George Oswald

Motion put to the States: To insert a new proposition: “1a.To direct the Policy & Resources Committee working with the Committee for Housing, as part of the Guernsey Housing Plan, to consider changes or alternatives to Mortgage Interest Relief, including other forms of tax relief, to better assist first time buyers and homeowners in greater need of financial support; and to revert to the States with recommendations no later than the 2027 Budget Report.”.

Voting Pour delivers this

This motion directs consideration of changes or alternatives to Mortgage Interest Relief to better assist first-time buyers, directly bearing on the promise to support assistance for first-time buyers.

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Motion put to the States: 1a. To direct the Policy & Resources Committee working with the Committee for Housing, as part of the Guernsey Housing Plan, to consider changes or alternatives to Mortgage Interest Relief, including other forms of tax relief, to better assist first time buyers and homeowners in greater need of financial support; and to revert to the States with recommendations no later than the 2027 Budget Report.

Voting Pour delivers this

This motion directs the Policy & Resources Committee to consider changes to mortgage relief to better assist first-time buyers, directly bearing on the promise to support housing reform for first-time buyers.

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Motion put to the States: 1. To agree that the amount of tax relief in respect of mortgage interest paid on a principal private residence remains at its present level of £3,500 and cease the phased withdrawal of tax relief provided on mortgage interest in respect of principal private residences.

Voting Pour delivers this

Maintaining mortgage interest tax relief at £3,500 and ceasing its phased withdrawal supports homeowners and first-time buyers, bearing on the promise to support housing reform and assistance for first-time buyers.

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Motion put to the States: To delete Proposition 1 and insert a new proposition: “1. To agree that the amount of tax relief in respect of mortgage interest paid on a principal private residence remains at its present level of £3,500 and cease the phased withdrawal of tax relief provided on mortgage interest in respect of principal private residences.”.

Voting Pour delivers this

Ceasing the phased withdrawal of mortgage interest tax relief keeps financial assistance for homeowners in place, bearing on the promise to support first-time buyers and housing reform.

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Motion put to the States: Recognising the importance of a fit-for-purpose, accountable and high-performing leadership within the public service and supporting structures capable of delivering the Government Work Plan, and to enable political committees to exercise challenge, control and vision, to agree to mandate the Chief Executive, drawing on external expertise where appropriate, to lead a programme of organisational reform as a priority to deliver performance, culture and capability improvements across the public service, and to direct the publication of clear terms of reference, approved by the Policy & Resources Committee, and to further direct the Policy & Resources Committee to resource the programme as necessary to achieve these outcomes, reporting regularly on its progress to the States.

Voting Pour delivers this

This motion mandates the Chief Executive to develop a high-performing public service leadership structure capable of delivering the Work Plan, which bears on workforce management and capacity in public services including health and care.

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Motion put to the States: The States are asked to decide:- Whether they are of the opinion to approve the draft Ordinance entitled ''The Education (Governance Boards) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026'' and to direct that the same shall have effect as an Ordinance of the States.

Voting Pour delivers this

Approving the Education (Governance Boards) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 further refines education governance, bearing on the promise to optimise the education system.

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Motion put to the States: The States are asked to decide:- Whether they are of the opinion to approve the draft Ordinance entitled ''The Education (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2025 (Commencement) Ordinance, 2026'' and to direct that the same shall have effect as an Ordinance of the States.

Voting Pour delivers this

Commencing the Education (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2025 brings the education reform into force, directly advancing the promise to optimise the current education system.

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Motion put to the States: To insert immediately after “of the States” the following: “subject to the following amendment: “To delete Clause 4(7) and replace with the following Clause: “4 (7)The Director of Education (or a person nominated by the Director of Education for this purpose) may attend one meeting of each governance board each academic year, or more frequently only at the – invitation of that governance board, or the direction of the Committee, where the Committee has reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a material failure in governance, safeguarding, financial management, or compliance with applicable law or policy, and has recorded such grounds in writing.".””.

Voting Pour delivers this

This amendment to the Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance refines governance of education boards, bearing on the promise to optimise the education system.

