States Assembly Annual Report 2017

STATES ASSEMBLY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

PRIVILEGES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE October 2018

1

R.137/2018

Foreword by the Bailiff of Jersey

President of the States

I am pleased to write this foreword to the Annual Report of the States Assembly for the year 2017.

There is often little getting away from the fact that statistics tell their own story. 2017 was the busiest year for this particular group of States Members, the Assembly sitting on more days than it had done since 2014, the general election taking place in the autumn of that year. Interestingly, the number of questions put to Ministers reduced, other than to the Chief Minister, which perhaps suggests a view amongst members during that period that there had been a move to Chief Ministerial government, in that the Chief Minister, who has relatively few direct functions under the law – these are limited under Article 18 of the States of Jersey Law 2005 – was expected to answer questions on every aspect of government policy and its administration. The 2005 Law was now drawn on that basis but politics of course develop. The Annual Report helpfully describes the range of work which different States members undertook on behalf of the public – but because it is a report of the Assembly rather than of the government, it masks to a degree the contribution which government ministers have made during the year. To some extent that is clear from the number of Projets proposed for debate and speeches made and indeed the relatively few questions asked; but the Report does make plain that it is not only government ministers who do the work. There is a full description of work done by backbench members in Scrutiny and on other panels or committees of the States.

The Brexit decision by the United Kingdom was clearly a matter which began to take up more time during 2017 because of its potential impact on the Island, as indeed was the proposed future hospital. It does seem likely that further debates on both important subjects might yet take place.

Finally, but not at all unimportantly, the Assembly was pleased to welcome a new Lieutenant Governor, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton GCB, who was sworn into office on 13th March 2017. On taking up his position in the States for the first time, Sir Stephen made an excellent first and penultimate speech! It was absolutely clear from all that he said that he had spent a good deal of time reading about and around the work of the States and gathering information concerning our Island community and it was heartening that it had

already struck him how the generous spirit of the people of Jersey was exemplified by the charitable support given to needy communities and by the support given also by the Assembly.

Bailiff

Introduction by Deputy Russell Labey

Chairman, Privileges and Procedures Committee

I am delighted to introduce the States Assembly's Annual Report for 2017, which this year is presented in a new, more accessible, format.

The report is an important document of record, which sets out in one place information about the Assembly's activities in 2017, including the work of the various scrutiny panels and the Public Accounts Committee. There is also a wealth of statistical information about the Assembly and its Members to be found at the end of the report.

2017 was the last full year before the election held in May 2018 and as such was significantly busier for the Assembly than the previous two years, as a number of political initiatives by ministers and backbenchers came up for debate. There were major debates on the future hospital, the composition of the Assembly and whether the Assembly should have the Bailiff as its Speaker. These continue to be controversial matters which I predict will feature in future annual reports.

The publication of the report of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry on 3rd July 2017 was a very significant moment for the Island and the report was debated over two days on 6th and 7th July, highlighting the importance of the subject to the Assembly. Attention has now turned to the implementation of improvements in legislation and practice so that all children in the Island are properly looked after. A special scrutiny panel has been set up to monitor implementation.

A scrutiny panel on Brexit was also established during 2017 and is continuing its work post- election, as the full implications of Brexit for the Island slowly reveal themselves. Scrutiny panels have been closely involved in the debate on the future hospital and also did important work on subjects as disparate as the financing of students in higher education, nitrates in water and income support for lone parents, all matters which are summarised in this annual report.

The Privileges and Procedures Committee published a report on engaging the public with Jersey's democracy in January 2017. A number of new initiatives, from e-petitions to more active use of social media were commenced in 2017 and will be more fully reported on in the 2018 annual report.

The annual report also draws attention to the important work undertaken by States Members in representing Jersey overseas, as part of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie and the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly.

I would like to thank the staff of the States Greffe for their often unsung work in support of the Assembly. I also pay tribute to the members of the Privileges and Procedures Committee in 2017. I was honoured to be elected to chair the Committee after the election in May 2018 and I particularly wish to thank, on behalf of the whole Assembly, Len Norman, the Connétable of St Clement, for chairing the Committee from 2014 to 2018.

States Assembly 2017

Overview

The Assembly sat on 41 days in 2017, the most since 2014. The total sitting time was just under 230 hours, 56 more than in 2016 and 70 more hours than in 2015.

Most of the Assembly's time (170 hours) was spent on public business' – debating propositions and legislation. Just over one half of that time was spent on propositions and laws proposed by the executive – including the Council of Ministers and individual Ministers. The remaining time was spent on propositions brought by individual Members and committees (particularly the Privileges and Procedures Committee). 34 propositions from individual Members were debated during the year, compared to 20 in 2016.

Public Business 2017 - time spent

Appointment

Regulation

Ministerial policy

In committee debate

Law

Budget/MTFP

Private member/PPC policy

Ministers were asked 197 questions, with advance notice of the subject, compared to 246 in 2016. As usual, the Chief Minister was the most questioned Minister. There was also over 9 hours of questions asked without notice, again mostly to the Chief Minister.

Questions without notice

2016 2017

70 60 50 40

30 20 10 0

In addition, 350 questions requiring a written answer were tabled during the year, 17 more than in 2016.

More data about the States Assembly in 2017 can be found in Annex 4.

Significant debates

136 debates took place in the  States Chamber during 2017.  Amongst the more noteworthy  topics discussed by members  were the following:  

On 3 July 2018, the Independent  Jersey Care Inquiry published  its report (R.59/2017) and  presented its findings to the  States.  

The report followed a three-year investigation into failings in Jersey's child care system and made a number of recommendations for the future of care in the Island. From 6 to 7 July 2017, the Assembly spent two days on an in-Committee' debate (in which Members can speak more than once and there's no vote at the end), discussing the report and the recommendations of the Inquiry.

Plans for the future hospital had been debated by the Assembly in previous years and they were discussed again in 2017. On 13 December 2017, the Assembly adopted Future Hospital: approval of preferred scheme and funding (P.107/2017).

