States Meeting Summary: 28 February - 01 March
1 March 2023
Tuesday 28 February
Question Time
Questions with notice
The States Meeting began with States Members asking questions with notice. Skip to page 5 of the Order Paper to find out which questions were asked and watch from 9 minutes into this morning’s States Meeting to hear questions with notice in full.
Questions without notice
States Members then asked the Minister for Housing and Communities, Deputy David Warr, Minister for International Development, Deputy Carolyn Labey, and the Chief Minister, Deputy Kristina Moore, questions without notice for 15 minutes each. Skip to 1 hour and 29 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the questions without notice.
Statements
Following question time, the Minister for Infrastructure, Deputy Tom Binet, made a statement regarding an update on the New Health Care Facilities project. This was followed by accompanying questions from other States Members. Skip to 2 hours and 26 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the statement.
A second statement was made by the Minister for Treasury and Resources, Deputy Ian Gorst, regarding a complaint relating to the calculation of pension entitlements from the Public Employees’ Pension Fund. Skip to 2 hours and 45 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the statement.
Vote of no confidence
This afternoon’s session consisted of a debate on Deputy Philip Bailhache’s call for a vote of no confidence (VONC) against the Chair of the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel, Deputy Geoffrey Southern.
The States Assembly then adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday 01 March at 9:30am, when the debate will close on the VONC.
Skip to the beginning of this afternoon’s recording to watch the debate on the VONC.
Watch the recording of this morning’s States Meeting and this afternoon’s States Meeting.
States Meeting Summary 1 March
Public Business
Continuation of debate: Vote of no confidence
This morning’s session began with the closing speeches on Deputy Philip Bailhache’s proposition for a vote of no confidence (VONC) against the Chair of the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel, Deputy Geoff Southern.
The States Assembly voted to approve Deputy Bailhache’s proposition, with 17 votes for, 15 votes against and14 abstentions.
Watch the beginning of this morning’s recording to watch the speeches and the vote.
Establishment of a Climate Council
Deputy Hilary Jeune, as Rapporteur for Minister for the Environment, Deputy Jonathan Renouf, proposed establishing an independent Climate Council of experts to report on Jersey’s progress to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deliver the Carbon Neutral Roadmap.
Deputy Tom Coles proposed an amendment to Deputy Renouf’s proposition, which would have shortened the length of time between Climate Council meetings from four years to two years. The States Assembly voted to reject Deputy Cole’s amendment, with 19 votes for and 27 votes against.
The States Assembly then voted to approve Deputy Renouf’s proposition, with 45 votes for and no votes against.
Skip to 31 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the debate.
Draft Banking Business (Amendment No. 7 - Commencement) (Jersey) Act 202
Deputy Elaine Millar as Rapporteur for The Minister for External Relations, Deputy Philip Ozouf, proposed to amend the Banking Business Law 1991. This amendment is part of wider proposed regulatory changes concerning auditing and financial reporting requirements for Jersey banks.
The States Assembly voted to approve Deputy Philip Ozouf’s amendment, with 41 votes for and no votes against.
Skip to 1 hour and 27 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the debate.
Trainee Minimum Wage
Deputy Max Andrews proposed that the trainee minimum wage rates should be integrated into a single minimum wage rate for all employees of school leaving age and above.
Deputy Andrews accepted an amendment proposed by the Minister for Social Security, Deputy Elaine Millar, allowing for flexibility to differentiate between a trainee rate and a main minimum wage rate in the future if needed.
The States Assembly voted to approve Deputy Max Andrew’s proposal, with 41 votes for and 7 votes against.
Skip to 1 hour and 33 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the debate.
Bilateral Treaty with the UAE
Deputy Sam Mézec proposed that the Bilateral Investment Treaty with the United Arab Emirates should only come into force after consideration by the Assembly, and that the Council of Ministers should work with Privileges and Procedures Committee to decide how such Treaties should be dealt with in future.
Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache proposed an amendment to Deputy Mézec‘s proposition, requesting that the Legislation Advisory Panel and Privileges and Procedures Committee should bring forward legislation requiring all Treaties to be ratified by the Assembly.
The Minister for External Relations and Financial Services Deputy Philip Ozouf proposed a second amendment to Deputy Mézec’s proposition, requesting that the Treaty is brought into force as soon as possible.
Deputy Mézec accepted both amendments.
The States Assembly then voted to approve both the first and second parts of Deputy Mézec’s proposition. The first part was approved with 30 votes for,15 votes against and 2 abstentions and the second part was approved with 47 votes for and 0 votes against.
Skip to 2 hours and 24 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the debate.
Adjournment
Following the debate on the Bilateral Investment Treaty, the States Meeting adjourned. The States Assembly will reconvene for the next States Meeting on Tuesday 21 March 2023.
For more details on today’s developments, watch the full recording of this morning’s recording
