THE head of a panel of politicians who have been examining the acceptance of cash
payments in Jersey has said the topic “could well be a good subject” for a referendum – an idea that he is “interested in pursuing”.
Deputy Montfort Tadier chairs the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel, which published a report on the subject earlier this year.
Its publication followed a review that garnered 2,696 responses through an anonymous five-minute survey, as well as 136 written submissions from individuals, businesses and organisations.
While the majority (92%) of businesses responding to the survey stated that they accepted both cash and digital payments, they were also less likely to receive payment in cash – with 71% indicating they mostly received digital payments (via cards, transfers or smartphones) and 20% indicating that cash payments represented under 10% of their transactions.
Deputy Tadier said the panel was also awaiting the results of the latest Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, which included questions about cash usage.
The St Brelade representative has previously stated that the Government “does not have and has never had a clear policy position on its attitude towards cash usage, its decline and the strong possibility that it may be phased out by stealth or ‘market forces’”.
One of the recommendations included in the panel’s report was that Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel “should, by 30 April 2025, issue interim guidance to businesses indicating that they should accept a cash payment where it is the customer’s only way of paying”.
But the Minister said that this was “not considered necessary”, stating that “government policy remains that businesses should be free to choose their preferred payment methods”.
“There is also a question about whether this would be a useful referendum topic,” Deputy Tadier said.
“This could well be a good subject,” he continued.
“Should we protect the use of cash for people or should businesses be allowed to choose – something along those lines – and I think that would really engage a lot of the community.”
Under the Island’s current legislation, the States “may by Act resolve that a referendum be held on any matter”.
Asked whether he would seek to gauge public interest in a potential referendum – and call for one if the support was there – Deputy Tadier said: “It is one idea.
“We will wait to see what comes back from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey about attitudes to cash, but it is something I am interested in pursuing.”
The decline of cash
It emerged last year that the number of Jersey notes being ordered by local banks annually had fallen by over £200 million since 2014.
