Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministers and Assistant Ministers.

STATES OF JERSEY

MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: MINISTERS AND ASSISTANT MINISTERS

Presented to the States on 18th February 2014 by the Chief Minister

STATES GREFFE

2014   Price code: B  R.19

REPORT

In accordance with Article 30A of the States of Jersey Law 2005, the Chief Minister is required to establish, maintain and publish a list of Ministers and Assistant Ministers and the functions exercisable by each of them and by the Chief Minister personally.'

Details of the responsibilities are given below in order of department – Chief Minister

Senator I.J. Gorst , the Chief Minister, is the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. In this role he is responsible for leading the Council in setting strategic direction for government, ensuring the alignment and co-ordination of strategies, plans and policies and monitoring implementation and progress towards the desired results.

The Chief Minister also has political responsibility for a range of matters, including –

• Financial services industry
• Anti-Money  Laundering  (AML)  legislation  and  working  with  the  Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC)
• International affairs
• Constitutional issues and relations with the UK Government
• Justice  policy  and  resources,  including  the  overall  justice  system,  the Legislation Advisory Panel, safeguarding human rights, data protection, legal services, constitutional reform and strengthening democracy
• The Law Draftsman's Office
• The Population Office
• The States Employment Board and the Jersey Appointments Commission
• The Statistics Unit
• The Economics Unit
• The Communications Unit
• Public Sector reform
• Human Resources
• Information Services.

Senator B.I. Le Marquand has been appointed Deputy Chief Minister. By law he acts on behalf of the Chief Minister if the Chief Minister is absent or incapacitated.

There are 2 Assistant Ministers, and they have been assigned responsibility in the following areas –

Senator P.F. Routier is responsible for the Island's migration policy and will assume functions relating to migration and population. He is also responsible for developing and co-ordinating social policy across government.

Senator P.F.C. Ozouf is responsible for the Financial Services Industry with the Chief Minister.

External Relations

Senator Sir Philip Bailhache , the Minister for External Relations, is responsible for the Island's external relations and for engagement both internationally and with the UK government.  In  this  role  he  acts  concurrently  with  the  Chief  Minister  and  in accordance with the common policy agreed by the Council of Ministers.

The Minister for External Relations has statutory responsibilities with regard to the introduction and implementation of United Nations and European Union financial sanctions and asset-freezing measures in Jersey, granting certain diplomatic privileges and immunities and ensuring the regulatory oversight of civil aviation safety and security.

Economic Development

Senator A.J.H. Maclean, the Minister for Economic Development, is responsible for all areas of economic policy and development in Jersey, including –

• Tourism
• Agriculture and Fisheries (this includes Rural Economy and Fisheries and Marine Resources, which are responsibilities split between the Ministers for Economic Development and Planning and Environment).

The Minister for Economic Development also oversees the following –

• Jersey Business Limited – supporting new and established businesses
• Digital Jersey – promoting technology and innovation
• Locate Jersey – encouraging Inward Investment and developing international trade
• Skills Jersey – promoting work-related skills training.

He also maintains political oversight of the Harbours and the Airport (including air and sea links), postal and telecommunications services, and consumer and regulatory services (Trading Standards).

There are 2 Assistant Ministers, and they have been assigned responsibility in the following areas –

Deputy J.P.G. Baker of St. Helier : Harbours and Airport Deputy C.F. Labey of Grouville : Agriculture and Fisheries

Education, Sport and Culture

Deputy P.J.D. Ryan of St. John , the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, has political responsibility for education, sport, and culture in Jersey. His responsibilities include –

• Pre-School Education
• Child Care Registration
• Schools and Colleges
• Private School registration
• Higher Education
• Youth Service
• Culture
• Sport.

