News

States Meeting Summary: 10-12 December

P.63 Amendment to Standing Orders – remote participation in States meetings 
The meeting began with the continuation of the debate regarding a proposal from the Privileges and Procedures Committee to amend Standing Orders to reflect that Members who are absent during a States Assembly meeting due to health-related reasons, or the health of a household member, may participate and vote in debates remotely. 

The States Assembly voted to refer the proposition back to the Privileges and Procedures Committee for further clarification and an amendment, if necessary, with 28 votes for, 11 votes against, and 3 abstentions. 

It means the proposition will be brought back to the Chamber at a future sitting. 

Watch from 6 minutes into this morning’s recording for the conclusion of the debate. 

P.65 Public Elections: Extension of eligibility criteria 
Deputy Montfort Tadier proposed to remove the requirement that someone must be a British citizen to stand for election as a Constable or Deputy in Jersey, and that all legislative changes are made in time for the 2026 election. 

Deputy Moz Scott withdrew the proposed amendment that had been lodged to the proposition.  

The States Assembly voted to REJECT Deputy Tadier’s proposition with 14 votes for, 31 votes against, and 1 abstention. 

Skip to 1 hour and 43 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the beginning of debate. 

Watch from the beginning of this afternoon’s recording for the conclusion of the debate.  

P.66/2024 Draft Social Security Law (Parental Allowance and Death Grant) (Jersey) Amendment Regulations 202- 
The Minister for Social Security, Deputy Lyndsay Feltham, proposed an amendment to the Draft Social Security Law (Parental Allowance and Death Grant) (Jersey) Regulations, which would extend parental allowance for up to 12 weeks if a baby is born prematurely and requires urgent medical care, or up to 4 weeks otherwise. Additionally, a death grant will be payable for a stillborn child. 

The States Assembly voted to APPROVE the Minister’s proposition with 47 votes for, 0 votes against, and 0 abstentions. 

Skip to 38 minutes into this afternoon’s recording to watch the debate in full. 

P.71 Reporting on Ministerial Affairs 
Deputy Kristina Moore proposed that details of all external meetings attended by Ministers and Assistant Ministers be published monthly in arrears on the Government website, and details of all off-Island travel including the costs incurred be published within 30 days of their return.  

The States Assembly debated this proposition but decided to vote to move to the next item on their agenda, and to return to debating this proposition at another sitting. They voted 34 votes for, 10 votes against, and 1 abstention to move the proposition.  

Skip to 51 minutes into this afternoon’s recording to watch the debate so far. 
 

P.73/2024 Draft Limited Partnerships (Jersey) Amendment Law 202- 
The Minister for External Relations, Deputy Ian Gorst, proposed amendments to the Limited Partnerships (Jersey) Law 1994, so that a partnership will not be automatically wound up if the sole general partner becomes cash flow insolvent. 

The States Assembly voted to APPROVE the Minister’s proposition with 41 votes for, 0 votes against, and 0 abstentions. 

Skip to 2 hours and 5 minutes into this afternoon’s recording to watch the debate in full. 

P.75/2024 Draft Employment and Discrimination Tribunal (Jersey) Amendment Regulations 202-. 
The Minister for Social Security, Deputy Lyndsay Feltham, proposed to remove the pay rates for members of the Jersey Employment and Discrimination Tribunal from the regulations. The Minister will still have the power to set these rates through an Order.   

The States Assembly voted to APPROVE the Minister’s proposition with 42 votes for, 0 votes against, and 0 abstentions. 

Skip to 2 hours and 12 minutes into this afternoon’s recording to watch the debate in full. 

P.76 Amendment to Standing Orders – Miscellaneous Amendments 
The Privileges and Procedures Committee proposed an amendment to Standing Orders which reflects the new Ministerial titles being used in the current Government. It also proposed that the order of speeches by candidates for Ministerial positions be decided by ballot. 

The States Assembly voted to APPROVE the Privileges and Procedures Committee proposition with 43 votes for, 0 votes against, and 0 abstentions. 

Skip to 2 hours and 18 minutes into this afternoon’s recording to watch the debate in full. 

P.77/2024 Draft Single-Use Plastics etc. (Restrictions) (Jersey) Amendment Law 202-. 
The Minister for Infrastructure, Constable Andy Jehan, proposed amending the Single-Use Plastics etc. (Restrictions) (Jersey) Law 2021, to ban single-use vapes.  

The aim is to address the environmental impact from disposable vapes which contain plastics, metals, and a lithium battery.  

The States Assembly has voted to APPROVE Constable Andy Jehan’s proposition with 45 votes for, 0 votes against, and 0 abstentions. 

Skip to 2 hours and 22 minutes into this afternoon’s recording to watch the debate in full. 

P.80/2024 Amendment to Standing Orders – timeline for Ministerial Appointments 
The Privileges and Procedures Committee has proposed to make changes to the selection of a Chief Minister in situations other than an ordinary election. Three days would be allowed rather than the current 24 hours for nominations to be lodged in the event of a Vote of No Confidence; and three weeks in the event of the death of an incumbent Chief Minister. 

The States Assembly voted to APPROVE the Privileges and Procedure Committee's proposition. 

For Part 1 they voted 44 votes for, 0 votes against, and 0 abstentions. 

For Part 2 they voted 41 votes for, 3 votes against, and 0 abstentions. 

Skip to 2 hours and 54 minutes into this afternoon’s recording to watch the debate in full. 

Thursday 12 December

P.81/2024 Jersey Overseas Aid: Appointment of Non-States Commisioner
The Minister for International Development, Deputy Carolyn Labey, lodged a proposition to appoint Ms. Julia Yun Hulme as a non-States Commissioner of the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission until 1 January 2028.

The States Assembly has voted to APPROVE the Minister’s proposition with 44 votes for, 0 votes against, and 0 abstentions.

Skip to 6 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the debate in full.


P.82/2024 Support Scheme for Individuals Qualifying to Represent Jersey in Off-Island Competitions
Deputy Raluca Kovacs proposed that a permanent support scheme, funded to a maximum of £500,000 through the Arts, Heritage, and Culture budget, or other relevant sources, is set up to provide subsidies of up to £2,000 per individual per year for costs related to off-Island participation in sports, arts, academic or other similar competitions for which a qualification or selection process is required to represent Jersey.

The Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, lodged an amendment to focus the proposition on sport with the scheme administered by Jersey Sport. It also caps the grants to £1,000 which would be distributed via registered sporting clubs and associations.

Deputy Kovac accepted the amendment.

The States Assembly has voted to APPROVE the Deputy’s proposition, as amended, with 43 votes for, 0 votes against, and 0 abstentions.

Skip to 16 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the debate in full.


P.84/2024 Comptroller and Auditor General Board of Governance: appointment of Chair and independent Member
The Chief Minister proposed that Mr Michael Whitehouse, OBE, be appointed as Chair, and Ms Cosette Reczek as an Independent member of the Board of Governance of the Office of Comptroller and Auditor General for a term of five years.

The States Assembly has voted to APPROVE the Chief Minister’s proposition with 43 votes for, 0 votes against, and 0 abstentions.

Skip to 48 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the debate in full.

Christmas Speeches

The Connétable of St. Helier, Simon Crowcroft, and Deputy Geoff Southern gave the traditional Christmas speeches on behalf of the Connétables and Deputies.

The Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, also gave his final Christmas speech in the States Chamber as he retires from the role in October 2025.

Skip to 55 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the debate in full.

Adjournment

The States Assembly then adjourned and will reconvene at 9:30am on Tuesday 21 January 2025 for the first meeting of the new year.