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STATES OF JERSEY
STATES MEETINGS IN 2021: MOVE TO A THREE-WEEK CYCLE (P.106/2020): SECOND AMENDMENT
Lodged au Greffe on 15th September 2020 by Deputy J.M. Maçon of St. Saviour .
STATES GREFFE
2020 P.106 Amd.(2)
STATES MEETINGS IN 2021: MOVE TO A THREE-WEEK CYCLE (P.106/2020): SECOND AMENDMENT
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1 PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (a) –
After paragraph (a), insert the following new paragraph –
(b) to request the Privileges and Procedures Committee to bring forward amendments to Standing Orders of the States of Jersey for the duration of the trial with the purpose of:
- ensuring that, in addition to a period of 30-minutes Oral Questions Without Notice to Ministers at each meeting, there is also a 15-minute period of Oral Questions Without Notice to the Chief Minister; and
- providing an additional 20 minutes of Oral Questions with notice at each meeting.
DEPUTY J.M. MAÇON OF ST. SAVIOUR
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P.106 Amd.(2)
REPORT
I am lodging this amendment to address the potential effect of the proposed new sitting pattern on Members' opportunities to ask questions in the Assembly, following a number of conversations with colleagues. Although the number of days on which the Assembly may sit has increased, with the addition of an extra continuation day, because there are fewer meetings there would be fewer opportunities to ask oral and written questions.
Firstly, I am proposing that there should be a 15-minute period of Questions Without Notice to the Chief Minister at every sitting. The usual 30 minute-period would continue and would be reserved for other ministers, on the basis of a rota.
It is proposed to reduce the number of scheduled States meetings from 18 in 2020 to 15 in 2021, a reduction of 16.6%. So, in addition, I am proposing a pro rata increase in the time allocated for oral questions with notice, from 2 hours to 2 hours 20 minutes.
I am confident that the Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC) can swiftly bring forward changes to Standing Orders which last for the period of the trial. If Deputy Gardiner 's amendment is adopted I will also ask the PPC to ensure that the number of written questions which Members can table in line with her proposed new arrangements is not less than the normal permitted now (5 per Member per meeting, which works out at 90 per year).
Taken together, these proposals ensure that opportunities to question Ministers are not diminished as a result of the new sitting pattern.
Financial and manpower implications
There are no financial and manpower implications.
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P.106/2020 Amd.(2)