Scrutiny to hold hearing on tax reform proposals

A public hearing is to be held to discuss Guernsey's new tax reform proposals.

The Scrutiny Management Committee (SMC)will hold the hearing with the Policy and Resources Committee (P&R) between 10:00 and 12:00 BST on 6 July at the Castel Douzaine Room.

The proposals include a 3% goods and services tax, the re-introduction of vehicle taxes and lower income tax bands are designed to plug an estimated £50m gap in funding.

SMC President Andy Sloan said the hearing would "explore the evidence underpinning the proposals, test the assumptions that have been made" and "help deputies and the public better understand the issues before the assembly is asked to make its decision" in July.

The States said the meeting was a formal parliamentary proceeding, which meant members of the public were welcome to attend in an observational capacity, however, were not able to ask questions or make any comment while the hearing was in progress.

Deputy Sloan said P&R had brought forward a "significant package of tax reform proposals which, despite their importance, have only been available for a relatively short period before they are due to be debated".

He said the SMC "considered it important, and part of its public duty, to hold a public hearing so that these proposals could be examined openly before the debate.

Sloan said: "We have also received requests from members of the public asking the committee to scrutinise the proposals, reflecting the level of public interest in the issues involved."

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