As a result, States members approved the preferred scheme for a new-build hospital to be placed on part of the site of the existing hospital and the funding mechanism by which the £466 million cost of the new hospital would be met.

The effects of Brexit and the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union continued to be considered. On 15 February 2017, members approved Brexit Report: steps taken by the Government of Jersey before Notification by the Government of the United Kingdom under Article 50 of the UK's intention to withdraw from the EU (P.7/2017) and agreed that the European Union (Jersey) Law 1973 should be repealed. On 1 November 2017, Members subsequently held an in-Committee debate to talk about the steps taken by Jersey's Government in respect of Brexit.

Reforming the make-up of the States  Assembly had been the subject of several  debates over the previous 20 years and  the debates continued in 2017. On 2  February 2017, the Assembly adopted  Composition and Election of the States  Assembly (P.133/2016). Lodged initially  by Deputy Andrew Lewis , the proposition  was subject to amendment during the  debate and members ultimately agreed the  Assembly should comprise 48 members  elected from six new, large constituencies:  8 Senators, 12 Connétable s and 28  Deputies. On 15 March 2017, the  Assembly rejected Electoral Reform  (P.10/2017), lodged by Senator Lyndon   Farnham , which would have seen those  proposed changes put to a referendum.  However, when the Draft States of Jersey  (Amendment No. 9) Law 201- (P.18/2017),  was brought to the Assembly on 7 June  2017 to enact the changes which had  been agreed, members rejected the draft  legislation and it was subsequently  withdrawn. As a consequence, no  changes were agreed to the make-up of  the Assembly in 2017.  

Later in 2017, however, members  approved the proposition Elected Speaker  and Deputy Speaker of the States  Assembly: selection and appointment (P.84/2017), lodged by the Chief Minister.  

In doing so, members agreed that the Bailiff would cease to be President of the States Assembly and that the role of presiding officer would be taken by a speaker elected by States members. Following a successful amendment from Senator Sir Philip Bailhache , it was agreed that the proposition would only be implemented if confirmed by a referendum.

The Assembly debated changes to the Island's systems and institutions on a number of occasions. On 18 January 2017, for instance, the Assembly adopted the Draft Public Elections (Amendment No. 8) (Jersey) Law 201- (P.125/2016), thereby making provision for Jersey's elections to be observed by an international mission in future. On 1 February 2017, the Assembly approved the Draft Commissioner for Standards (Jersey) Law 201- (P.87/2016), changing the way in which complaints against States members and ministers would be dealt with. Later in the year, Mr Paul Kernaghan was recruited as Jersey's first Commissioner for Standards.

On 28 March 2017, the Draft Referendum (Jersey) Law 201- (P.4/2017) was approved, providing a new legislative context in which referendums would be held in Jersey. Members of the new Referendum Commission were recruited by the end of the year.

Furthermore, on 2 May 2018 the Assembly adopted E-Petitions (P.14/2017), lodged by Deputy Scott Wickenden, and agreed to introduce e-petitions.

Not all attempts at reform of the institutions were successful, however. For example, members rejected Chief Minister: term limit (P.24/2017), lodged by Senator Sarah Ferguson, which would have seen Chief Ministers of Jersey limited to serving for a maximum of 8 years. Similarly, the proposition of Deputy Russell Labey entitled Chief Minister: election by Island-wide vote of registered electors (P.78/2017) was also rejected.

A number of independent members' propositions were adopted by the Assembly. On 19 July 2017, for example, the Assembly adopted a proposition from Deputy Geoff Southern to establish a Jersey Ethical Care Charter (P.48/2017). And on 26 September 2017, the Assembly adopted a proposition from Deputy Louise Doublet entitled United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: compliance of draft Laws and training of States of Jersey employees (P.63/2017), which sought to make it a requirement for every draft Law to be accompanied by a statement as to whether the Law would impact on children's rights.

The Chamber was also the location of significant political challenges during the course of the year. Two votes of no confidence and two votes of censure were lodged and debated. On 20 June,

members sat past 8pm before rejecting the proposition of Connétable Chris Taylor that they had no confidence in the Chief Minister; and on 12 September 2017, the Assembly agreed to censure Deputy Andrew Lewis for breaching the Code of Conduct for Elected Members.

The Assembly's sittings are broadcast live online and archived recordings are available to view for six months. In 2017, there were a total of 11,203 viewers across the whole year. The webcast with the largest number of viewers in total was the afternoon of 20 June 2017, when the Assembly debated a proposition expression no confidence in the Chief Minister, for which there were 696 viewers in total. However, these figures understate the number of views of the Assembly's proceedings because extracts from the webcasts can be published on social media and may also be used by television networks.

Scrutiny 2017

Overview

This section looks at the wide variety of work undertaken by the Assembly's Scrutiny Panels and Committees during 2017. Issues scrutinised have ranged from high profile public interest matters such as the Future Hospital and Care of Children in Jersey, to more technical issues and legislation. Aside from review work, Ministers have been held to account and important issues have been raised by Panels though a number of other mechanisms, including public quarterly hearings, questions and statements in the States Assembly and comment in traditional and social media.

The Chairmen's Committee, along with the individual Panels, has also striven to innovate and evolve scrutiny's interaction with the community and stakeholder organisations, and to continue to seek to influence and improve government policies and legislation.

A full list of reports and other documents published by scrutiny panels and the Public Accounts Committee can be found at Annex 3.

Significant scrutiny work

1. Student Finance (Higher Education): Education and Home Affairs panel

This review focused on the financial barriers to Jersey students studying at universities off the Island. The Review was led by Deputy Jeremy Maçon who said at the time:

" TGhiovs iser anmprenobtslem ha tvhe arte hpaeas remtedlya inaellodw unredes thole vgerda fnt ors yeaystemrs. to become so underfunded as to fail to meet the needs of the

people it is intended to provide for, the loans system has never really left the ground as the amounts are too small to work. The changes in the UK have compounded the problem further by increasing fees and therefore creating further hardship on families and students.

