States Meeting summary: 25-26 June
26 June 2024
Question Time
Urgent oral question
This week's States Meeting began with Deputy Lucy Stephenson asking an urgent oral question of the Minister for Health and Social Services in relation to radiology at the General Hospital.
Skip to 9 minutes into this morning's recording to watch the question.
Questions with notice
States Members then asked Ministers questions with notice.
Go to page 6 of the Order Paper to find out which questions were asked and watch from 22 minutes into this morning's recording to hear questions with notice in full.
Questions without notice
States Members then asked the Minister for Infrastructure, Connétable Andy Jehan; the Minister for International Development, Deputy Carolyn Labey; and the Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham, questions without notice for 15 minutes.
Skip to 1 hour and 46 minutes into this morning's recording to watch the questions without notice.
Public Business
P.40. Draft Mental Health (Young Offenders) Law (Jersey) Amendment Regulations 202-
Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, Deputy Mary Le Hegarat proposed an amendment to the Mental Health (Jersey) Law 2016, which would allow young offenders to be moved from secure accommodation to a facility approved by the Minister for Health and Social Services for mental health treatment.
The States Assembly voted to APPROVE the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs' proposition with 41 votes for, 0 votes against, and 0 abstentions.
Skip to 2 hours and 34 minutes into this morning's recording to watch the debate.
Draft Public Holidays and Bank Holidays (Royal Visit) (Jersey) Amendment Act 202-
The Chief Minister asked the States Assembly to adopt the Draft Public Holidays and Bank Holidays (Royal Visit) (Jersey) Amendment Act, to designate Monday 15 July as a public holiday for the Royal Visit of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Jersey.
The Assembly voted to APPROVE the Act with 36 votes for, 3 votes against, and 0 abstentions. Monday 15 July will therefore be a public holiday in Jersey.
Skip to 2 hours and 43 minutes into this morning's recording to watch the debate.
P.30 Jersey Employment and Discrimination Tribunal – Appointment of members
The Minister for Social Security, Deputy Lyndsay Feltham, proposed to appoint the following people as Members of the Jersey Employment and Discrimination Tribunal, for a period of five years:
- Melanie Grandfield (Employer Panel Member)
- Kiley Henley (Employer Panel Member)
- Mark Richardson (Employer Panel Member)
- Christopher Stephenson (Discrimination Panel Member)
- Richard Renouf (Discrimination Panel Member)
- Alison Brown (Discrimination Panel Member)
- Allana Binnie (Discrimination Panel Member)
The States Assembly voted to APPROVE the Minister for Social Security's proposition with 38 votes for, no votes against, and no abstentions.
Watch from the beginning of this afternoon's recording to watch the Minister's speech and the vote.
P.31 Cannabis: Decriminalisation of Personal Possession and Recreational Use
Deputy Tom Coles proposed to decriminalise personal possession and recreational use of cannabis for individuals aged 18 and over, and that the Council of Ministers draft necessary legislation for the Assembly's consideration by November 2025, including (but not limited to):
- Total acceptable gram allowance
- Restrictions on consumption areas
- Restrictions on driving under the influence
- Relevant roadside capacity tests
Deputy Coles proposed his proposition as amended by his own third amendment and the Council of Ministers' second amendment. These amendments would:
- Include additional requirements in the proposals to be brought forward to the Assembly by November 2025
- Remove 'persons over the age of 18' from the proposition.
Deputy Alex Curtis proposed an amendment to the proposition, to include the decriminalisation of personal cultivation and the total acceptable cultivation allowance to the proposals to be brought forward to the Assembly by November 2025.
The States Assembly voted to APPROVE Deputy Alex Curtis' amendment to the proposition with 21 votes for, 19 votes against, and 1 abstention.
Deputy Inna Gardiner proposed an amendment to the proposition, to decriminalise personal possession and recreational use of cannabinol and its derivatives (as defined in the Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978). It also requests the Minister for Health and Social Services, after consulting with the Misuse of Drugs Advisory Council, to reclassify these substances (excluding those in cannabis or cannabis resin) from Class A to Class B controlled drugs under the same law.
Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet, proposed an amendment to the amendment from Deputy Inna Gardiner, to consult the Misuse of Drugs Advisory Council on reclassifying cannabinol and its derivatives, except when part of cannabis or cannabis resin, from Class A to Class B controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978.
Deputy Gardiner proposed her amendment as amended by the Minister for Health and Social Services' amendment.
The States Assembly voted to APPROVE Deputy Gardiner's amendment to the proposition with 28 votes for, 15 votes against, and no abstentions.
Watch from 4 minutes into this afternoon's recording to watch the beginning of the debate, which will continue tomorrow morning.
Adjournment
The States Assembly then adjourned and will reconvene at 9:30am on Wednesday 26 June when the debate on decriminalisation of personal possession and recreational use of cannabis will continue.
Wednesday 26 June
Public Business
P.31 Cannabis: Decriminalisation of Personal Possession and Recreational Use
Today's States Meeting began with the continuation of the debate on the decriminalisation of personal possession and recreational use of cannabis.
The States Assembly voted to REJECT Part A, and APPROVE Parts B and C of Deputy Tom Coles' proposition, as amended by himself, the Council of Ministers, Deputy Alex Curtis and Deputy Inna Gardiner (as amended by the Minister for Health and Social Services).
Part A - 22 votes for, 23 against and 1 abstention.
Parts B and C - 26 votes for, 19 against and 1 abstention.
Watch from the beginning of this morning's recording to watch the debate in full.
P.35 Transfer of 2024 departmental underspend into the Stabilisation Fund
Deputy Max Andrews proposed that the Minister for Treasury and Resources should submit a plan to allow any identified departmental underspends, as of 31 December 2024, to be transferred from the Consolidated Fund to the Stabilisation Fund. This transfer should occur by April 2025 at the latest.
The States Assembly voted to REJECT Deputy Max Andrews' proposition with 1 vote for, 42 votes against, and 0 abstentions.
Skip to 45 minutes into this morning's recording to watch the debate.
P.37 Affordable and right-size housing provision on the Waterfront
Deputy Helen Miles proposed that the States of Jersey Development Company ensure any new Waterfront housing developments include at least 50% affordable housing for first-time buyers and 15% housing for Islanders looking to right-size, according to the right-sizing policy in R.85/2024.
Deputy Miles brought forward this proposition as amended by the Council of Ministers, which asked that Proposals must include at least 50% of homes with an assisted purchase product for first-time buyers and 15% of homes for right-sizing Islanders, with delivery phased as agreed by the Minister for Housing and the Regeneration Steering Group.
The States Assembly voted to APPROVE Deputy Helen Miles' proposition as amended by the Council of Ministers, with 44 votes for, 0 votes against, and 0 abstentions.
Skip to 1 hour 5 minutes into this morning's recording to watch the debate.
P.22 Strategic Reserve Fund: Long-term funding plan
Deputy Max Andrews withdrew his proposition.
Adjournment
The States Assembly then adjourned and will reconvene on Monday 15 July for the Royal Visit.
