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Population & Migration A Report by the Corporate services scrutiny panel

We are the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel. Our remit is to look at the draft policies or matters of public importance relating to the work of the Chief Minister and the Minister for Treasury & Resources.

THE ISSUE

As part of plans to provide a new Migration Policy for Jersey, the Chief Minister established the Migration Policy Development Board on the 13th February 2019, with the aim to "develop comprehensive migration policy proposals which will deliver more responsive controls over who can come to live, work and access public services in Jersey, improving consistency wherever practical and helping to reduce the Island’s reliance on inward migration."

THE REVIEW

The Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel subsequently established this review to test the Government's approach to delivering this important policy, and gain a greater understanding of the views of the public and relevant stakeholders.

We held eight public hearings with Ministers and Stakeholders, as well as one with the Migration Policy Development Board itself. We received a range of comments from the public regarding their views on Population and Migration in Jersey, as well as a number of written submissions from stakeholders, and examined the Board's Interim Report.

Our final report focuses on the structure and composition of the Board and areas where the Board could improve its processes. Once the Board has completed its work and the Government has published its migration policy, we may carry out further work to examine the proposals put forward.

EVIDENCE ACCUMULATED

We held eight public hearings with Ministers and Stakeholders, as well as one with the Migration Policy Development Board itself.

By engaging with the public on social media, we were able to receive a range of comments from Islanders regarding their views on Population and Migration in Jersey,

We also wrote to Ministers and Stakeholders to obtain further information on their views on Population & Migration in Jersey, and to the Migration Policy Development Board to request further information on the Board's work and composition.

All evidence that we have received has been published on the States Assembly website.

JERSEY'S POPULATION

According to the Jersey Resident Population 2018 Estimate, the resident population of Jersey at year-end 2018 was 106,800.

The Island's population is estimated to have grown by 1,200 persons in 2018. This included both natural growth (births minus deaths) and net migration (people moving into the Island minute the number of people moving out).

We have also examined data regarding the projected population of Jersey under different annual migration rates, and the amount of taxes paid by Jersey households, compared to the cost per household of providing government services.

WHAT WE HEARD & WHAT WE FOUND

At the start of the review, we launched a social media campaign across Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to better-understand the public's views on Population & Migration in Jersey.

We received a number of submissions from social media and through our online feedback form, with a variety of views. Overall, we found that stakeholders were keen to be consulted on population and migration issues and wanted to be able to have their say.

Based on the submissions and hearings we have collected, we have made a number of recommendations to the Migration Policy Development Board. These can be found in our report.

This includes a recommendation that the Migration Policy Development Board should make changes to its composition, remit and methodology, and aim to engage and seek as large a range of views as possible.

We have also recommended that the Board give more consideration to the diversity of its membership, commit to examining the human rights implications of a new Migration Policy, and do more to engage children and young people in developing a new policy.

Deputy Jess Perchard (Lead Member for this Review) Senator Kristina Moore (Chair), Deputy Steve Ahier (Vice-Chair)
Connétable Karen Shenton-Stone, Connétable Richard Vibert