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Motion put to the States: Immediately after ""The Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance, 2025"", insert ", subject to the amendments below" and at the end of the proposition, insert the following: "Amendments: In section 1 - in the section heading for "Constitution" substitute "Purpose and constitution", and after subsection (1), insert – "(1A)The purpose of the governance board of a relevant educational establishment is to – (a)contribute to and promote the ethos and strategic direction of the establishment, (b)hold the headteacher and management to account in respect of safeguarding, educational standards, attendance, staff performance and professional development, (c)hold the headteacher and management to account in respect of the use of financial and other resources by the establishment, and (d)facilitate and promote the giving of effective and appropriate communication from parents, staff, learners and the community to the headteacher and management of the establishment.", (c)in subsection (2)(b) for "four" substitute "five", (d)at the end of subsection (2)(d) insert "and", and at the end of subsection (2)(e) for ", and" substitute ".", (e)delete subsection (2)(f), (f)in subsection (3)(b) for "six" substitute "seven", (g)at the end of subsection (3)(d) insert "and", and at the end of subsection (3)(e) for ", and" substitute ".", and (h)delete subsection (3)(f).".

Voting Pour delivers this

This amendment to the Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance refines governance structures, bearing on the promise to optimise the education system.

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Motion put to the States: Whether they are of the opinion to approve the draft Ordinance entitled "The Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance, 2025" and to direct that the same shall have effect as an Ordinance of the States subject to amendments below: In section 1 - in the section heading for "Constitution" substitute "Purpose and constitution", and after subsection (1), insert – "(1A)The purpose of the governance board of a relevant educational establishment is to – (a)contribute to and promote the ethos and strategic direction of the establishment, (b)hold the headteacher and management to account in respect of safeguarding, educational standards, attendance, staff performance and professional development, (c)hold the headteacher and management to account in respect of the use of financial and other resources by the establishment, and (d)facilitate and promote the giving of effective and appropriate communication from parents, staff, learners and the community to the headteacher and management of the establishment.", (c)in subsection (2)(b) for "four" substitute "five", (d)at the end of subsection (2)(d) insert "and", and at the end of subsection (2)(e) for ", and" substitute ".", (e)delete subsection (2)(f), (f)in subsection (3)(b) for "six" substitute "seven", (g)at the end of subsection (3)(d) insert "and", and at the end of subsection (3)(e) for ", and" substitute ".", and (h)delete subsection (3)(f).". To delete Clause 4(7) and replace with the following Clause: “4 (7)The Director of Education (or a person nominated by the Director of Education for this purpose) may attend one meeting of each governance board each academic year, or more frequently only at the – invitation of that governance board, or the direction of the Committee, where the Committee has reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a material failure in governance, safeguarding, financial management, or compliance with applicable law or policy, and has recorded such grounds in writing.

Voting Pour delivers this

Approving the Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance, 2025 advances governance reform within the education system, bearing on the promise to optimise the current education system.

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Motion put to the States: Whether they are of the opinion to approve the draft Projet de Loi entitled "The Education (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2025", and to authorise the Bailiff to present a most humble petition to His Majesty praying for His Royal Sanction thereto.

Voting Pour delivers this

Approving the Education (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2025 is a direct legislative step bearing on the optimisation and development of the education system.

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Motion put to the States: To insert two additional propositions as follows: “3A. To direct the Policy & Resources Committee to introduce a Child Responsibility Tax Allowance (as defined in the explanatory memorandum) in respect of each dependent child for the purposes of income tax, with effect from implementation of the wider tax reform package, or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, and 3B. to direct the Policy & Resources Committee, in developing the detailed proposals, to undertake fiscal and distributional analysis using Revenue Service data, including consideration of the interaction of the proposed allowance with existing child-related tax provisions and the overall impact of the measure within the wider tax reform package.”.

Voting Pour delivers this

Introducing a Child Responsibility Tax Allowance for income tax purposes represents investment support for families with children, bearing on the promise to support early years services and skills development.

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Motion put to the States: To insert an additional proposition as follows: “6. To agree an additional workstream to the ‘Foundations for Our Future’ area of focus (under the ‘A Place to Grow and Succeed’ theme) with the objective of ‘Responding to the Needs of the Island’s Young People’, and to direct the Policy & Resources Committee to support the cross-committee coordination of the upcoming refresh and enhancement of the Children & Young People’s Plan ensuring that it: i) hears and reflects the voice of a wide range of children, young people and young adults via direct consultation; ii) consults with third sector organisations supporting the island’s children, young people and young adults; iii) takes into account existing relevant strategies and plans; and iv) provides the necessary resources to undertake that consultation and to support the production of the enhanced Children & Young People’s Plan for consideration by the States of Deliberation.”.

