18/01/2017

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:00:00. > :00:11.Minister's exit Strang. Join me now on BBC Two.

:00:12. > :00:14.Plans to borrow hundreds of millions of pounds for Jersey's

:00:15. > :00:24.It is the biggest level of debt that has faced this

:00:25. > :00:28.It is important that scrutiny and due process is followed

:00:29. > :00:30.for governance purposes and we have seen very recently what happens

:00:31. > :00:34.Good evening and welcome to the late news from BBC Channel Islands,

:00:35. > :00:41.Also tonight: A stronger Britain in charge of it's own laws, but how

:00:42. > :00:56.It's emerged the plan to borrow hundreds of millions of pounds

:00:57. > :00:58.to pay for Jersey's new hospital could be illegal.

:00:59. > :01:01.Ministers want to fund the project by borrowing up to four

:01:02. > :01:06.But concerns raised in the States today have

:01:07. > :01:12.It comes after some politicians argue they weren't given enough time

:01:13. > :01:21.The question of where Jersey's new hospital should be has of course

:01:22. > :01:26.But today, the big question and the subject of lengthy debate

:01:27. > :01:33.The budget for the new hospital is ?466 million.

:01:34. > :01:37.Rather than funding it entirely through the Strategic Reserve,

:01:38. > :01:39.the so-called rainy-day fund, which currently stands

:01:40. > :01:45.The plan is to help pay for it by borrowing up to ?400 million.

:01:46. > :01:49.This would be the biggest debt ever taken on by the States.

:01:50. > :01:53.But the plans haven't been reviewed by the scrutiny panel,

:01:54. > :01:57.who say they weren't given enough time.

:01:58. > :02:04.The item that we're debating is so important.

:02:05. > :02:09.It is therefore incredibly important that scrutiny should have gone

:02:10. > :02:16.through the process and looked at issues had a point of governance. We

:02:17. > :02:20.have had a examples very recently of governments failing -- governance

:02:21. > :02:21.failing. So it's important due

:02:22. > :02:23.process is followed And we've seen very

:02:24. > :02:25.recently what happens But the Treasury Minister says

:02:26. > :02:29.time was of the essence. Interest rates are predicted to move

:02:30. > :02:32.and every 0.1% increase could cost hundreds of thousands of pounds

:02:33. > :02:34.over a 40 year period. Equally, I do support the scrutiny

:02:35. > :02:37.process and it's regrettable that scrutiny weren't able to review

:02:38. > :02:45.this before now. The budget has been capped at 406 is

:02:46. > :02:50.its million pounds, but I could not change the future could? It has been

:02:51. > :02:54.capped for a very good reason. There is scope for it to creep in the

:02:55. > :02:57.project. It is possible for a number of reasons that the costs could

:02:58. > :03:01.increase although I would not expected to do so for the simple

:03:02. > :03:07.reason that we have already built in a significant contingency of ?90

:03:08. > :03:11.billion. ?90 million. Never mind it budget or the lack of scrutiny,

:03:12. > :03:16.there is a bigger problem. Under the law it may not be legal. They cannot

:03:17. > :03:18.borrow more than they collect in tax.

:03:19. > :03:20.They've already borrowed millions for social housing,

:03:21. > :03:22.so 400-million more to pay for the hospital could

:03:23. > :03:25.However, there's confusion over whether the Long Term Care Benefit

:03:26. > :03:29.If it does, the the States taxation pot is bigger,

:03:30. > :03:32.so it could borrow enough to fund the new hospital.

:03:33. > :03:34.So the debate's on hold until tomorrow once the States

:03:35. > :03:40.More certainty and confidence, that's how one Jersey

:03:41. > :03:45.business is feeling following the British Prime

:03:46. > :03:49.Theresa May has been answering questions today

:03:50. > :03:51.following her announcement that the UK will leave

:03:52. > :03:56.But there's still lots of negotiations on where

:03:57. > :03:58.the Channel Islands sit within these plans, as Emma Chambers has

:03:59. > :04:05.What I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market.

:04:06. > :04:08.But it does mean more freedom to trade, or that's what the British

:04:09. > :04:13.Its unclear if that freedom will also be carried

:04:14. > :04:16.to the Channel Islands, who are also not in

:04:17. > :04:23.This is a typical example of a product where we have

:04:24. > :04:26.the bottle made in Italy and shipped from there.

:04:27. > :04:31.The foil is in Germany and the label in the UK and the case

:04:32. > :04:34.Tim imports lots of goods from the EU.

:04:35. > :04:37.He's distilled yesterday's Brexit speech positively.

:04:38. > :04:40.He still has concerns a new trade deal could cost them more.

:04:41. > :04:45.We've already seen the uncertainty of Brexit in the first place.

:04:46. > :04:50.Trade prices are in disarray and we have probably seen in the

:04:51. > :04:54.markets that food ingredients have raised by about 5 or 10%.

:04:55. > :05:07.As a while before that filters through.

:05:08. > :05:09.While some things are slightly clearer, whether Channel

:05:10. > :05:11.Islands set within these agreements have not been made.

:05:12. > :05:13.Senator Ian Gorst, Jersey's Chief Minister.

:05:14. > :05:16.The most important thing for us is that we maintain our existing

:05:17. > :05:19.relationship with the UK and that's about the common travel area with

:05:20. > :05:22.the UK, its about the customs union with the UK and they are the most

:05:23. > :05:24.important things not only for individuals but right

:05:25. > :05:28.And it will be the local businesses like Tim's who will be listening

:05:29. > :05:31.closely to this to make sure all the imports in and out

:05:32. > :05:38.of the Channel Islands will be made smoothly in the future.

