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STATES OF JERSEY
THE LORD PORTSEA GIFT FUND: REPORT FOR 2012 AND 2013
Presented to the States on 5th December 2014 by the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture
STATES GREFFE
2014 Price code: C R.175
THE LORD PORTSEA GIFT FUND ANNUAL REPORT 2012
- Background
In 1957 the late Miss Albina Bertram Falle bequeathed to the States and the Royal Court the sum of £17,000, in accordance with the wishes of her brother, the late Lord Portsea of Portsmouth, for the purpose of establishing a fund –
"to help all young Jersey and Guernsey boys (of Jersey and Guernsey parentage) entering the Royal Navy, Army, Air Force and Civil Services who are in need of financial help".
In 1968 the States, with the approval of the Royal Court, accepted the gift and 3 years later, by which time the sum concerned had risen to £27,000, the States passed an Act called The Lord Portsea Gift Fund (Jersey) Act 1971 ("the Act of 1971"), which established the rules and conditions for the administration of the Fund. The Act was promulgated on 25th May 1971. The Act provided for the Fund to be administered by a Delegation, and the members of the Delegation met for the first time that same year. The Act of 1971 has been amended twice, most recently in 1997.
The amendments have broadened the scope of the Fund so that it can now provide help to – young women, as well as young men; persons who have entered or are about to enter any branch of the armed services, the respective Service Colleges, or the Merchant Navy; and persons who have entered, or who are about to enter, the United Kingdom Civil Service or who are, or are about to become, employees of the States of Jersey or Guernsey. Originally there was an upper age limit of 20 years for applicants; this has been increased progressively and is now 30 years. Finally, it is now sufficient if just one of the parents of an applicant for a grant is a native of Jersey or Guernsey.
- Administration of the Fund
The Delegation charged to administer the Fund on behalf of the States and the Royal Court comprises 8 members, 4 of whom are serving Jurats appointed by the Superior Number of the Royal Court, and 4 are States members nominated by the Minister of Education, Sport and Culture, who is Chairman ex officio of the Delegation. The quorum for meetings of the Delegation is 5 members, of whom at least 2 must be Jurats and 2 representatives of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture.
The Delegation usually meets twice a year, in April and October/November.
Following the General Election of 2011, the representatives of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture changed. The Minister, Deputy P.J.D. Ryan, became Chairman of the Delegation, supported by Assistant Ministers, Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier and Deputy R.G. Bryans.
There were also changes among the Jurat members of the Delegation during the year. Jurat J.M. Clapham joined the Delegation at the start of the year, and Jurat J.L. Le Breton retired before the October meeting of the Delegation. The Royal Court has since appointed Jurat A.J. Olsen to replace Jurat Le Breton.
Thus, the members of the Delegation during 2012 were –
Deputy P.J.D. Ryan, Minister of Education, Sport and Culture, Chairman Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier, Assistant Minister, Education, Sport and Culture Deputy R.G. Bryans
Jurat J.L. Le Breton (part of year)
Jurat P.J. Morgan
Jurat G.W. Fisher
Jurat J.M. Clapham
Executive Officer: Mrs. J. Bree
Honorary Secretary: G.H.C. Coppock.
- Finance
The investment of the Capital Fund is undertaken by the States Treasury and Resources Department, with authority to make such changes in investments as it considers necessary and expedient.
The income of the Fund may be used at the absolute discretion of the Delegation to make grants within the terms of the bequest, as extended by the Acts of the States amending the Act of 1971. Grants made are "absolute and without any conditions".
As at 31st December 2012, the amounts available in the fund were –
Capital Fund £ 201,916
Accumulated Fund £ 108,145
Annual Income £16,849
- Annual Accounts
The accounts of the Delegation's dealings with the Fund for the year ended 31st December 2012 are annexed to this Report.
- Rules and Conditions of the Fund
The rules and conditions with regard to the administration of the Fund may be amended from time to time by the States, on a proposition of the Minister of Education, Sport and Culture, and with the approval of the Royal Court. Some considerable time ago the Delegation approved changes to bring the rules and conditions up to date and compatible with the system of ministerial government. Subsequently, it was decided to change the status of the Fund and provide for it to be incorporated under the "Loi (1862) sur les teneures en fidéicommis et l'incorporation d'associations" with new governing rules and constitution. This work is currently under way and it is expected that the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture will be presenting a Proposition to the States in 2013 in order to complete this process.
- Grants
Grants were paid to 6 students during 2012, totalling £14,500. One was for the second year of a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree course; 2 were for elective placements – both forming part of a degree course in medicine; another was for the first year of a two-year foundation degree in paramedic science; and there were 2 contributions towards travel costs to an English college.
