“We have made period products free at more than 14 locations"

Wednesday 16 August 2023

The Chief Minister has hit back after being called "disingenuous" over a plan to scrap a previous commitment to remove tax on period products.

Deputy Kristina Moore said the fact her Government had helped provide free menstrual products "at more than 14 locations across Jersey" was a "more effective way to address period poverty than removing GST".

Following recent comments from a Reform Deputy describing her as "disingenuous", Deputy Kristina Moore issued a statement explaining that "it was always [her] ambition to address period poverty and the inequality women faced in paying for period products".

Earlier this week, Reform Jersey's Deputy Lyndsay Feltham described it as "disappointing" and “concerning that the Chief Minister can change her principles so quickly” after securing the support of the former States Assembly to remove the 5% GST on period products last year.

At the time, then-Senator Moore pointed out that Jersey was the only place left in the British Isles not to get rid of what has become known as the ‘tampon tax’ and argued that having GST on period items meant that they were viewed as a "luxury item".

Pictured: Last year, Kristina Moore argued for the removal of GST on menstrual products, explaining that "period are not opt in!"

However, now as Chief Minister, Deputy Moore's Government has put forward a proposition to rescind that promise to remove GST on period products as Ministers feel they have "surpassed" this aim by providing free products in some locations around the island instead.

Deputy Feltham agreed that the free menstrual products currently on offer “may well help people suffering from period poverty”, but explained that it “relies on you finding yourself in one of those free locations at the right time”. 

She added that there "quite clearly” aren’t enough free products for “every single woman to take what they need” from the locations where they are available.

Describing GST on menstrual products a “discriminatory tax”, Deputy Feltham said that there is a need to ensure that the Government "isn’t revenue-raising from women’s periods”.

"It's an issue of principal and an issue of respect," she said. "Reversing this decision sets a worrying precedent for Ministers disrespecting decisions made by elected officials."

Pictured: The Chief Minister said that the Government has "made period products free at more than 14 locations" across the island.

Responding in a statement yesterday, the Chief Minister said: “I am disappointed at recent comments from Deputy Feltham over my position on GST on period products.

“As I made clear to the States Assembly during the debate in April last year, it was never my position that it would be necessary to remove GST if period products were available for free.

“At the time of the debate many of us recognised that making period products free could be a better solution than removing GST. 

“But as I told members, the previous Government’s assurance that it would look at making them free might never have come to pass, given it had less than two months left to serve until the election.

“As I made clear, that is why I decided to press ahead with my proposition: in order to put on record the will of the Assembly to tackle this important issue."

Pictured: Deputy Lyndsay Feltham said that there is a need to ensure that the Government "isn’t revenue-raising from women’s periods".

She continued: “I believe that this Council of Ministers has tackled this issue – not with assurances but with deeds. 

“We have made period products free at more than 14 locations across Jersey. We have supplied more than 110,000 to islanders so far, and we are continuing to increase the supply as we widen the scheme to include public loos from late August. 

“That is a more effective way to address period poverty than removing GST – a saving which experience shows retailers might never pass on to islanders. 

“It was always my ambition to address period poverty and the inequality women faced in paying for period products. That was why I brought my proposition.

“But as Chief Minister I have been able to go further and do more – and to do it in a way that offers real value for islanders.”

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