Dear
the Jersey Rights Association have prepared the following brief questionnaire, to gauge every candidate's opinions on a number of issues of interest to our members.
We shall be publishing the results of this research on our website, and also sharing them with the local media. Therefore, we would hope that you will embrace this additional opportunity to make your positions public.
1 (a). Is it right that the number of Senators has been reduced, thus limiting the choice for Islanders as a whole to choose their political leaders?
1 (b). If no, what would you seek to do about it?
2. The States Pension age is going to be progressively increased over the next few years. Would you support legislation preventing employers from compulsorily retiring people who have not yet qualified for their pension, to prevent them being left without any income other than such welfare as they may qualify for?
3 (a). Would you support measures to stabilise the population at current levels?
3 (b). If not, how do think Jersey can accommodate further population growth?
4. Who will have your support to be the next Chief Minister?
5. Would you like Jersey to move towards a more progressive tax system?
6. Do you think GST should be retained in its present form, abolished, reduced or increased?
7 (a). Is Ministerial Government working the way it was envisaged?
7 (b) If not, what would you do to remedy the situation?
8. With the long-term stagnation of the housing market, the private rental sector is once again growing in importance. Would you support an overhaul of tenancy law to strike a fairer balance of rights and duties between residents and landlords?
9. Do you have a view on whether the extensive importation of UK Civil Service managers on short contracts is beneficial, or whether ther should be more emphasis on career development for local civil servants?
10. Which, if any, public services would you like to see the States cutting?
11. Would you support increased Social Security contibutions, ring fenced to protect future pension & health benefits, but not as a way of raising income for the Treasury.
We shall be collating and formatting the results for publication in the first week of October.
Yours sincerely,
David Rotherham
Chairman, for JRA Committee
We had replies from some of the candidates. Just click on their name to see their responses.