I. Gardiner

Deputy I.J. Gorst

Deputy L.J. Farnham

Deputy K.L. Moore

Deputy S.Y. Mézec

Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache Deputy T.A. Coles

Deputy B.B. de S.V.M. Porée Deputy D.J. Warr

Deputy M.R. Scott

Deputy J. Renouf

Deputy C.D. Curtis

Deputy L.V. Feltham

Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy H.L. Jeune

Deputy M.E. Millar Deputy T.J.A. Binet Deputy M.R. Ferey Deputy R.S. Kovacs Deputy A.F. Curtis Deputy B. Ward

Deputy K.M. Wilson Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson Deputy M.B. Andrews

THE STATES, resuming consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers, as amended, commenced  consideration  of  an  amendment  of   Deputy  Thomas  Antony   Coles  of  St.  Helier  South (P.70/2025 Amd.(5)), and, adopting an amendment of Deputy Thomas Antony Coles of St. Helier South (P.70/2025 Amd.(5).Amd.), agreed that, in paragraph 1, after the words "as defined within" there should be inserted the words "Schedules 1A and 1B of"; after the words "should be removed", there should be inserted the words "from 1st January 2027"; in paragraph 2, after the words "as defined within", there should be inserted the words "Schedule 1C of"; and, after the words "should be removed", there should be inserted the words "from 1st January 2027".

THE STATES rejected part 1 of the amendment of Deputy Thomas Antony Coles of St. Helier South , as amended, that, after paragraph b(xi), there should be inserted a new paragraph b(xii) –

"b(xii) to agree that the upper earnings limit, as defined within Schedules 1A and 1B of the Social

Security (Jersey) Law 1974, should be removed from 1st January 2027, abolishing the upper earnings cap on Social Security Contributions and increasing the closing balance of the relevant funds by £6,000,000."

and the existing paragraphs should be redesignated accordingly.

Members presented voted as follows –

POUR: 13  CONTRE: 30  ABSTAINED: 1 Deputy G.P. Southern   Connétable of St. Helier   Deputy J. Renouf

Deputy M. Tadier   Connétable of St. Brelade

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet   Connétable of Trinity

Deputy R.J. Ward   Connétable of St. John

Deputy C.S. Alves   Connétable of St. Clement

Deputy S.Y. Mézec   Connétable of Grouville

Deputy T.A. Coles   Connétable of St. Ouen

Deputy B.B. de S.V.M. Porée   Connétable of St. Mary

Deputy C.D. Curtis   Connétable of St. Saviour

Deputy L.V. Feltham   Deputy C.F. Labey

Deputy H.L. Jeune   Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy R.S. Kovacs   Deputy K.F. Morel

Deputy M.B. Andrews   Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat

Deputy S.M. Ahier

Deputy I. Gardiner

Deputy I.J. Gorst

Deputy L.J. Farnham

Deputy K.L. Moore

Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache

Deputy D.J. Warr

Deputy H.M. Miles

Deputy M.R. Scott

Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy M.E. Millar Deputy A. Howell Deputy T.J.A. Binet Deputy M.R. Ferey Deputy A.F. Curtis Deputy B. Ward Deputy K.M. Wilson

THE STATES rejected part 2 of the amendment of Deputy Thomas Antony Coles of St. Helier South , as amended, that, after paragraph b(xi), there should be inserted a new paragraph b(xii) –

"b(xii) to agree that the upper earnings limit, as defined within Schedule 1C of the Social Security

(Jersey) Law 1974, should be removed from 1st January 2027, abolishing the upper earnings cap on Long Term Care Contributions and increasing the closing balance of the relevant funds by £11,000,000."

and the existing paragraphs should be redesignated accordingly.

Members presented voted as follows –

POUR: 16  CONTRE: 28  ABSTAINED: 0

Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy G.P. Southern Deputy M. Tadier

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves

Deputy S.Y. Mézec

Deputy T.A. Coles

Deputy B.B. de S.V.M. Porée Deputy J. Renouf

Deputy C.D. Curtis

Deputy L.V. Feltham

Deputy H.L. Jeune

Deputy R.S. Kovacs

Deputy A.F. Curtis

Deputy M.B. Andrews

Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of Trinity Connétable of St. John Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of St. Mary Deputy C.F. Labey Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy K.F. Morel Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat Deputy S.M. Ahier Deputy I. Gardiner Deputy I.J. Gorst

Deputy L.J. Farnham Deputy K.L. Moore Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache Deputy D.J. Warr

Deputy H.M. Miles Deputy M.R. Scott Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy M.E. Millar Deputy A. Howell

Deputy T.J.A. Binet Deputy M.R. Ferey Deputy B. Ward

Deputy K.M. Wilson

Adjournment

THE STATES, adopting a proposition of Deputy Inna Gardiner , agreed to adjourn and to reconvene on Thursday 11th December 2025 in order to continue consideration of the proposition of the Council of Ministers entitled Proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2026-2029' (P.70/2025), as amended, and the other outstanding items of public business.

Members presented voted as follows –

POUR: 25  CONTRE: 17  ABSTAINED: 0

Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of Trinity Connétable of St. John Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy G.P. Southern Deputy M. Tadier

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves

Deputy I. Gardiner

Deputy L.J. Farnham Deputy K.L. Moore

Deputy S.Y. Mézec

Deputy B.B.de S.V.M. Porée Deputy D.J. Warr

Deputy H.M. Miles

Deputy J. Renouf

Deputy C.D. Curtis

Deputy L.V. Feltham Deputy R.S. Kovacs

Deputy B. Ward

Deputy K.M. Wilson

Connétable of St. Mary Deputy C.F. Labey Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy K.F. Morel Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat Deputy S.M. Ahier Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache Deputy T.A. Coles Deputy M.R. Scott Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy H.L. Jeune Deputy M.E. Millar Deputy A. Howell

Deputy T.J.A. Binet Deputy M.R. Ferey Deputy A.F. Curtis Deputy M.B. Andrews

THE STATES rose at 5.21 p.m.

L.-M. HART Greffier of the States