THE LORD PORTSEA GIFT FUND ANNUAL REPORT 2013
- Background
In 1957 the late Miss Albina Bertram Falle bequeathed to the States of Jersey and the Royal Court the sum of £17,000, in accordance with the wishes of her brother, the late Lord Portsea of Portsmouth, for the purpose of establishing a fund –
"to help all young Jersey and Guernsey boys (of Jersey and Guernsey parentage) entering the Royal Navy, Army, Air Force and Civil Services who are in need of financial help".
In 1968 the States Assembly, with the approval of the Royal Court, accepted the gift and 3 years later, by which time the sum concerned had risen to £27,000, the States passed an Act called The Lord Portsea Gift Fund (Jersey) Act 1971 ("the Act of 1971"), which established the rules and conditions for the administration of the Fund. The Act was promulgated on 25th May 1971. The Act provided for the Fund to be administered by a Delegation, and the members of the Delegation met for the first time that same year. The Act of 1971 has been amended twice, most recently in 1997.
The amendments have broadened the scope of the Fund so that it can now provide help to – young women, as well as young men; persons who have entered or are about to enter any branch of the armed services, the respective Service Colleges, or the Merchant Navy; and persons who have entered, or who are about to enter, the United Kingdom Civil Service or who are, or are about to become, employees of the States of Jersey or Guernsey. Originally there was an upper age limit of 20 years for applicants; this has been increased progressively and is now 30 years. Finally, it is now sufficient if just one of the parents of an applicant for a grant is a native of Jersey or Guernsey.
- Administration of the Fund
The Delegation charged to administer the Fund on behalf of the States and the Royal Court comprises 8 members, 4 of whom are serving Jurats appointed by the Superior Number of the Royal Court, and 4 are States members nominated by the Minister of Education, Sport and Culture, who is Chairman ex officio of the Delegation. The quorum for meetings of the Delegation is 5 members, of whom at least 2 must be Jurats and 2 representatives of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture.
The Delegation usually meets twice a year, in April and October/November. The members of the Delegation during 2013 were –
Deputy P.J.D. Ryan, Minister of Education, Sport and Culture, Chairman Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier, Assistant Minister, Education, Sport and Culture Deputy R.G. Bryans, Assistant Minister, Education, Sport and Culture Jurat P.J. Morgan
Jurat G.W. Fisher
Jurat J.M. Clapham
Jurat A.J. Olsen
Executive Officer: Mrs. J. Bree
Honorary Secretary: G.H.C. Coppock.
Mrs. Jane Bree ceased to be Executive Officer at the end of 2013 on her retirement from the civil service and the Delegation wishes to express its appreciation to Jane for her contribution to the work of the Delegation over the years. Miss Nerina Poole has been appointed Executive Officer in her place.
- Finance
The investment of the Capital Fund is undertaken by the States Treasury and Resources Department, with authority to make such changes in investments as it considers necessary and expedient.
The income of the Fund may be used at the absolute discretion of the Delegation to make grants within the terms of the bequest, as extended by the Acts of the States amending the Act of 1971. Grants made are "absolute and without any conditions".
As at 31st December 2013, the amounts available in the fund were –
Capital Fund £201,916 Accumulated Fund £100,987 Annual Income £1,922
- Annual Accounts
The accounts of the Delegation's dealings with the Fund for the year ended 31st December 2013 are annexed to this Report.
- Changes in the Constitution and Rules and Conditions of the Fund
Since its inception in 1971, the rules and conditions for the administration of the Fund have been determined by the States Assembly, on a proposition of the Education Committee, and with the approval of the Royal Court. For some years the Delegation had been seeking to make changes to the rules to bring them up to date. However, having received advice from the Law Officers of the Crown, that the existing rules and conditions of the Fund were in part defective, it was decided to change the status of the Fund by providing for it to be incorporated under the "Loi (1862) sur les teneures en fidéicommis et l'incorporation d'associations" with new governing rules and constitution. The Delegation is pleased to report that considerable progress was made on this project during the year. The proposed changes were approved by the Royal Court and, on Tuesday 19th November, the necessary proposition was adopted by the States Assembly. Once the Act of Incorporation has been granted, the Fund will be administered by a Grants Panel, comprising –
- a Jurat of the Royal Court, appointed by the Full Court;
- an elected member of the States, appointed by the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture; and
- a person appointed by the Minister, with the approval of the Bailiff , to be Chairman.
The Minister may apply to the Royal Court for an Act of Incorporation once these appointments have been made.
- Grants
Grants were approved for 4 students during 2013, totalling £12,800. One was for the first year of a course for a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree in occupational therapy; one was for an elective placement forming part of a degree course in medicine; another was for the second year of a two-year foundation degree in paramedic science; and one was for the first year of a 4 year part-time course in Childhood Studies.
As mentioned earlier in this Report, the Fund is open to applicants from any of the Channel Islands. In that regard, the Delegation is pleased to report that one of the grants made in 2013 was to a student from Guernsey, the first occasion on which this has occurred.