SOCIAL Security funds could be used to help provide insurance schemes for Islanders in the future, the Chief Minister has told a Scrutiny panel.
Deputy Kristina Moore was being questioned about the government’s attitude to those who could not afford insurance to protect themselves from emergencies of the kind that have blighted the Island in the past year, including most recently Storm Ciarán.
Deputy Moore said that there was “an element of people bearing their own personal responsibilities” and she declined to be specific about taxpayers’ support for those who Deputy Lyndon Farnham described as “the less well-off in our society that are most adversely affected”.
But she continued: “It’s long been my view that perhaps there is opportunity, by using the strong financial position of the Island particularly with regards our Social Security funds, to perhaps offer our own insurance programmes. For example, critical illness cover is something I’m aware is very expensive for the self-employed and I have discussed with the Social Security Minister whether, when the time comes, we can look at developing our own opportunities that might help to provide affordable options for Islanders.”
The Chief Minister was appearing in front of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel, where she was questioned about the Government Plan and the impact of emergencies on government funding.
Deputy Moore said that the “quite unprecedented” series of emergencies which had hit the Island in the past 11 months had “not put too much pressure” on budgets which already contained allocations for urgent situations. She paid tribute to the response of government agencies.
“We are very fortunate and I think Islanders have been really reassured by the way that public services stepped up and supported them through these various sometimes tragic incidents and responded to them,” she said. “Obviously people have insurance as well for difficult circumstances, so there is an element of people bearing their own personal responsibilities in response to some of the [emergencies] and government taking its role as well.
“Sadly that is a risk that people bear and it is a responsibility they bear when they take such a decision [not to pay for insurance], but of course we understand the difficulties and the impact on people’s budgets and personal circumstances, particularly at this time.”