:05:39. > :05:41.A Jersey constable hopes that giving prisoners the chance to vote

:05:42. > :05:44.in island elections will mean they're more likely to integrate

:05:45. > :05:52.now prisoners who serve four years or less will be able

:05:53. > :05:56.The move will bring Jersey in line with Guernsey and most other

:05:57. > :05:58.European countries, except the UK where prisoners

:05:59. > :06:04.Concerns over funding for a new benefits system have been

:06:05. > :06:08.raised at a scrutiny hearing in Guernsey.

:06:09. > :06:10.Members of the Employment and Social Security Committee also

:06:11. > :06:12.faced questions on pension funds, family allowances and tax

:06:13. > :06:21.Its president says they're committed to the principle of universal

:06:22. > :06:23.benefits rather than means-testing, but admits there are doubts over how

:06:24. > :06:34.We've only got a certain pot of money.

:06:35. > :06:36.We are under pressure to deliver more with that

:06:37. > :06:43.money, but actually we have got a declining pot of money.

:06:44. > :06:46.So for us as a committee, that is always the

:06:47. > :06:49.Meanwhile, an independent report's found that Jersey's social

:06:50. > :06:52.security fund is healthy, with ?1.4 billion to meet the costs

:06:53. > :07:00.However, the report also concluded these

:07:01. > :07:03.assets will gradually be used up as the cost of pensions increases.

:07:04. > :07:06.But it said action doesn't need to be taken until after

:07:07. > :07:12.Should learner drivers in the Channel Islands have to spend

:07:13. > :07:14.more time behind the wheel before taking their test?

:07:15. > :07:17.It's something that's being considered in the UK.

:07:18. > :07:20.And it's an idea that's got support locally too,

:07:21. > :07:42.So driving in Guernsey is pretty different to the UK.

:07:43. > :07:45.Although not without it's challenges.

:07:46. > :07:49.But pass your test here and you can nip over and be on those bigger,

:07:50. > :07:55.And wanting that to remain the case Guernsey tends to mimic the UK

:07:56. > :07:59.when it comes to things like driving tests.

:08:00. > :08:01.What is important is that although we pass

:08:02. > :08:08.Channel Islands we drive everywhere in the UK.

:08:09. > :08:11.Our test has to be rigid and comparable for other areas.

:08:12. > :08:15.So if plans in the UK go ahead, to make learners spend a minimum

:08:16. > :08:18.of up to 120 hours behind the wheel before taking their test.

:08:19. > :08:27.This local instructor thinks there'd be merit in the idea.

:08:28. > :08:31.You know, having a certain amount of hours to do before they do their

:08:32. > :08:41.Some people pass their test very quickly and I think it leaves them

:08:42. > :08:45.open to danger on the roads with not enough knowledge, just being taught

:08:46. > :08:48.That is one thing, but being able to drive properly and

:08:49. > :08:53.have the skills to react well is another thing.

:08:54. > :08:55.In reality, if Guernsey does not want full behind

:08:56. > :08:58.and the UK decides more practice is what learners need, then Guernsey

:08:59. > :09:06.might have to consider going for it, too.

:09:07. > :09:13.Here's David Braine with your weather.

:09:14. > :09:21.Our fine but cold weather continues. There's been some lovely winter

:09:22. > :09:24.sunshine today. A shot taken by Chris in Guernsey. Glorious blue

:09:25. > :09:29.skies. Cold at night. Tomorrow is going to be another dry and sunny

:09:30. > :09:32.day. More of a breeze and a cold wind to coming in from the Easter

:09:33. > :09:39.wrap-up warm. A weather front straddling the weather here, but it

:09:40. > :09:42.is that easterly winds and dry air coming from the continent. It is

:09:43. > :09:47.going to be with us throughout the rest of this week and it keeps fine

:09:48. > :09:51.with cold weather right the way through. A bit more in the way of

:09:52. > :09:54.cloud coming through the channel on Friday, but overnight tonight like

:09:55. > :09:58.we saw last night a lot of clear sky that very quickly turns very cold.

:09:59. > :10:01.Temperatures not quite as cold as they could be because there is still

:10:02. > :10:05.a bit of a breeze and easterly breeze that helps keep the

:10:06. > :10:10.temperatures up quite a few places. They will get down to one or perhaps

:10:11. > :10:14.below zero. A risk of frost tomorrow morning. Fine weather to enjoy when

:10:15. > :10:19.the sun comes up that it is almost unbroken sunshine through the day.

:10:20. > :10:23.Still cold at the strong wind from east or north-east just 6 degrees as

:10:24. > :10:27.the top temperature. Unsubtle weather in the southern areas of

:10:28. > :10:30.Spain and Portugal. Quite cold. Really cold and really low

:10:31. > :10:33.temperatures across eastern parts of Europe. That has been beset up a

:10:34. > :10:38.couple of days and that continues into Thursday, as well. This is the

:10:39. > :10:43.forecast for the rest of this week. It is cold of a breeze still from

:10:44. > :10:47.the east still a bit of cloud into Friday and into Saturday. The cloud

:10:48. > :10:51.on Friday and through the morning and the afternoon is likely to

:10:52. > :10:55.produce showers. Not many lows will reach the island. It will be cold.

:10:56. > :10:57.Have a good night. That's your news this Wednesday

:10:58. > :11:07.evening, BBC Radio Guernsey next few days, no great changes over

:11:08. > :11:14.the next few days, more sunshine on the way.

:11:15. > :11:21.Despite high-pressure sitting across the country so only slow changes in

:11:22. > :11:22.the weather, we have had a variety of