Q. What will the candidates do for families who are unable to care for elderly relatives suffering from Alzheimer’s?
A. There is no single solution. We need to develop a range of services from long term continuing care provided in partnership with community, voluntary and private sector organisations to respite care. This requires support from the States in providing training and specialist knowledge .We have the funding mechanism of the long term care fund. As far as possible we need to help families who are able to care for relatives in their homes by providing respite care and support.
Q.Should people over 65 be forced to retire, do the candidates agree the skills of the over 65’s can make an important contribution to our economy.
A. People should not be forced to retire. I am over 65, have worked since 16 in careers in private and public sectors and have plenty of energy , hopefully my skills have matured over the years. We need the Discrimination law to include ageism which is rife. We need to amend pension rules for greater flexibility.
Q. What knowledge and experience do the candidates have which equips them to challenge civil servants and the Treasury Minister, on their policy advice?
A. I was a civil servant for many years and used to providing advice, my experience is most civil servants are helpful and knowledgeable. However as a Deputy I have challenged civil servants at scrutiny and public hearings on policy issues. The Treasury Minister is a special case, it’s difficult to get air time when he is in full flow, but I have persuaded him in budget matters.
Q. What action will the candidates take to support small businesses?
A. Bureaucracy must be reduced, I heard of a recent example of putting a board outside a shop for an event, required parish, and planning, licensing consent. We must try to rationalize. I want to see a review of zero ten taxes. Shareholders in local businesses pay who pay tax on dividends are competing unfairly against off island corporations who trade or provide services here, and pay no tax on profit distributions. I would like social security concessions for start up businesses
Q. What are the candidates views on zero hours contracts, especially in the public sector, i.e. Jersey Telecoms?
A. There is widespread abuse of such contracts including by the public sector. I have raised this in the States and we have been promised legislation to limit their use to appropriate circumstances. Zero hours contracts inhibit economic recovery because people can’t make spending commitments.
Q. Do the candidates consider Ministers should abide by a code of conduct, especially where conflicts arise between senior civil servants and Ministers, as evidenced by the reported comments of the former States CEO on the reasons why he left employment and similar cases?
A. Yes, Ministers should comply and complaints can be made to the States Privileges and Procedures Committee and will be investigated. But this is unsatisfactory and PPC, of which I am a member, proposes to set up an independent disciplinary body. Underlying the question is the problem of conflict and relationship breakdown between an individual minister and top civil servants, of which we have seen too many in recent years at cost and loss of expertise. We need a better mechanism to manage and resolve these matters.
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