GST should stay for food and fuel in Jersey, says minister

Sales tax should continue to be levied on food and fuel, according to Jersey's Treasury Minister Senator Philip Ozouf.

Senator Alan Breckon wants the States to vote on making those items exempt from the goods and services tax (GST).

It is the latest of several attempts to make changes to GST. Mr Ozouf said the move would cost the island £8m a year.

He said if Jersey adopted the same VAT measures that are used the UK, it would be complicated and would cost £200,000 to £300,000 a year to administer.

More than 100 countries use a form of GST, according to the minister, and most subject food and domestic fuel to this type of taxation.

A similar attempt to exempt food and fuel from GST was recently defeated by two votes in the States.