There are some fundamental questions that need resolving, such as who should finance university education, the family, the student, the state or perhaps business? The Panel wants to get to the bottom of some of these thoughts and try to establish how the people of Jersey would like to see this

moving forwards.

"

Recommendations made in the Panel's report in March included the phasing out of Higher Child Allowance from marginal rate tax payers and redirecting money to provide direct assistance for students once a suitable solution was found. Furthermore, the Council of Ministers Sub-Committee tasked with finding a solution to the problems of financing students through university was urged to consider some form of student loan system.

Deputy Maçon reflected on the impact of the Panel's work:

" Tyhereare s. hTahes b Meinen noisters p foroli tEdicaucl watillion to alonok sd Treaerioussuryly a and t this for Resources each placed the responsibility for getting

something done very clearly at the door of the other. In recognising that, the Panel interviewed the Chief Minister at a public hearing. It was then that we learned that the Chief Minister had created a sub-committee of the Council of Ministers to undertake finding a solution. Suddenly there seems to be the political will to get something done.

Tbcommhe lockaPanitgtel ee e afeelstnod e iwnst haill bure se cltkhateaeeprtedheing w w aorh caktlos is w aeds wone calet.ch arl"yon t a pheolit suicab-l

2. Nitrate levels in Jersey's water: Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Panel

The Panel examined the  Water Management Plan  (WMP) as part of its  review of nitrate levels in  Jersey's water. The main  objective of the WMP is  to improve Jersey's  water quality and a key  element of its objectives  is to address the high  level of nitrates in  Jersey's streams and  groundwater.

The Panel engaged the Scott ish Environment Protection Agency to assist with its review. The Panel was fully supportive of the proposals contained within the WMP but highlighted a number of amendments that could be made to help improve the plan and its delivery. The Panel made five recommendations, all of which were accepted.

3. Redesign of the Health and Social Care Governance Model: Health and Social Security Panel

The Panel undertook a review in respect of P.60/2017, which asked States Members to approve the introduction for a three-year trial period of a System Partnership Board. The Board would be responsible for advising the Minister for Health and Social Services on matters relating to health and social care.

The Panel lodged an amendment that proposed that the System Partnership Board should not be formally established before April 2018. This would give the Minister the opportunity to report on progress to the Panel and the Assembly, to allow Members to ask questions of the Minister, and to allow time for any further debate if considered necessary. The amendment was accepted by the Assembly (34 votes in favour, 0 votes against). However, the Proposition was subsequently withdrawn by the Minister following concern about the level of consultation with the Public Accounts Committee and the issues raised by the Panel.

4. Review of user-pays charges for non-households – Phase 1 – liquid waste: Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Panel

In July 2017, the Panel undertook a review of the proposals to introduce charges for liquid waste for non-households. The Panel and its advisors found that, whilst the rationale behind the introduction of such charges was sound, many flaws existed within the details of the plans. Furthermore, the Panel concluded that the proposals to introduce charges for liquid waste were not fully consulted upon. Due to the Panel's concerns and concerns raised by States Members during the debate on the liquid waste proposals, the States Assembly agreed to refer the Proposition back to the Minister for Infrastructure for further consideration.

5. Income Support: Reinstatement of Single Parent Component: Health and Social Security Panel

The Panel lodged a Proposition for debate by the States Assembly seeking to reinstate the single parent component of Income Support. The Proposition requested the Minister for Social Security and the Minister for Treasury and Resources to identify funding in order to reinstate the component until a sustainable funding stream can be identified in the next Medium Term Financial Plan. The Proposition was accepted by the States.

6. Electoral Reform: Corporate Services Panel (sub-panel)

The Corporate Services Scrutiny Sub-Panel for Electoral Reform published a report in June following a high profile review of the proposed changes to electoral reform as set out in the proposition P18/2017.

In its report, the Panel drew on its findings from five Public meetings, six public hearings,  approximately 50 written submissions and  1,030 Islanders polled by Ipsos MORI. The  result of this engagement led the Panel to  conclude that the case for the proposals for  electoral reform as set out in P.18/2017 and its two amendments had not been made.

The Panel also found that 71% of Islanders would have desired a referendum on these proposed changes and 87% wished to receive greater communication on such changes in the future.

The poll conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Panel found that:

• 58% were in favour of keeping Senators in the States (compared to 19% against)
• 65% wished to retain Parish Deputies as they currently stand (compared to 17% who did not)
• 55% want to keep Connétable s in the States (compared to 26% who do not)

Regarding the proposed changes in P.18/2017 and its amendments, the Panel found that:

• 75% knew "not very much" or "nothing at all" about the proposed changes
• 87% thought there should be greater communication with the Public on matters of significant change to political representation or governance
• 71% thought a referendum should be held on the proposed changes
• The majority of Islanders didn't think St Helier should have a greater number of Deputies (42% versus 30%)

The Chairman of the Sub-Panel, Deputy John le Fondré commented at the time:

" Wethe h4 awveekse conducwe hatedd aavgarileaabtle d. eaIt isl ofourpubli conc clenusgion, agemfroment in speaking directly to the public at our 5 meetings, through

written submissions to the Panel and from responses to the poll, that the case for the electoral reform proposals as set out in proposition P.18/2017 has not been made. I hope Members will consider our findings, going into the

"

debate

7. Future Hospital

There was significant scrutiny undertaken of the Future Hospital project throughout 2017. In the spring the Corporate Services Panel focused its attention on the funding proposals contained within P.130/2016 Future Hospital Funding Strategy. During the review of P.130/2016 the Panel's advisor, Opus Corporate Finance, suggested that the debate should be delayed until the project costs and risks became clearer. The Treasury Minister withdrew the Proposition and agreed to wait until the autumn, when a more detailed business case and an updated budget, as well as greater clarity on the planning process, could be provided.

