THE findings of a Scrutiny panel regarding cash payments – which recommended that businesses should not refuse them if the customer cannot pay another way – are being “carefully considered”, according to the government.
The Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel recently published a report on the subject, following a review that garnered 2,696 responses through an anonymous five-minute survey as well as 136 written submissions from individuals, businesses and organisations.
It raised concerns over the continuing decline in the use of cash, arguing that “no contingency plan has been produced to ensure sufficient resilience in the economy should the decline reach a critical point”.
“The panel therefore recommends that the Minister for Sustainable Economic Development creates a strategy and set policy as to the acceptance of cash payments in Jersey. The strategy should identify actions that would ensure all Islanders have the same access to digital payment methods, increase education in this area and support the building of budgeting skills.”
Deputy Montfort Tadier, who chairs the Scrutiny panel, noted that one of its key recommendations was for interim guidance to be issued to businesses “requesting them not to refuse cash payments where it is a person’s only way of paying for something”.
In a statement, the government said: “The report’s findings are being carefully considered by ministers, and a response to each of the findings and recommendations will be published in due course.”
