Guernsey minister vow on reducing deficit

An £8.9m deficit will be dealt with, according to Guernsey's social security minister.

Deputy Allister Langlois said he wanted discussions with Treasury and Resources to take place over a change to the collection of taxes in Guernsey.

But he said a short-term rise in contribution rates would be counter-productive.

Deputies in 2011 agreed to a total budget of £361.8m for the year for States departments and committees.

Mr Langlois said: "The danger of trying to close that gap immediately through the contributions system is that the only place it sensibly or fairly could go would be mainly on the employers' contribution and that could have direct effects on the competitiveness of business."