Subsequently the Future Hospital Review Panel was established by the Chairmen's Committee, and it undertook an examination of the Future Hospital Project outline business case and funding proposals. The Proposition examined by the Panel (P.107/2017, lodged by the Minister for Treasury and Resources) asked States Members to approve the preferred scheme (a new build hospital on a part of the current site and a new build facility at Westaway Court) and the funding strategy.

The Panel appointed technical  advisers Concerto Partners LLP and  Opus Corporate Finance to assist it  during the review. Concerto  undertook an assurance review of  

the Outline Business Case which provides the detail of the preferred scheme for the new hospital. Opus provided expert advice on the funding proposals.

Concerto's overall view of the Outline Business Case was that it was fit for purpose and presented a sound enough basis for decision making by the States Assembly. Concerto rated the project as Amber-Green because there was sufficient contingency, in terms of time and cost allowances, to cope with the various risks that face it. In terms of the short-term objectives of the project (planning approval, P.107/2017 approval and the appointment of a main contractor) Concerto rated this phase as Amber-Red which meant that the successful delivery of the project in the short-term period is in doubt.

Opus considered that the proposal to issue a bond to fund the hospital project made sense as it was a form of bond already issued by the States and therefore would be familiar to investors. Opus also commented that the funding proposal was a "middle path" between funding the hospital entirely from borrowing or entirely from the Strategic Reserve. Opus considered this to be a pragmatic response to these two options.

The Chairman of the Panel, Deputy Simon Brée said:

" been undertaken in providing the detail for the It is clear that a significant amount of work has

new hospital and its funding mechanism. However, the Panel is unconvinced that a debate should take place in the absence of planning approval and asks the Treasury Minister to defer the debate until the final

planning decision is known.  "

The debate on P.107/2017 nonetheless proceeded as planned, and the proposals approved by the States. However, in January 2018 the planning application was rejected by the Minister for the Environment upon the recommendation of the independent planning inspector.

8. Care of Children in Jersey

The Chairman's Committee established a Review Panel to examine the policies, legislation and actions of the Council of Ministers as a result of the recommendations made in the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry (IJCI).

The IJCIreportidentifiedindividual and systemic failings and made eight corerecommendations to ensure the Islandprovides a safe and secure environment for the children in its care. Furthermore it relayed (and backed) 659 recommendationsput forward by individuals or stakeholder organisations in Jersey, which it grouped into 11 themed categories.

The Review Panel was established to make sure that these recommendations are implemented correctly and that any proposals put forward to achieve them are adequately examined. The Review Panel was re-appointed after the election in 2018.

9. Brexit

Following the commencement of formal Brexit negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union on 19 June 2017, a Brexit Review Panel was formed to scrutinise Jersey's policy towards Brexit.

The Brexit Review Panel has taken on the responsibility for scrutinising both how the States of Jersey is preparing for Brexit and the specific changes to legislation that will be necessary. Membership of the Panel comprises representatives from each of the existing Scrutiny Panels, in order to provide oversight of what is a wide and varied topic. It is anticipated that the Panel will remain in place (albeit with changes in membership following the general election in 2018) for the duration of the Brexit process.

10. Work of the Public Accounts Committee

The Committee published two reports in 2017: on e- gov and the new police headquarters.

The Committee questioned whether the necessary "corporate buy- in" had been secured for the wide-ranging, interdepartmental e-gov project. PAC found it

to identify a single strategy document serving as a focal point of reference for eGov stakeholders. In relation to the police headquarters, the Committee found that a good consultative planning process, an element of future-proofing, strong communication between teams, flexible and able contractors, and robust fiscal and practical management, had helped to deliver this project on time and to budget. PAC recommended that the lessons learnt from the project should be carried forward to all future major public sector builds, for which the police headquarters is now the exemplar.

11. Improving Scrutiny: developments and initiatives

Panels and Committees have

remained very conscious of  improving community access  to, and involvement with, their  work and further developed  the way that they engage with  stakeholders and the wider  public. Many initiatives were  undertaken over the course of  the year, including holding  

Electoral Reform Sub-Panel Roadshow

public meetings at various

times and locations across the Island, an enhanced social media presence, high-profile Island-wide surveys and inviting the public via the ask the minister' campaigns to submit questions that Panels ask Ministers at public hearings.

A significant first saw the Future Hospital Review Panel use the States Chamber for a public hearing, enabling a greater number of people to watch the hearing on the day in a full public gallery, and online via the live webcast (191 viewers).

The Chairmen's Committee gave considerable thought to the Privileges and Procedures Committee's report (R.121-2017) on Legislative Scrutiny. The Committee was broadly supportive of the overall direction of the proposals, which are aimed at ensuring that panels consider all legislative propositions before they are debated by the Assembly, and made a number of detailed comments. This issue will be considered further in 2018.

Significant progress was made in 2017 on the new framework governing engagement between the Assembly's Scrutiny Panels/ Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Ministers. The new Engagement Code of Practice (since adopted by the States in April 2018) establishes a clear expectation of co-operation in the provision of information by Ministers and Departments to Panels and the PAC. This extends to the relevant Ministers being required to clearly demonstrate their active support for States owned entities to comply with Scrutiny requests for information.

Notably, the Code also contains a commitment from the Council of Ministers to use its best endeavours to try to ensure that all Propositions on major policies and legislation are lodged au Greffe' at least six months before the date of the next scheduled elections, so that sufficient time is factored in for Scrutiny purposes.

In conjunction with the Engagement Code, a new Proceedings Code of Practice has been drafted in conjunction with the Engagement Code. This means that matters of engagement with the Executive are split from matters of internal processes and proceedings, with the latter to be regularly updated by the Committee in line with best practice without the requirement for wider, formal States approval.

