A few weeks ago the Minister for Social Care Hon Chris Robertshaw MHK set out the size of the challenge facing the Island in relation to social policy and called for a National Debate on the issues. His attached statement outlines the issues that we the people must now discuss and agree.
The Minister commented: “We now have a simple choice: in order to address the substantial gap between Government’s income and expenditure we can either raise taxes significantly – which I firmly believe will damage jobs and the economy – or we can accept reforms to our social policy to ensure we support the most vulnerable while balancing Government’s budget. I am very confident that – if we have clear principles and apply them fairly – then the public will accept the need for change. I look forward now to a thorough public discussion on the principles of social policy reform.”
The statement sets out two fundamental principles as the basis for reform:
1. Government must seek to target scarce public resources to those in greatest need. This means more needs-testing and means-testing.
2. Government must seek to help people to be more self-sufficient and ensure they fulfil their social responsibilities. This means where possible providing more short-term help and fewer long-term benefits. It also means more effective assessment of needs and appropriate penalties where people seek to extract benefits and services to which they are not entitled.
Consultation documents will be published over the next few weeks in order to give everyone the opportunity to comment on social policy, which is at the heart of Government and affects everyone in our community.
Following the consultation this summer, Tynwald will be provided with an opportunity to debate social policy reform. This will assist Government in formulating the right overall social policy framework for the Island that has the broad support of Tynwald and the public. This framework will be crucial to Government in drafting the 3-year Budget for Tynwald to approve in February 2013. Detailed public discussions and consultations on specific reforms will take place during 2013 and possibly beyond. In this way Government can ensure there is full public engagement throughout while enabling progress to be made in meeting the current financial challenge.