There are 2 Assistant Ministers, and they have been assigned responsibility in the following areas –

Deputy R.G. Bryans of St. Helier : Culture and Youth Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier of St. Saviour : Sport

Department of the Environment

Deputy R.C. Duhamel of St. Saviour , the Minister for Planning and Environment, is the political leader of the Department of the Environment. In this role he is responsible for a number of environmental matters, including –

• Environmental  Management  and  the  Rural  Economy  (including  Natural Environment, Countryside Management, Plant Health and Agriculture)
• Fisheries and Marine Resources
• Environment  Policy  and  Awareness  (including  Energy,  Eco-Active  and International Multilateral Environmental Agreements)
• Environmental Protection and Regulation (including regulation of water and waste environments, regulation of pesticides and pests)
• Planning Policy
• Development Control
• Building Control
• Historic Environment
• Veterinary Services and Animal Health Regulation
• Meteorological Services.

Deputy C.F. Labey of Grouville has been appointed as Assistant Minister, providing support to the Minister, focussing on Rural Affairs.

Health and Social Services

Deputy A.E. Pryke of Trinity ,  the  Minister  for  Health  and  Social  Services,  is responsible for the Island's health and social well-being. In this role she is responsible for –

• Reform of the current health and social care system in Jersey
• Provision of a wide array of hospital services
• Provision of Ambulance Services and the provision of patient transport
• Monitoring and improvement of the quality of all health and social care- related services
• Education and development of medical professionals
• Provision of a co-ordinated approach to mental health care
• Offering psychological/psychiatric support services
• Provision of social care and support in the community in care or respite homes or day centres for vulnerable Islanders, including children, adults and older adults
• Influencing  and  creating  conditions  which  allow  people  to  improve  their health
• Advising about the maintenance of a safe and healthy environment
• Enforcement of public health regulations
• Monitoring of health-related environmental issues
• Prevention and control of infectious diseases
• Registration of health and social care professionals
• Regulation of independent nursing and residential homes, nursing agencies and piercing and tattooing activity
• The care of Jersey's Looked After Children (those who are in the care of the Minister: for example, in foster care, or in a children's home either in Jersey or the UK).

There are 2 Assistant Ministers, and they have been assigned responsibility in the following areas –

Connétable J.M. Refault of St. Peter  has  political  oversight  specifically  of  Hospital and Property matters.

Deputy J.A. Martin of St. Helier has responsibility for children who are in the care of Health and Social Services.

Home Affairs

Senator B.I. Le Marquand, the Minister for Home Affairs, has political responsibility for  all the departments that  come  under  the  Home  Affairs umbrella'. These  are principally, but not exclusively, front-line, uniformed services. The departments that form part of Home Affairs are –

• The States of Jersey Police
• The States of Jersey Fire and Rescue Service
• The Jersey Customs and Immigration Service
• The Jersey Prison Service
• The Office of the Superintendent Registrar
• The Home Affairs Executive, which includes the Building a Safer Society' Strategy.

In addition, the Minister for Home Affairs also has responsibility for the oversight of Jersey's defence contribution via the Jersey Field Squadron (part of the UK Army Reserve).

The  Minister  for  Home  Affairs  is  responsible  for  bringing  forward  policy  and legislation relating to the various departments that come under Home Affairs, and also for such subjects as criminal justice policy, explosives, firearms, sexual offenders, community safety, independent custody visitors and vetting and barring.

The Minister for Home Affairs has ministerial oversight of the Jersey Police Authority and the Jersey Police Complaints Authority.

Senator L.J. Farnham is the Assistant Minister for Home Affairs, and is the first point of ministerial contact for matters relating to –

• The Jersey Prison Service
• The Jersey Fire and Rescue Service.

The Assistant Minister for Home Affairs also has delegated authority to act on behalf of the Minister if he is unavailable.

Housing

Deputy A.K.F. Green of St. Helier ,  the  Minister  for  Housing,  has  political responsibility for the Strategic Housing Unit, inclusive of policies relating to –

• encouraging home ownership
• supporting the affordability of housing for rent and purchase
• the regulation of landlord and tenant relations, and lodging houses
• the Housing Gateway
• relations with social housing providers.

