PLANS to modernise housing and employment laws, making the Island’s residency status system easier to understand, are among the topics due to be debated by politicians in the States Assembly this week.
Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham wants more flexible legislation and lodged the Draft Control of Housing and Work (Residential and Employment Status) (Jersey) Regulations earlier this year.
Proposed changes include changing the definition of an “eligible partner” to include a person in an “enduring relationship”, as well as a marriage or civil partnership, and introducing an “Entitled For Work Only status on hardship grounds” which could make it easier to help those “in exceptional situations”.
Someone with “Entitled For Work Only” status would also be able to occupy qualified accommodation when they lived with an “eligible partner” who held licensed or entitled status.
Deputy Farnham is also proposing that “Permanently Entitled” status should be available to those who have been continuously resident in the Island for 25 years – previously this was 30 years.
The date of the general election due to take place next year is also due to be confirmed. The Privileges and Procedures Committee is proposing Sunday 7 June, citing weekend polling as a factor that has increased turnout in other jurisdictions, while Deputy Kristina Moore has proposed Sunday 26 April in order to avoid a clash with Liberation Day.
Other items of public business include:
- Deputy Max Andrews proposing that stamp duty or residential properties that are not the owner’s principal residence should rise from 3% to 5% above the standard rate. Ministers have rejected the call as “an unnecessary intervention into the housing market”.
- A bid by Deputy Carina Alves to allow non-British citizens whose housing status is “Permanently Entitled” to become States Members.
- A call by Deputy Tom Coles for all counsellors to be legally required to register with the Jersey Care Commission and a recognised UK governing body. In a comments paper submitted last week, Health Minister Tom Binet said he believed the move was not justified.
Deputy Binet and Deputy Farnham will face questions without notice, alongside International Development Minister Carolyn Labey, while there are also 16 oral questions due to be answered on topics including online bullying of young people, play facilities and the high-value residency scheme.
The meeting was due to start at 9.30am today.
