Income distribution and income inequality

Published on: 18 April 2017

Question type: Written

Asked by: Montfort Tadier

Reference: WQ,223/2017

Answered by: Chief Minister

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1240/5/1(223)

APPROVED

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHIEF MINISTER BY DEPUTY M. TADIER OF ST. BRELADE

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 18TH APRIL 2017

Question

Would the Chief Minister clarify what was meant when his Assistant Minister (Senator Routier) stated during oral questions in the sitting on 28th March 2017, "I think we all in the Assembly want to ensure that the income distribution is better than what it currently is"? Is the Chief Minister committed to seeing income inequality reduce? If not, why not? What improvements does the Chief Minister wish to see in income distribution?

Answer

Ministers wish to see reduced relative low income.

The Council of Ministers have worked hard to reduce unemployment and to grow our economy, and want the benefits to be shared across our Island.

This is why it is pleasing that unemployment was again reported recently as remaining at a six year low; that less people are solely reliant on benefits; that earnings are rising above inflation, including the minimum wage; and that changes to our tax system are making it more progressive as recently shown in the report on personal taxes. This remains important.

As to benefit budgets, they have been approved by the Assembly, and as far as possible, were designed to support moves towards financial independence, to target benefits more carefully and to minimise the impact on individual households.