Income Support General Provisions (Amendment No. 6) (Jersey) Order 2011

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

Ministers are individually accountable to the States Assembly, including for the actions of the departments and agencies which discharge their responsibilities.

The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made 16 August 2011 regarding:

Decision Reference: MD-S-2011-0065
Decision Summary Title :	DS - Income Support General Provisions (Amendment No.6) (Jersey) Order 2011		Date of Decision Summary:	11 August 2011
Decision Summary Author:	Policy and Strategy Director		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Oral		Person Giving Oral Report:	Policy and Strategy Director
Written Report Title :	N/A		Date of Written Report:	N/A
Written Report Author:	N/A		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	N/A
Subject: Income Support General Provisions (Amendment No.6) (Jersey) Order 2011
Decision(s): The Minister made the Income Support General Provisions (Amendment No.6) (Jersey) Order 2011.
Reason(s) for Decision: The report accompanying P.107/2011 - Draft Income Support (Amendment No. 7) (Jersey) Regulations 201- set out the intention of the Minister to make changes to the treatment of jobseekers aged 16-18 under the Income Support Law. P.107/2011 was debated and approved by the States Assembly on 21 July 2011. This Order makes these changes. It amends the definition of an Income Support household so that a young adult aged under 19 who is actively seeking work can no longer claim Income Support in his/her own right but is included within the household of the parents with whom s/he lives. Young people with disabilities, and those who live independently, are not affected and will continue to be able to make claims in their own right. The Order also creates a 100% disregard in respect of small amounts of earnings of individuals aged under 25 years old who live in an income support household and are in full-time education. The amount of earnings that is subject to the complete disregard is limited to the value of an adult basic component. This is currently valued at £92.12 per week. A minor amendment is also made, to disregard any pension income received by a child, for example, following the death of a parent. The Order will come into effect on 5 September 2011.
Resource Implications: There are no manpower implications. It is estimated that approximately half of the young adults under 19 who are actively seeking work and claiming income support live in households that also claim income support. There will be no change in the total amount of income support paid to these households. The remaining young adults claiming income support in this category do not live in income support households and a saving will be made in respect of the income support currently paid. The benefit cost per annum for a single jobseeker is approximately £4,800. Current estimates suggest that between 65 and 95 individuals will be affected by this change, creating a full year saving of between £325,000 and £450,000. As actual savings are realised, they will be reinvested into initiatives to provide training and support to individuals actively seeking work, with an emphasis on the long-term unemployed.
Action required: Policy and Strategy Director to notify the Greffe and the Law Draftsman that the Order has been made and forward the signed and sealed Order to the Greffe for notification to the States.
Signature:		Position: Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):