During 2017, the Chairmen's Committee also prioritised the drafting of an amendment to the powers of scrutiny panels (again subsequently approved by the States on 10 April 2018) to enable them to place witnesses under oath when providing evidence at a public hearing. This is a powerful tool and one that is intended to be used sparingly, but in the right circumstances it will be of value to Scrutiny proceedings in providing focus to the requirement for witnesses to be open and truthful in the evidence they provide.

This is similar to mechanisms available to parliamentary committees in other jurisdictions, for instance the UK Houses of Parliament.

Although the majority of training for scrutiny inevitably occurred earlier in the term of the Assembly, the Chairmen's Committee remained mindful of opportunities to continue to develop good practice, knowledge and skills for effective scrutiny amongst Scrutiny members.

One such opportunity saw the delivery of a workshop by the  highly respected Dr Hannah White, Institute for Government in  the UK. Dr White provided a very informative session to the  Chairmen's Committee on The Impact of Parliamentary  Committee Inquiries on Government'.  

Public engagement and schools outreach

Overview

In January, the Privileges and Procedures Committee published a strategy for engaging the public with Jersey's democracy (R.5/2017). The strategy set out a number of public engagement initiatives which were well established:

• Year 5 schools programme of visits to the Assembly
• Support for the Jersey Youth Assembly
• Vote.je website and other activity to promote elections
• High-profile public meetings of Scrutiny Panels
• Use of Twitter and Facebook to provide information about the Assembly and Panels
• Webcasting of Assembly sittings

However, PPC noted that public engagement had developed piecemeal in recent years without any underlying strategy or co-ordination. Furthermore, it said that new developments in open

data and digital-first are not being fully exploited and that if the Assembly is increasingly seen as out of touch from the people it serves, Jersey's democracy will be damaged.

The strategy set out a number of initiatives for enhancing the Assembly's engagement with the public. These included:

• Enhancing the States Assembly website (some minor improvements were made during 2017 and there was also work to plan for a major upgrade in 2018)
• Publication of open data about Members' voting records
• More active use of social media, particularly Twitter

Two new online initiatives during 2017 were the creation of a virtual tour' of the States Chamber, which is now available on Google Streetview, and the publication of a video explaining the role of the Assembly, which is available in English, French and Jérriais.

130th anniversary of the States Chamber

June marked the 130th anniversary of the opening of the States Chamber, which coincided with Queen Victoria's golden jubilee in 1887. An exhibition on the history of the Chamber was displayed in the atrium of the Royal Court and was then displayed in each parish hall during the rest of the year. Full details of the exhibition are now available online.

Primary School visits to the States Chamber/Citizenship Programme

The school visit scheme, which involved all Year 5 primary school children (aged 9 and 10), from both the States-funded and private sectors, ran throughout the school year and enabled each school to visit the States Chamber on a Monday morning.

The children sat in the seats usually occupied by States Members, and used the voting system during a mini-debate on a topic of their choice. On each occasion, three of the children took the rôles of the Greffier, the Dean and the Usher.

During 2017, 1,195 Year 5  children visited the States  Chamber. Each child was  presented with: a copy of their  proposition, an Order Paper, an  information sheet concerning the  States Member whose seat they  had taken, and a certificate to  commemorate their involvement  in the visit.  

The scheme aims to encourage local children to take more of an interest in how their Island is governed, and dovetails with the citizenship curriculum to promote participation in elections, especially since the reduction in the voting age to 16.

Debate topics during 2017 included proposals to extend the school day, ban school uniform, stop academic testing in primary schools and whether Jersey was the best place in the world for children to grow up. Children cited seeing the Royal Mace and pressing the voting buttons as the highlights of their visit to the Chamber.

Youth Service Politics Workshops

After the elections in 2014, the Deputy Greffier was approached by the Youth Service to work with them on an initiative to create a series of modular workshops which would address some of the main issues which young people had identified they wished to know more about. One of the most popular topics identified had been politics. Together with Toni Cooper (Senior Youth Worker), and Jenna Bisson (Youth Worker) and a number of young people, we worked to produce a capsule programme which could be rolled out into schools or youth- clubs to engage young people with the political process. In autumn 2017, workshops

were organised for Hautlieu Year 10 pupils as part of the Personal, Social, Health and Economic curriculum for the second year in a row.

Youth Assembly and other youth debates

The 20th Jersey Youth Assembly was held in the States Chamber on 21 March 2017. The Assembly was held under the presidency of the Branch President, the Bailiff of Jersey, and continued during question time under the presidency of the Branch Chairman, Len Norman, the Connétable of St. Clement . Forty-six young people participated from six schools and colleges.

The event began with Question time, at which several Ministers and Assistant Ministers answered questions from the students on a range of topics, including whether Jersey should provide student loans, how access to housing for young people could be improved, parking in town, maternity leave, economic diversity, the impact of Brexit and finding alternatives to fossil fuels. The topics covered during the debates were:

• Make all schools mixed gender  
• Accomodate refugees in Jersey  
• Develop a fair and equitable taxation system  
• Streamline the States
• Re-test drivers every 20 years  

The Chamber was also the venue for two youth debates in addition to the Youth Assembly. In October 2017, Le Rocquier held a debate amongst Year 7 students which was presided over by the school's Head Boy and Head Girl and in November the annual Rotary Peace debate took place and featured students from across all of the Island's secondary schools.

Visits

During 2017 a wide range of visitors were welcomed to the Chamber for tours, including the Rotary Club of Jersey, several Brownie and Scout packs, a large group from various U.K. Women's Institute branches and also a group of visitors as part of the Festival of Words. The

Deputy Greffier conducted two tours in French – one for students visiting from Brittany, and the other for a large group of visitors from Saint-Lô and visitors were also welcomed from the New South Wales Parliament, the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly and the British Irish Parliamentary Recording Association.

