NET migration will need to hit zero to achieve a ‘stable and sustainable’ population, according to the Chief Minister.
The government’s common population policy, which was published last month, stated that one of its aims was to achieve a stable and sustainable population ‘for future generations’.
This prompted Deputy Steve Ahier to ask Senator John Le Fondré, at a Migration and Population Review Panel hearing yesterday, whether that meant that, at some stage, Jersey would have to achieve net-zero migration. ‘Net zero’ means that as many people leave the Island as come into it.
Senator Le Fondré said he believed that this would need to be achieved eventually but that it would be a matter for future ministers to address.
‘I think in the longer term, yes. But that is a long-term goal. The analogy I would use is if I’m sailing out of St Helier Harbour to go to St Aubin Harbour, my long-term goal is to get to St Aubin Harbour,’ he said.
‘But my course will change according to what the wind does and how it shifts. Your objective is always to get to that point and I’m sure there will be challenges. There will be reasons to have temporary course changes as you go across that route.’
The Chief Minister recently lodged proposals calling for the introduction of several time-limited work permits designed as part of a framework intended to control immigration.
When asked by Deputy Ahier whether he believed if the reduction of inward migration was ‘achievable and desirable’, he said: ‘I think it is absolutely achievable. That will be very much around if the controls that we are proposing and the data-management systems are in place.
‘The question will then be for future Councils of Ministers and Assemblies to determine what they consider to be desirable at the time.’
Over the past year, businesses across the Island have reported staff shortages, often blamed on reduced immigration resulting from Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Panel chairman Senator Steve Pallett asked the Chief Minister what action was being taken to help affected businesses.
Senator Le Fondré said that help had already been provided to the hospitality and construction sectors, and that Jersey Business had recommended the monitoring of data to identify any ongoing support that might be needed.
‘I would not anticipate any Council of Ministers taking knee-jerk reactions on things like population controls,’ he said.
‘There will be some short-term issues that you will have to address but I think people need to remain focused on that long-term objective.’
He added that for the economy to keep functioning while limiting immigration, better productivity would be needed and technology, such as automation, could help to achieve this.
‘There is certainly a point where having better controls and achieving greater productivity – making sure that we do either the same or more with less people – is surely desirable because we are an island of a finite space,’ he said.
‘There are, I think, various ways – particularly with technology – that that can be achieved.’
Assistant Chief Minister Rowland Huelin, who is responsible for population policy, added that a balance needed to be struck between different aspects of Island life.
‘It’s all achievable as long as we maintain the harmony between our community, our economy and our environment,’ he said.
‘It can be doable, providing we significantly increase the productivity of the economic providers into our economy.’
