EUTHANASIA was the hottest topic at the Vale hustings. The parish’s 11 candidates told the 300-plus audience what they thought of moves to legalise doctor-assisted death.

Ann Setters asked whether candidates would allow a doctor to apply a lethal injection to the critically ill.

Deputy Peter Derham said that his mother had throat cancer and was allowed to die with far more dignity with her family than having a needle being stuck in her arm.

‘I don’t want any Dr Shipmans in this island,’ he said.

The decision had to be made by the medical profession, said Deputy Dave Jones.

Peter Leigh would support euthanasia as long as all necessary safeguards were in place.

‘I want to make that decision for myself,’ he said.

Geoff Mahy believed Guernsey needed to look at high-quality palliative care and specialist palliative-care doctors – not necessarily doctor-assisted death.

Board of Health president Peter Roffey, might accept it in very limited circumstances, such as the Diane Pretty case.

Youngest candidate Duncan Staples, 28, whose interest in politics was born out of frustration with the States, believed it all boiled down to choice.

‘I’m confident we can put legislation in place where people will be unable to abuse the system,’ he said.

Richard Brache said: ‘Perhaps the older you get the more you value life. My view now is that the doctors have got it right.’

Deputy Graham Guille, Douzenier Brian de Jersey and Deputy Mary Lowe were opposed to euthanasia. Paul Mees was concerned Guernsey that was being asked to take a lead on the issue.

Housing also remained a hot topic.

Deputy Roffey was concerned there are so many people lived in appalling conditions – some in cars.

Empty houses should not be tolerated when the housing situation was so critical, said Deputy Guille.

Most candidates agreed that although the energy-from-waste plant at Longue Hougue was a monstrosity and too expensive, there were few alternatives to dealing with the island’s waste.

Deputy Lowe, who wanted to make the planning process transparent, said it would have cost millions more to have an opt out clause in the contract.

Attracting tourists back to the island was an objective for many candidates.

Mr Staples wondered what kind of tourists the island was trying to attract.

Deputy Roffey asked what would happen to the island’s transport links without tourism and wanted to see hoteliers more involved in controlling the tourism budget.

‘We have to work very hard at developing niche tourism,’ he said.

If Town is not cleaned up the island will not attract any tourists, warned Mr Mees.

‘Our town is our showpiece,’ he said.

Mr Mahy, who was concerned about the huge rise in petty crime, called for a halt to drinking on the streets.

More police were needed in Town after 11pm, said Mr Leigh.

With all the terrorism scares, Guernsey should promote family holidays in a safe island, said Deputy Lowe.

‘We are in danger of becoming just like everybody else and it’s going to drive tourists away,’ warned Deputy Derham.

Mr de Jersey called for more music and arts festivals and called on the island to be proud and promote itself.

Deputy Jones was also worried that Guernsey was losing its appeal of being different and wanted a rethink on funding.

‘It could be used to subsidise some of the bums on seats,’ he said.

Mr Brache said: ‘If we smile a bit more perhaps people will come back.’

On the issue of zero corporation tax, many candidates were concerned that it was not known how big the revenue hole might be.

Mr de Jersey would look to social security contributions and having a fairer system of rates for everybody, whatever their income.

‘It’s not going to be without pain,’ said Deputy Roffey, who warned against going into the red.

Mr Mahy believed that too much money was being wasted on employing consultants and suggested possibly using the interest from the rainy day reserves in the interim.

Deputy Jones wanted the government to look more closely at the money it was wasting.

‘We have to slow down the growth of our economy,’ said Deputy Derham.

Mr Mees wanted the States to look closely at civil service costs.

Questioner John Naftel believed the States had misled the public on the commercialisation of public utilities and was concerned that the new Scrutiny Committee would have no teeth.

Deputy Jones said commercialisation had been ‘an abject disaster’, delivering worse services and higher costs.

Mr Mahy wanted the committee to have members the public could trust and for meetings to be open to the public, while Mr Leigh believed it should not all be made up entirely of politicians.

Deputy Lowe saw the committee as ‘surplus to requirements’.

Mr Mees called for the government to be more open while Deputy Roffey said it was not a question of teeth but effectiveness.

The Scrutiny Committee must be accountable – not only the politicians but the civil servants, said Mr de Jersey.

‘I think it’s important the new machinery of government stands up to public scrutiny,’ said Mr Staples.

He put apathy, particularly among young people, down to a public perception of a lack of probity within the States.

Mr Brache wanted to see proposed policies published at least three months ahead of States meetings so they could be properly scrutinised.

Concerns were also raised about inadequate checks on people coming into the island, sometimes with criminal convictions and into open market accommodation.