HOUSING has admitted it is difficult to target licences in any meaningful way without more direction from the States.

The department has been under pressure recently from different campaigning deputies who either want more long-term licences to help with recruitment problems or conversely fewer because of population pressures.

A report from Housing issued to all States members on the annual ‘live’ licence figures states that despite there being a ‘marked increase’ in the number of licences issued in the year ending 31 March 2008, and an increase in the number of licences that were live on that date, the overall impact in terms of increased population appeared to be very limited.

‘With regard to employment-related licences, it is possible for the department to give consideration to economic “essentiality” when determining employment-related licence applications,’ the report said.

‘In fact, over the last year this assessment has been made easier by the introduction of a standard application form which captures information regarding primary and secondary benefit of businesses seeking to benefit from the grant of a licence.

‘However, despite that fact that some detailed “economic” information is now available, without strategic direction from the States it is not easy for the department to target the grant of licences in any truly meaningful way. Each application must be considered on its merits and a licence is granted whenever it is justified.’