Voting Pour delivers this

Adding a workstream responding to the needs of young people and directing cross-committee coordination directly supports the promise to invest in early years services and skills development.

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Motion put to the States: 6. To agree an additional workstream to the ‘Foundations for Our Future’ area of focus (under the ‘A Place to Grow and Succeed’ theme) with the objective of ‘Responding to the Needs of the Island’s Young People’, and to direct the Policy & Resources Committee to support the cross-committee coordination of the upcoming refresh and enhancement of the Children & Young People’s Plan ensuring that it: i) hears and reflects the voice of a wide range of children, young people and young adults via direct consultation; ii) consults with third sector organisations supporting the island’s children, young people and young adults; iii) takes into account existing relevant strategies and plans; and iv) provides the necessary resources to undertake that consultation and to support the production of the enhanced Children & Young People’s Plan for consideration by the States of Deliberation.

Voting Pour delivers this

Agreeing a workstream on responding to the needs of island young people advances the promise to support investment in early years services and skills development.

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Motion put to the States: At the end of Proposition 1 insert the words “, subject to excluding the following: “a) the introduction of a goods and services tax; b) the changes to social security contributions; c) the introduction of new, and changes to, transport taxes”.

Voting Contre delivers this

This amendment would have excluded GST, social security changes, and transport taxes from the tax reform proposition; voting contre preserves the full reform package including GST.

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Motion put to the States: To delete Propositions 1 to 3 and substitute therefor: “1.To agree that neither the proposed Goods and Services Tax nor the associated Income Tax and Social Security contribution reforms detailed in the Policy Letter shall be introduced as part of the Tax Reform Programme. 2.To agree that the proposed Transport Taxes shall proceed as set out in this Policy Letter at Paragraph 9.7 and as more specifically described therein. 3.To agree that the proposed Corporate Tax amendments shall proceed as set out in Paragraph 9.21 of this Policy Letter and as more specifically described therein, excepting that at the third bullet point of paragraph 9.21, the term “ISE” shall be substituted with “Corporate Levy” (and this substitution shall take effect wherever relevant). 4.To direct the Policy & Resources Committee to develop and bring before the States proposals, for implementation on the same timetable as the tax measures proposed in this Policy Letter where reasonably practicable, for the introduction of a Corporate Levy payable by registered Guernsey companies, having regard to the work previously undertaken by the Tax Review Sub-Committee, and including consideration of whether such levy should comprise: a fixed annual levy payable by each registered company; a levy differentiated according to the size or scale of the undertaking, including consideration of whether existing company classifications may provide an appropriate and proportionate basis for differentiation; or such other structure as the Committee considers best achieves the objectives of fairness, administrative simplicity and efficient revenue collection. 5.To direct the Committee for Economic Development, in consultation with the Policy & Resources Committee, to develop and bring before the States, on the same timetable where reasonably practicable, proposals for the introduction of a Visitor Levy in accordance with the extant States Resolution, with all revenues arising from such levy to be paid into the General Revenue Account and not hypothecated for expenditure by any particular Committee or industry sector. 6.To direct the Policy & Resources Committee to revise the implementation programme and associated implementation budget for Tax Reform to reflect the removal of the proposed Goods and Services Tax and associated Income Tax and Social Security contribution reforms, including the consequential reduction in implementation cost, implementation activity, systems development, staffing and administrative requirements. 7. To direct the Policy & Resources Committee to return to the States with: 1. a revised implementation programme; 2. a revised implementation budget; 3. revised estimates of one-off implementation costs; 4. revised estimates of ongoing administration costs; 5. revised estimates of annual recurring revenues; and 6. revised staffing assumptions, reflecting the alternative package approved under this Proposition within a period that results in the States being capable of meeting the proposed implementation timetable as proposed within the Policy Letter. 8.To direct the Policy & Resources Committee to return to the States with an assurance review in 2030 as set out in section 12 of the Policy Letter, the scope of which shall be adjusted, where necessary, to take account of the removal of GST and Social Security measures from the package under these proposals and the application of those measures considered herein.”.

Voting Contre delivers this

This amendment sought to reject both GST and income tax reforms entirely; voting contre (against this) is consistent with the promise to support honest debate about GST and pursue a broader, fairer tax system.