Vote.je

Work started in mid-2017 to revitalise the vote.je website and kick-start the voter registration campaign, ahead of the 2018 election. It was agreed that the three main areas to focus upon for this campaign would be to boost the information available about the current electoral system, encourage a broader range of people to vote and also to provide greater support to prospective candidates. Work commenced with translating some of the key messages into Polish, Portuguese and French and Lovetheatre was commissioned to write a play which would be performed in all Island secondary schools to target young voters. Staff participated in a Design Thinking course run by the Design Council which helped to inform the ways in which the vote.je aims could be achieved, especially in relation to supporting candidates and States Greffe staff worked with the newly formed Women in Politics Group to encourage more female representatives in the States Assembly.

International outreach

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Jersey branch)

Jersey is an active member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), which brings together parliamentarians from across the Commonwealth and helps build and develop parliamentary capacity and capabilities.

During 2017, Assembly Members:

• Attended the 63rd annual conference CPA in Bangladesh
• Attended the 47th annual conference of the CPA British Islands and Mediterranean region (BIMR), in Gibraltar
• Attended the 4th annual conference of the regional branch of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians in Cardiff
• Took part in the new Parliamentary Fundamentals development programme for new parliamentarians
• Attended the CPA Australia and Pacific region conference, on behalf of the BIMR
• Took part in a conference in Canada to discuss the establishment of a network for parliamentarians with disabilities
• Participated in a conference in London on national security and cyber-security.

Jersey also hosted a visit by Mr Akbar Khan, Secretary-General of the CPA, who hosted two CPA roadshows at Jersey College for Girls and Hautlieu School. Finally, in March, Ms Amy Vatcher represented Jersey at the Commonwealth Day celebrations in London.

A full report on all of these activities is published by the branch and is available online.

Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) – Section de Jersey Conférence des Présidents, Budapest

The 2017 Conférence des Présidents of the APF European Region was held in Budapest, Hungary, from 9 to 11 May 2017. The Vice-President of the Jersey Section, Deputy John Le Fondré, attended. Delegates learnt about, and discussed, the role and status of French

in Hungary, receiving presentations from the Hungarian Association of French Teachers, the Institut Français in Budapest and the Franco-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce. Delegates also undertook a visit to a bilingual school, the Lycée Bilingue Hunfalvy. Time at the conference was also used to prepare for the 30th Assemblée Region Europe (ARE) which would take place later in the year.

Assemblée plénière, Luxembourg

In July 2017, Deputy Le Fondré and Deputy Richard Renouf attended the 43rd plenary session of the APF, held in Luxembourg and attended by members from across the globe.  

At the conference, delegates received a number of presentations, including from the Secrétaire Générale de la Francophonie and from the Executive Director of UNAIDS (the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS). In the plenary session itself, delegates debated the central theme of the conference: "Diversité linguistique, diversité culturelle, identité(s)." The plenary session also received, and approved, resolutions passed by the APF's Réseau des Femmes and by the Assemblée's various commissions. During the conference, the Assistant Greffier also attended the annual meeting of the Association des secrétaires généraux des parlements francophones, where the main subject of discussion was the security of parliamentary buildings and estates.

Assemblée Region Europe, Sarajevo

From 23 to 26 October 2017, Deputy Montfort Tadier of St. Brelade attended the 30th ARE in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Delegates heard about, and discussed, the role of French in Bosnia and Herzegovina. On the first day, the delegates received presentations from the President of the Collège International Français de Sarajevo, the Director of the Bosnian Institut Français and the Head of the French Department at the University of Sarajevo. The following day, the focus was on the role of French in the Bosnian economy and the delegates discussed whether an ability to speak French was an economic benefit for people looking for work. The conference finished with a cultural visit to the city of Mostar.

British-Irish Parliamentary Association

Deputy John Le Fondré, Jersey's representative on the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA), hosted a two day meeting in the Island attended by representatives from the Northern Irish and British Governments in September 2017.

BIPA is a deliberative body consisting of members elected to the parliaments and legislatures of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the British crown dependencies. Its purpose is to foster common understanding and mutually beneficial relationships between elected representatives from these jurisdictions. Deputy (now Senator) Le Fondré sits as Jersey's representative member and Deputy Kevin Lewis is an associate member.

The meeting, which was essentially to determine arrangements for the next BIPA plenary conference to be held in Sligo in 2018, also provided an opportunity for officers from External Relations and the Financial Services Unit to outline the Island's Brexit objectives and the value of Jersey's financial services industry to the UK and European Union. Committee members gained a deeper understanding of the Island's constitutional position and the work of its parliamentarians.

Deputy Le Fondré gave a presentation to the group during their visit and hosted a formal welcome dinner. The event was a useful opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing member Parliaments, as well as the continuing skills development required to be effective elected representatives. During their short stay, the delegation enjoyed a tour of the Island, including a look inside the main bunker at Noirmont, and a visit to Jersey Zoo to see the work being undertaken as part of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a great example of British/Irish cooperation in relation to animal welfare and conservation.

British-Irish Parliamentary Reporting Association (BIPRA), 15th Annual Symposium

The Association comprises representatives of parliamentary reporting staff of the various British and Irish jurisdictions. It met in Jersey for its 15th annual learning and development symposium in August 2017. The 3-day event (held in Battle of Flowers' week) was formally opened by the Bailiff and the Chairman of the Privileges and Procedures Committee and topics considered included automated speech transcription; voice recognition; a demonstration of Jersey's electronic voting system and an outline of the recently introduced webcasting of proceedings; tools useful to reporters and sub-editors; props used by Members in their speeches and how they are reported; and analytics – Google management information and information for Members.

Annex 1:

Membership of the States Assembly 2017

William James Bailhache , Bailiff , President (Appointed 29 January 2015)

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton GCB, Lieutenant Governor (from 13 March 2017)

Elected Members  First sworn  Role

in as

States

Member

Senator Paul Francis Routier, M.B.E.  09.12.1993  Assistant Chief Minister

Senator Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf  09.12.1999  Assistant Chief Minister (to 20 Jan

2017 and from 30 May 2017 to 20 June 2017)

Senator Alan John Henry Maclean Senator Ian Joseph Gorst Senator Lyndon John Farnham

Senator Sir Philip Martin Bailhache

Senator Andrew Kenneth Francis Green, M.B.E.

