Scrutiny committee to examine social security spending in public hearing
- Scrutiny Management Committee will hold public hearing with Employment & Social Security on 6th October 2026
- Benefits spending accounts for more than a quarter of total States expenditure
- Personal social security contribution rates will have risen by a third to 8% over 15 years
- Committee chair says annual ESS uprating reports are approved without sufficient scrutiny
- Hearing will be held at St Martin's Parish Hall between 10am and 12pm, with live streaming available
The Scrutiny Management Committee will hold a public hearing with Employment & Social Security to examine benefits spending, which accounts for more than a quarter of total States expenditure.
The hearing will take place at St Martin's Parish Hall on Tuesday 6th October 2026, between 10am and 12pm. The SMC panel will include Deputy Andy Sloan as chair, Deputy Haley Camp, and non-States members Mark Le Page and Charisma Lyall.
The public are welcome to attend the formal parliamentary proceeding in an observational capacity, though they will not be able to ask questions or make comments whilst the hearing is in progress. The hearing will also be live streamed on YouTube.
The scrutiny follows concerns that annual Employment & Social Security uprating reports have been approved without sufficient examination, despite the significant sums involved. Personal social security contribution rates are set to reach 8% following changes currently taking effect, representing a one-third increase over 15 years.
Deputy Andy Sloan said: "Every year the annual ESS uprating report just gets nodded through by the States. Yet benefits spending accounts for more than a quarter of total States expenditure and personal social security rates will have risen by a third to 8% in the last 15 years under changes presently taking effect. Given the focus on proposals to increase general taxation, we felt it might be apposite to take a closer look spending in this area."
Q&A
Q: When and where is the public hearing taking place?
A: The hearing will be held at St Martin's Parish Hall on Tuesday 6th October 2026, between 10am and 12pm. It will also be live streamed on YouTube.
Q: How much of States expenditure goes towards benefits spending?
A: Benefits spending accounts for more than a quarter of total States expenditure in Guernsey.
Q: Can members of the public participate in the hearing?
A: Members of the public are welcome to attend in an observational capacity but cannot ask questions or make comments whilst the hearing is in progress, as it is a formal parliamentary proceeding.
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