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Motion put to the States: To delete all propositions and to substitute therefor: “1.To agree a goods and services tax shall not be introduced, and: (i) to rescind Resolution I. 1B. and Resolution I. 1C. of Billet d’Etat No. XIX dated 14th October, 2024 made on 8th November 2024; and (ii) to direct the Policy & Resources Committee to cease all preparations for the introduction of any goods and services tax.”.

Voting Contre delivers this

This amendment sought to cease all GST work entirely; voting contre is directly consistent with the promise to push for honest debate about GST as part of tax reform.

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Motion put to the States: To delete the propositions and substitute therefor: 1. To direct the States Assembly and Constitution Committee to return to the States at its meeting on 21st October 2026 with arrangements for the holding (under the provisions of the relevant legislation) of a referendum on Tax reform. 2. To direct the Committee to agree that the question to be put to the electorate in the referendum shall be in a binary form along the following lines: “Do you support the introduction of a GST (goods and services tax)? Yes or No.”.

Voting Contre delivers this

This amendment would have replaced tax reform with a referendum process, delaying direct action; voting contre is consistent with the promise to push for tax reform including GST debate.

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Motion put to the States: b. (i) the Goods & Services Tax should be applied at a standard rate of 5%, andthat all foodstuffs should be subject to the tax at the standard rate; AND (ii)an Essentials Cost Relief Payment scheme should be implemented as outlined in Section 4, with the fixed payment set provisionally (subject to review as set out below) at £520 a year for a single adult or £860 a year for a couple, reflecting the estimated annual GST incurred by a household on Income Support; and that the responsibility and administering of this payment should be added to the mandate of the Committee for Employment & Social Security; and that the payment should be increased each January in line with Income Support rates, the value of the payment being fully reviewed in line with the minimum income standard whenever that exercise is repeated;

Voting Pour delivers this

This proposition adopts GST at 5% with an Essentials Cost Relief Payment, which is directly part of the tax reform debate the promise commits to engaging honestly, though the promise is conditional on it being fairer and broader.

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Motion put to the States: To delete all propositions and to substitute therefor: “1. To agree a goods and services tax shall not be introduced, and: (i) to rescind Resolution I. 1B. and Resolution I. 1C. of Billet d’Etat No. XIX dated 14th October, 2024 made on 8th November 2024; and (ii) to direct the Policy & Resources Committee to cease all preparations for the introduction of any goods and services tax.”. View this proposition's information page on gov.gg

Voting Contre delivers this

This amendment sought to cease all work on GST; voting contre (against ceasing GST work) is consistent with the promise to support honest debate about GST as part of a fairer taxation system.

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Motion put to the States: 1. To agree that, should the States decide in the second quarter of 2026 to adopt Workstream 1 of the Tax Reform proposals, a. the individual standard rate of income tax shall be reduced to 15%, with 20% becoming an individual higher rate of income tax; and the higher rate will apply at a defined threshold (£32,400) as agreed on 8 November 2024, with appropriate adjustments to reflect the impact of inflation between that date and the date of implementation;

Voting Pour delivers this

Reducing the individual standard income tax rate to 15% with a higher rate at 20% is a core element of the tax reform package aimed at a fairer and more balanced taxation system.

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Motion put to the States: To direct the Policy & Resources Committee, working with Principal Committees, to establish a programme for zero-based budgeting, under which material areas of States’ expenditure are reviewed from first principles rather than by reference to historical baselines; and to require that the scope, methodology (including reporting) and initial findings of this programme be included by no later than in the mid-term Government Work Plan report, with the outcomes of such reviews used to inform Committee Work Plans, future budget proposals, and major policy decisions during the remainder of the term.”

Voting Pour delivers this

Establishing zero-based budgeting to review expenditure from first principles is directly relevant to ensuring value for money and productivity measurement in public services.

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Motion put to the States: To insert an additional proposition as follows: “6.To direct the Policy & Resources Committee, working with Principal Committees, to establish a programme for zero-based budgeting, under which material areas of States’ expenditure are reviewed from first principles rather than by reference to historical baselines; and to require that the scope, methodology (including reporting) and initial findings of this programme be included by no later than in the mid-term Government Work Plan report, with the outcomes of such reviews used to inform Committee Work Plans, future budget proposals, and major policy decisions during the remainder of the term.”

Voting Pour delivers this

Directing zero-based budgeting, under which expenditure is reviewed from first principles, directly advances the promise to push for productivity measurement and value for money in public services.

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