05.12.2005  Minister for Treasury and Resources 05.12.2005  Chief Minister

09.12.1999  Minister for Economic Development,

Tourism, Sport and Culture

20.12.1972  Minister for External Relations and

Assistant Minister for Education

08.12.2008   Deputy Chief Minister and Minister

for Health and Social Services

Senator Sarah Craig Ferguson  12.12.2002   Connétable Alan Simon Crowcroft of  12.12.1996  

St. Helier

Connétable Leonard Norman of St. Clement

Connétable John Martin Refault of St. Peter

Connétable Deidre Wendy Mezbourian of St. Lawrence

Connétable Juliette Gallichan of St. Mary

Connétable Michael John Paddock

17.06.1983  Chairman, Privileges and Procedures

Committee

08.12.2008  Assistant Minister for Treasury and

Resources; and for Health and Social Services

05.12.2005  Assistant Minister for Home Affairs 05.12.2005  Chairman, Planning Committee 14.11.2011  

of St. Ouen

Connétable Stephen William Pallett of St. Brelade

Connétable Michel Philip Sydney Le Troquer of St. Martin

Connétable Sadie Anthea Le Sueur - Rennard of St. Saviour

Connétable John Edward Le Maistre of Grouville

Connétable Christopher Hugh Taylor of St. John

Connétable Philip Bond Le Sueur of Trinity

14.11.2011  Assistant Minister for Economic

Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture; and for the Environment

14.11.2011  14.11.2011  04.10.2013  

03.11.2014  Chairman, Public Accounts

Committee (from 26 Sep 2017)

03.11.2014  

Deputy Judith Ann Martin of St. Helier No. 1

Deputy Geoffrey Peter Southern of St. Helier No. 2

Deputy Carolyn Fiona Labey of Grouville

Deputy Jacqueline Ann Hilton of St. Helier No. 3

Deputy John Alexander Nicholas Le Fondré of St. Lawrence

Deputy Anne Enid Pryke of Trinity

Deputy Kevin Charles Lewis of St. Saviour No. 2

Deputy Montfort Tadier of St. Brelade No. 2

Deputy Edward James Noel of St. Lawrence

Deputy Tracey Anne Vallois of St. John

Deputy Michael Roderick Higgins of

05.05.2000  15.02.2002  

12.12.2002  Chairman, Jersey Overseas Aid

Commission

12.12.2002  

05.12.2005  Chairman, Corporate Services

Scrutiny Panel and the Chairmen's Committee

05.12.2005  Minister for Housing; Assistant

Minister for Education; for the Environment; and for Infrastructure (from 1 Feb 2017)

05.12.2005  

08.12.2008  

08.12.2008  Minister for Infrastructure 08.12.2008  

08.12.2008  

St. Helier No. 3

Deputy Jeremy Martin Maçon of St. Saviour No. 1

Deputy Susan Jane Pinel of St. Clement

Deputy Stephen George Luce of St. Martin

Deputy Roderick Gordon Bryans of St. Helier No. 2

Deputy Kristina Louise Moore of St. Peter

Deputy Richard John Rondel of St. Helier No. 3/4

Deputy Samuel Yves Mézec of St. Helier No. 2

Deputy Andrew David Lewis of St. Helier No. 3/4

Deputy Richard John Renouf of St. Ouen

Deputy Louise Mary Catherine Doublet of St. Saviour No. 2

Deputy Russell Labey of St. Helier No. 1

Deputy Scott Michael Wickenden of St. Helier No. 1

Deputy Simon Muir Brée of St. Clement

Deputy Murray Julian Norton of St. Brelade No. 1

Deputy Terence Alexander McDonald of St. Saviour No. 3

Deputy Robert David Johnson of St. Mary

Deputy Graham John Truscott of St. Brelade No. 2

Deputy Peter Derek McLinton of St. Saviour No. 1

08.12.2008  

14.11.2011  Minister for Social Security 14.11.2011  Minister for the Environment 14.11.2011  Minister for Education

14.11.2011  Minister for Home Affairs 14.11.2011  Assistant Minister for Infrastructure

07.03.2014  

05.12.2005  Chairman, Public Accounts

Committee (to September 2017)

03.11.2014  Chairman, Health and Social

Services Scrutiny Panel

03.11.2014  Chairman, Education and Home

Affairs Scrutiny Panel

03.11.2014  

03.11.2014  Assistant Chief Minister (from 13 Jul

2017)

03.11.2014  Chairman, Economic Affairs Scrutiny

Panel

03.11.2014  Assistant Minister for Economic

Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture

03.11.2014  

03.11.2014  Chairman, Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel

03.11.2014  Assistant Minister for Social Security

03.11.2014  Assistant Minister for Health and

Social Services

Timothy John Le Cocq , Deputy Bailiff (Appointed 2 April 2015)

The Very Reverend Robert Frederick Key, Dean of Jersey (Appointed 6 October 2005, to May 2017 )

The Very Reverend Michael Keirle , Dean Of Jersey (Appointed 7 September 2017) Robert James MacRae , Q.C., H.M. Attorney General (Appointed 5 May 2015) Mark Howard Temple, Q.C., H.M. Solicitor General (Appointed 17 August 2015) Officers of the States

Dr. Mark Egan, Greffier of the States (Appointed 19 January 2016) Lisa-Marie Hart , Deputy Greffier of the States (Appointed 13 May 2014) Advocate Elaine Millar , Viscount (Appointed 10 July 2015)

Advocate Mark Harris , Deputy Viscount (Appointed 28 January 2013)

Annex 2:

Tributes to former States Members

Tributes were paid to the following States Members in the Chamber during 2017: Deputy Harry Hall ewell Baudains of St Clement – 18 April 2017

