Falklands : FALKLANDS BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2012/13
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 02.06.2012 (Article Archived on 16.06.2012)
1. £2.9M funding for economic development in tourism, rural development, oil and communication links
FIG BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2012/13
Provided by Treasury Staff
Significant Areas of Investment: The Treasury 25th May 2012
1. £2.9M funding for economic development in tourism, rural development, oil and communication links
2. 3 year capital programme of £26.4M
3. Annual £½M increase to the Capital Equalisation Fund
4. Increased infrastructure works including additional capital funding for road network, renovation of Public Jetty, Museum Relocation to Dockyard, increased Government housing and building plots
5. Additional capital funding for departmental assets including eGovernment, Fire and Medical equipment
6. £13.6M funding for Health and Education (£0.9M increase)
7. Additional £1.5M for the Civil Service including new funding for 25 posts
Spending Increases:
1. Welfare, attendance and fostering allowances of 4%
2. Child allowance to £63/month per child
3. FIG Staff salaries & wages increase of 4%
4. Old Scheme public service, FLH pensions, Standard retirement pensions, ex-gratia pensions & Christmas bonus increase by 4%
5. Threshold for rent rebate, service charge rebate and winter fuel allowance increase by 3%
Fees, Charges, Taxes and Duties:
Decreases
1. Income tax personal allowance tax band increase from £12,000 to £14,000 from 1st January 2013
2. No TV licence/media service charge to be created
3. Delay Commercial Community Service Charge until 1st July 2013
4. Removal of Medical Treatment Overseas Elective charge of £400
5. Removal of Status Ceremony Fee
No changes
1. Stanley Airport Landing fees
2. Harbour Dues and Customs clearance fees
3. Passenger levy and Embarkation Fee
4. Cemetery plot reservation or funeral charges
5. Service charges for domestic properties remain at £426/year
6. Metered water charges and waste collection charges
7. Private sector quarry aggregate prices
8. Electricity connection charge for new properties
9. Septic tank cleaning charges
10. Income tax, Corporation tax or MST rates
11. Resident FIGAS flight and freight rates from 1st July 2013
Increases
1. Customs import duties of 5% on cigarettes and tobacco products (effective immediately)
2. Customs import duties of 3% on alcohol (effective immediately)
3. Electricity increase to 22p per unit (effective immediately)
4. Postal charges including local letter by 3p to 30p and airmail letter by 5p to 75p
5. Rents for FIG accommodation by 5%
6. Communal heating scheme charges by 10%
7. Court and Registry fees
8. Boarding charges at Stanley House by 10%
9. Dental charges by 10%
10. Police vetting charges by 10% and 20% for enhanced vetting
11. Customs service fees following pay award
12. Inflationary increase in the following fees of 3%
13. Car licence fees to £117 (+ other licence fees commensurately)
14. Veterinary and agriculture charges
15. Vehicles, firearms & drivers licence fees
16. Work, residence & customs permits, PRP & status applications and visas
17. Attorney General and notarial charges
18. Training Centre course fees to £51.50/day
19. Civil Aviation fees
20. Banking licence to £4,000 per annum from 1st January 2013
21. Retirement Pension Contributions (RPCs) from 1st January 2013 to £14.50 (resident, employee/ employer) and £35.20 (voluntary overseas)
22. Increase in non-resident FIGAS freight and flight rates of 10% from 1st July 2013
New charges
1. £1.50 for a supplementary photocard driving licence (not compulsory)
2. Medical Treatment Overseas flight charge of £300 for first referral
All changes effective 1st July 2012 unless otherwise stated
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