This will enable Social Security Minister Paul Routier to start the scheme immediately while regulations are drafted to implement Senator Mike Vibert’s Budget amendment of last year which put 1p on a pint of beer to fund the scheme.
Senator Routier said: ‘The department is currently finalising the law drafting brief for the regulations and setting up the administration.
I am hopeful that, if the regulations can be drafted and debated by the States in the next two months, the scheme can be up and running shortly after.’ Having the money up front, he added, meant that everyone who met the criteria would get their licences paid this year.
In last December’s Budget debate the States approved the principle of targeting help towards single people with an annual income of less than £12,770 and for couple on a maximum of £20,720.
