Population management to be overhauled

Thursday 26th January 2012, 1:42PM GMT.

GUERNSEY’S population management regime will be overhauled with a new system based on employment and residents permits, but only once the next States agrees the detail.

States members this morning agreed by 43 votes to three that further investigations should happen into replacing the current housing control law, with a series of proposals on the table by the Policy Council.

But there will be not be a quick change.

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View more: Population news, States news.

1
Dani

January 26, 2012 at 2:44 pm

I would be interested to know who were the 3 that voted against it and why.

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2
Gavin St Pier

January 27, 2012 at 8:23 pm

As a new population management system moves from concept stage to detail, consideration should be given to Alderney and free movement between the two islands. This could benefit both islands.

Alderney residents pay income tax and social security, but have no rights to remain in Guernsey; Alderney’s children can be educated at public expense in Guernsey, but cannot remain in Guernsey post-education. With limited job opportunities in Alderney, both islands therefore may lose the opportunity to benefit from Alderney’s children achieving their potential and being fully economically active; whilst Guernsey continues to meet shortages in certain sectors with labour from outside both islands.

Meanwhile Guernsey residents thinking of moving to Alderney risk losing their rights to remain in Guernsey, which with Guernsey’s increasing population and Alderney’s declining population, again, seems to the detriment of both communities.

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- Dani
  
  January 27, 2012 at 8:49 pm
  
  Totally agree with you Gavin.
  
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3
Dave Jones

January 27, 2012 at 10:28 pm

Gavin St Pier/Dani

Gavin the reason there is no agreement with Alderney on the Housing Control Law is because Alderney has an open door policy.
In other words anyone can move to Alderney without restriction, although you need an Alderney work permit to work there as I understand it. If we then allowed those people after a period of time to move to Guernsey because they fancied living here they would be moving here to Guernsey through the back door so to speak. Housing has tried for several years to get Alderney States to pass some legislation to have the same restrictions as us and then the HCL could effectively apply to the Bailiwick as a whole. It would also mean that Alderney born children would have the same rights as Guernsey born children from qualified residents. I would remind you that at present ours is a “Housing Control Law” not an immigration law regardless of how close to home, I hope that helps.

D Jones

Housing Minister

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- Dani
  
  January 28, 2012 at 8:37 am
  
  All understandable.
  
  However going forward it would be great if you could come up with some kind of an agreement that would benefit the kids of Alderney in the future. There really are not many job opportunities there for them. I know your a busy man but if you have a chance pop over and take a look. That island is dying and so are those kids futures.
  
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- Dani
  
  January 28, 2012 at 8:53 am
  
  Dave
  
  I was also wondering if you knew where I could get hold of the documents that set up the relationship between Alderney and Guernsey. I know it started after WW2 and it involves SS for example but I would love to see the specifics much info on the subject is very vague. (This is unrelated to my above point).
  
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  - Ray
    
    January 28, 2012 at 3:13 pm
    
    Dani
    
    There are some very good people at the Priaulx Library who could probably point you in the right direction
    
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    - Dani
      
      January 28, 2012 at 4:48 pm
      
      Oh right.
      
      Never knew that. If I don’t hear back from Dave I’ll have a look there.
      
      Thanks Ray. : )
      
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- Gavin St. Pier
  
  January 28, 2012 at 2:57 pm
  
  Dave Jones – I understand the issue with the current Housing Control Law and Alderney’s ‘open door’ policy. My hope is that a new population management policy and law provides an ideal opportunity to address this issue at a Bailiwick level with, obviously, Alderney’s agreement. This does not appear to have been one of the objectives of the work to date, but it would be a shame if the opportunity was lost. I am delighted that you are happy to put Alderney on Housing’s agenda this week.
  
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4
Dave Jones

January 28, 2012 at 10:46 am

Dani

I am happy to raise the issue with the Housing board and I will put Alderney on Thursday’ Housing board’s agenda at our meeting this week. On the other matter of related documents I will have to check and see what I can come up with.

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- Dani
  
  January 28, 2012 at 12:12 pm
  
  Result.
  
  Thank you very much! : )
  
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5
Zab

January 30, 2012 at 1:01 am

Has the scoffing from the Parishes died down yet?

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