Pending incorporation, the Minister is also responsible for the provision of social housing through the Housing Department.

Connétable J.M. Refault of St. Peter  has  been  appointed  as  Assistant  Minister  for Housing, and has delegated authority to act on behalf of the Minister for Housing if he is unavailable.

Social Security

Senator F. du H. Le Gresley,  the  Minister  for  Social  Security,  has  political responsibility  for  the  Island's  contributory  and  tax-funded  pensions  and  benefit systems, and related strategic policy matters. In addition, the Minister has political responsibility for matters relating to employment and the workplace, and services to support people in seeking and maintaining employment.

Main responsibilities include –

• Social Security Scheme Health Insurance Scheme.
• Long-Term Care scheme
• Income Support
• A range of other tax-funded benefit schemes
• Employment Services, in particular, Back to Work', and grant funding of the Jersey Employment
• Employment  legislation,  including  political  oversight  of  the  Employment Tribunal and the Jersey Advisory and Conciliation Service
• Health and Safety in the Workplace, including legislation and the Inspectorate
• Anti-discrimination legislation.

Deputy S.J. Pinel of St. Clement has been appointed as Assistant Minister, and has delegated  authority  to  act  on  behalf  of  the  Minister  for  Social  Security  if  he  is unavailable. The Assistant Minister sits on the Housing and Work Advisory Group, the Adult and Children's Policy Group, and as a Trustee on the Jersey Employment Trust.

Transport and Technical Services

Deputy K.C. Lewis of St. Saviour , the Minister for Transport and Technical Services, has responsibility for minimizing the impact of waste on the environment, developing on-Island travel networks that meet the needs of the community and providing well- maintained public amenities and infrastructure.

Responsibilities include –

• Provision of sustainable and efficient waste management facilities
• Development and operation of schemes for waste minimization and recycling
• Provision,  management  and  maintenance  of  the  foul  and  surface  water sewerage system

• Treatment and disposal of the Island's liquid waste
• Management of the main road network
• Regulation and monitoring of public transport
• Management of traffic systems
• Provision and management of parking facilities
• Ensuring motor vehicles are roadworthy and drivers competent
• Maintenance  and  cleaning  of  public  spaces,  amenities,  structures  and  sea defences
• Provision and maintenance of formal parks, gardens, open spaces and amenity areas.

Deputy J.A.N. Le Fondré of St. Lawrence has been appointed as Assistant Minister, and  has  delegated  authority  to  act  on  behalf  of  the  Minister  for  Transport  and Technical Services if he is unavailable.

Treasury and Resources

Senator P.F.C. Ozouf ,  the  Minister  for  Treasury  and  Resources,  has  political responsibility for the Island's public finances. In summary, the role covers –

• Monitoring, implementation and review of taxation
• Setting and monitoring of States budgets
• Drafting and publishing of financial policies
• The review of all States activities and spending to ensure resources are being applied in the most effective way
• Representation of the States in publicly-owned companies
• Corporate procurement
• Financial Services Industry (with the Chief Minister)
• Fiscal Policy Panel.

Deputy E.J. Noel of St. Lawrence is the Assistant Minister and provides a supporting role for Treasury and Resources Ministerial responsibilities; he is responsible for Jersey Property Holdings and has delegated authority to act on behalf of the Minister for Treasury and Resources if he is unavailable.

In summary, the role of Jersey Property Holdings covers –

• The provision of fit-for-purpose and affordable accommodation for States' departments
• Rationalisation and consolidation of the States' property portfolio.

You can find out more information about the role of Ministers and the work of each States Department on the States website:

www.gov.je/Government/Departments/

The Chief Minister's Department also maintains an Internet-based list of the functions delegated by each Minister:

www.gov.je/Government/HowGovernmentWorks/Pages/DelegatedFunctions.aspx