Perhaps I can inform Members that deputy Harry Baudains unfortunately died at the weekend. He joined the States of Jersey as the deputy of St. Clement in 1986 and, as the Connétable would have us know, was deputy of God's own Parish until he retired in 2002. He was a retired farmer and took a keen interest in protecting the countryside. He was twice appointed as Vice-President of the then Island Development Committee, and in 1998 was elected as President of the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee. He served as Vice-President on the Housing Committee from 1999 and was a member of the first Privileges and Procedures Committee. I came across him first when I was Attorney General as he was then a member of the  

" Forserved all ofw usith w himho we  Lewe gwislouatiold rn Coememmmbeittreehi.mFoas ar al lt rouef usgenwhotlemanserv.edH e prwith hiovimded balanced and thoughtful contributions to a wide array of the

would remember  committees on which he served, and he had a great sense him asgentleman a tru. e "  oisayn debaf hu, hemoutwes hiras a . Hse wliovnpas elutywqmuias alanet,anGwayd unassuods resmeat hisured.ms souing;l.wAheCsamn he n Ianasyspowkouke ld

Members to stand in the usual way? [Silence] May he rest in peace.

Deputy Bertram Manning Le Maistre of St Mary – 31 October 2017

fMenoratmieredsterre,DtpaephessedutyStaot es infawSta.yMDonaryece10,mMbeOr.ctBroert19be81ramr..MHMre w.anLeas elniMngai sected Letre to " a gentspoken and"leman un, failquietly ingly I have just received notice and would like to advise

Members that, since the Assembly's last meeting, a

polite.

sit on a number of committees, including Public Works, Cottage Homes, Broadcasting and Port Regional Development committees. He was elected to the Assembly for a second term in 1984 after which he continued to serve on the Cottage Homes and Broadcasting committees. He was also elected for the Housing and Island Development committees. He retired from the States in 1987, when he chose not to contest the elections of that year. He is remembered as someone who was relatively reserved in this Chamber, but he clearly pleased the Parish as he was re-elected and he is described as a gentleman, quietly spoken and unfailingly polite. Our thoughts are with his son Robert and family and I ask Members to rise for a minute in his memory. [Silence] May he rest in peace.

Deputy Leonard Victor Percy Nightingale of St Saviour – 28 November 2017

Image courtesy of Jersey Evening Post

Members may be aware that former Member, Mr. Leonard Victor Percy Nightingale recently passed away. Mr. Nightingale served in the Assembly from 1969 to 1975 as Deputy for St. Saviour No. 1, that at a time when that District was represented by a single Deputy rather than the 2 it has today. During his first term he was appointed to sit

on the Island Development Committee and the Telephone's Committee. Following his re- election in 1972 he was appointed to the Harbours and Airports Committee, the Telecommunications Board and the Establishment Committee. He did not stand in the elections of 1975 and he therefore retired from the Assembly in that year. Our thoughts are with Mr. Nightingale's family and I ask Members to rise for a minute in his memory. [Silence] May he rest in peace.

Annex 3:

Scrutiny and PAC Reports/Comments/Amendments/Propositions 2017

Corporate Services Panel

• Future Hospital Funding Strategy: S.R.4/2017
• Review of Electoral Reform: S.R.6/2017
• Jersey International Finance Centre (final report): S.R.8/2017
• Budget 2018 Interim Report (Impots Duties): S.R.10/2017
• Income Forecasting Model: S.R.11/2017
• Draft Budget Statement 2018: S.R.12/2017
• Draft Employment of States of Jersey Employees (Amendment No. 8) (Jersey) Regulations 201- (P.105/2016): amendment (P.105/2016 Amd.) – comments
• Draft Employment of States of Jersey Employees (Amendment No. 8) (Jersey) Regulations 201- (P.11/2017): Comments
• Draft The Law Society of Jersey (Amendment No. 4) Law 201- (P.136/2016): Comments
• Immigration (Amendment) (Jersey) Order 2017: extension to Jersey by Order in Council (P.26/2017): Comments
• Draft Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (Immunities and Privileges) (Jersey) Regulations 201- (P.68/2017): Comments
• Future Hospital Funding Strategy (P.130/2016): third amendment
• Future Hospital Funding Strategy (P.130/2016): third amendment (P.130/2016 Amd.(3)) – addendum
• Future Hospital Funding Strategy (P.130/2016) (as amended): third amendment (P.130/2016 Amd.(3)) – second addendum.

Economic Affairs

• Jersey Sport Establishment: Comments

Education and Home Affairs

• Tertiary Education: Student Finance: S.R.2/2017
• School Starting Age: S.R.5/2017
• Draft Medium Term Financial Plan 2017 – 2019: Amendment to funding for fee- paying schools (P.41/2017): Comments
• Draft Criminal Procedure (Bail) Law 201- (P.52/2017): Comments

• P.52/2017 Com.
• Draft States of Jersey Police Force (Amendment No.2) Law 201- (P.30/2017): Comments
• Draft Education (Amendment No.3) (Jersey) Law 201- (P.56/2017): Comments

Environment, Housing and Infrastructure

• Review of Nitrate Levels in Jersey's Water S.R.3/2017
• Review of User-Pays Charges for Non-Households – Phase 1 (Liquid Waste) S.R.7/2017
• Jersey Infrastructure Levy: Approval in Principle (P.100/2017):Comments
• Draft Public, Health and Safety (Rented Dwellings) (Jersey) Law 201- (P.66/2017): Comments

Health and Social Security Panel

• Service Users of Home Care: S.R.1/2017
• Redesign of the Health and Social Care Governance Model: S.R.9/2017
• Health and Social Care System: A New Governance Model: Amendment
• Income Support: Reinstatement of Single Parent Component: Proposition

Public Accounts Committee

• eGov P.A.C.1/2017
• Police Station HQ P.A.C.2/2017

Annex 4:

States Assembly data

Average length of service of the 49 elected members  9.02 years

Average age of elected members  57.2 years

Speaker Statistics

Annex 5:

States Greffe expenditure 2017

54