HOW could the proposed billion-pound Budget benefit you and your family?
The JEP takes a look through the government’s spending plans to see what they offer.
Tax allowances
If approved, the Budget will provide an extra £1,150 in tax allowances for married couples, whose allowance will be £33,200.
Child allowance meanwhile will rise by £150 to £3,700, with the additional allowance for children increasing by £200 to £5,550, and corresponding rises in childcare tax relief.
Play areas
Town Deputy Inna Gardiner is looking to earmark £66,000 of funding for public-realm investment for a “play space strategy”.
She has called on the government to “uphold its promises to children and young people” and “provide the necessary improvements to play space and opportunities”.
In her amendment, Deputy Gardiner highlighted that new housing developments were mainly to be found in St Helier and adjacent parishes, “the very same areas that were identified as lacking in adequate play space”.
Ministers have lodged a counter-proposal to fund the strategy from existing resources.
Are your children thinking of doing an apprenticeship?
The Children, Education, and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel is urging the government to increase investment in apprenticeships and to review the existing scheme.
Ministers have already allocated £500,000 of additional funding for apprenticeships in 2025 within its spending plans.
But the panel argues this money will only cover increased costs of existing programmes rather than expanding or improving them.
The morning commute
Some families may have also breathed a sigh of relief that their morning commute would not be getting even more expensive after Deputy Jonathan Renouf withdrew his bid to reverse the government policy of freezing fuel duty.
Deputy Renouf announced over the weekend that he would be withdrawing his amendment.
More eco-minded parents will be glad to hear Deputy Renouf is to make another attempt next year, feeling he’ll have a better chance of success.
The benefits of the proposed Budget and its amendments are dependent on States Members approving it as a whole, with a vote expected to take place today.
