Q. What are the candidate’s views on the 2015 Budget and the criticisms in the Scrutiny Report?

A. The budget departs from financial prudence and requires the improvement in management systems. The new States should require a special audit and review tax and spending policies for the future.  I did not support the capital spend other than on housing and minor projects. The hospital should be alternatively financed

Q. Is it right for doctors to charge high fees to OAP’s?

A. Some GP’s are locked into high rental premises.  I want to see States health centres in the east and west to reduce their overhead costs. We need to fund more primary health care. The present situation is wrong and we have to correct it

Q. Do the candidates believe there are too many public sector workers?

A. We have to reduce layers of management, corporate management departments and reduce overheads. I want to protect front line staff especially in health and education.

Q. How do candidates defend the position of the new police HQ?

A. In my submissions to the Planning Minister, and scrutiny report, I opposed this project because of damage to neighbours amenities, loss of car parking, excessive scale and height and traffic impact. It is too late now to halt this project.

Q. Do the candidates support the Fort Regent development for sports, tourism and 50 metre pool?

A. Fort Regent is a fantastic opportunity. In its heyday we all loved it and need to see it brought to a new life.  I fully support its regeneration for sports and tourism.  I will support a 50 metre pool if it is convertible to two 25 metre pools for leisure use. I have reservations about allocating the pool site to a hotel.

Q. What is the candidates interpretation of the States rejecting the referendum result.

A.  I was one of those members who voted against. I did so because confusing options were put to the public and I did not think there was a clear enough outcome to mandate the change

 Q Disabled people , does Jersey do enough ?

A – No, Disabled Discrimination act absent, benefits are means tested – should be needs based. We have made progress with disabled children but more needs to be done for adults.

Q Housing – What safeguards are there to prevent rent levels set by States housing Andium driving up private rentals?

A- None, rental housing is set by supply and demand. The poor state of the housing market has increased demand for rental homes. The social security rates have been increased  to pay the increased  90% open market rental  rate set by Andium . There is no rent control, but if introduced this would have adverse effects. The only answer is to increase supply.

Q Should Constables automatically sit in the States?

A-The parishes are the cornerstone of Jersey’s community. We must strengthen their role and delegate more powers from the States, in areas such as primary health care. The constables have a separate role as parish head. I prefer they are first elected as Constable and can be put forward later by the parish for election to the States.

 Q How does making people unemployed help the economy?

A- It doesn’t. Losing ones job is a personal disaster, I know from personal experience.  The recessional pressures mean that employers have had to shed staff as a last resource to survive a fall in earnings. Good firms do their best to provide exit packages and help the displaced employee get another job, but bad employers don’t.    

Q. Priorities for Education

A- Vocational Education, for jobs. The new Education Director should be given his head to make changes to update our service.

Q. Zero Hours Contracts

A. Abuse is widespread. I have raised this in the States and pressed for changes to Employment Law. They work well in the right circumstances like short-term absence cover. But when used for regular work, they provide no job security, no commitment, no holiday or sick pay and result in uncertainty of income . They have inhibited the recovery from the recession, because people cant make spending commitments

The Senatorial hustings go east tonight at 730 pm at Grouville Parish Hall

On BBC Radio Jersey today at 10 am this Sunday morning , I am one of four Senatorial candidates given air time to make our case for one of your votes

Please listen in or listen again , it should be interesting

The hustings start here !

John

Please keep a close eye here for regular updates on my 2014 Senatorial election campaign.I will be posting comment after each hustings on the issues raised