PRESS RELEASE
Report on Executive Council
24 th June 2025
A meeting of Executive Council was held on 24 th June 2025. MLAs Birmingham, Ford and Roberts
were in attendance. Unless otherwise stated, decisions were unanimous. The following were
considered:
Falkland Islands Tax Review Project – Open
ExCo approved the release of Invitation to Tender (ITT) document in respect of the Tax Review
Project.
The existing Taxes Ordinance came into effect in 1997 and has not been significantly altered since, and it has been recognised that there are areas which need to be addressed as they are no longer effective or work with modern day practises.
The tenders received will be assessed by the Government Taxation Office and returned to ExCo with recommendations on how to proceed. If a contract is awarded, the project will be split into two phases – a full review (including legislation, tax rates, new rates, data and digitalisation), with fully costed recommendations and timescales, with a further decision gateway before moving to
implementation.
Internal Audit Strategy – Closed
The Internal Audit Strategy 2025-26 and Annual Plan 2025-26 were noted by ExCo and will be passed to the Public Accounts Committee for information.
Retirement Pensions (Amendment) Bill 2025 – Open
ExCo approved the Retirement Pensions (Amendment) Bill 2025 and referred it to Legislative Assembly. The introduction of an earnings threshold for payment of the couple’s supplement (previously the married couple’s supplement) was also approved.
This Bill deals with a discriminatory issue that was found to exist with pensions since the introduction of the 1996 Ordinance, whereby only married men who were ‘maintaining’ a wife would receive the benefit. The supplement will now be payable to the older of a couple, regardless of gender, and also covers civil partnerships, and same sex marriages and civil partnerships.
A one-off lump sum will be made to individuals who did not receive this benefit as a result of the 1996 error. The Pensions Office will engage with those impacted by these changes, some of whom
may no longer qualify for the additional supplement because of the earnings threshold.
Currency (Amendment) Bill 2025 & Currency Regulations 2025 – Open
Following the process of commissioning new banknotes for the Falklands, the Commissioners of Currency identified a need to update the existing legislation and regulations. The amendments include placing a cap on the value of notes which can be exchanged by an individual at theTreasury (£5,000 annually), and an increase in the commission on such transactions to 20% – the Commissioners’ view being that these steps are needed to protect the currency against large-scale private purchase which could lead to a need for reprinting, which comes at high cost to the country.
ExCo approved the Bill and Regulations for publication in the Gazette.
Supplementary Appropriation (2024-25) Bill 2025 – Open following Assembly
This Bill will be published following presentation to the Legislative Assembly on 16 July.
FIG Tenancy and Housing Policy Consultation
This paper was deferred for further consideration.
Model Tenancy Agreement and Guidance – Open
ExCo approved the publication of the Model Tenancy Agreement and Guidance and its adoption as the standard FIG tenancy agreement.
The document seeks to reflect both best practice and the specific needs of letting and renting accommodation in the Islands, and is designed to offer security and assurances to both landlord and tenant. The guidelines provide further information to both parties about their rights and obligations.
The Model Tenancy Agreement is not at this time underpinned by law, but does set a standard for
best practice; it does not preclude the later development of regulation.
Review of Financial Assistance 2023-24 – Open
This paper reviewed the Financial Assistance programme, much of which is managed by Social Services, and sought clarifications and amendments to the administration of the policies in place in a number of areas, including:
– The cessation of financial assistance to individuals undergoing long-term medical treatment overseas at the point at which they become eligible for financial assistance in the country
where they have been relocated, or at 3 years, whichever is sooner.
– Agreement that residents returning to the Islands after medical treatment overseas of more than three years may still be eligible for financial assistance upon returning to the Islands if they would otherwise face hardship.
– The uplift of the savings threshold for core eligibility to £18,818 in line with the minimum wage proposed in the 2025/26 budget process.
– Amending the benefit-in-kind equivalent income rates to align with the Taxes (Benefits in Kind) Rules 2003.
– Agreement that the rent support cap for private sector be amended in line with any increase
to FIG rentals approved in the 2025/26 budget.
– Raise the lower threshold for Winter Fuel Allowance so that couples whose only income is their retirement pensions are not excluded from receiving the allowance.
– Noting that a wider review of Attendance Allowance will be completed in the coming months and the processes for the revised operational manual, policies and details will be returned to Exco and regularised.
National Minimum Wage Accommodation Offset Changes – Open with redactions Members agreed the policy changes to the minimum wage accommodation offset and the
development of legislation to implement these from January 2026.
These changes, which were developed through two rounds of consultation, will mean that more
employers who provide accommodation for their employees will come under the scope of the
Regulations:
– expanding the offset to encompass businesses providing free accommodation and those who charge through means other than deduction from gross salary.
– Revising the rate of the offset from 50%, to 70% for paid accommodation and 50% for free accommodation.
– Increasing the offset cap to 50% of the minimum wage.
Fisheries Accord Action Plan – Open
ExCo noted the progress made against the FIG-FIFCA Accord action plan in 2023 and 2024, and the progress made by companies against individual ITQ-B company action plans. It was agreed that the Department of Natural Resources and FIFCA continue to work together to review individual goals
and objectives, in consultation with MLAs.
The accord is a key principle of the ITQ system. The action plan agreed in 2021 focusses on five main outcomes – building a competitive and successful seafood sector, ensuring health oceans, caring for our environment, protecting our people, and caring for our community.
VSAT Connectivity Broadband (VBC) Licence & Revised Fee for VSAT Licence – Open
Members approved the recommendations of the independent Communications Regulator relating to the Communications (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2025.
These amendments give effect to the earlier policy decisions to introduce an annual licence fee of £1,800 for providers of VSAT services and to reduce the VSAT licence fee from £5,400 to £180.
These Regulations will come into effect on publication in the Gazette.
Immigration Appeals – Closed
ExCo considered three Immigration matters, upholding the decisions of the Principal Immigration Officer.
FIDF Veteran’s Charter – Open
Members approved the issuance of a Veteran’s pin to former members of the Falkland Islands Defence Force. The acknowledgement will also extend to those who were enlisted, deputised or actively participated in a manner similar to an FIDF member during historic crises in the 1960s, and
to individuals who were trained in Camp to act as member of the FIDF but did not have the opportunity to complete the formal recruitment, oath swearing etc.
The pin is intended to formally recognise and celebrate the contributions of those individuals who demonstrated the willingness to serve for the Falkland Islands.
The development of a broader FIDF Veteran’s Charter will be further considered at a later date.
MLA Leona Roberts
26 June 2025
