States Assembly Annual Report 2015.

States Assembly

ANNUAL REPORT 2015

PRESENTED TO THE STATES

BY THE

PRIVILEGES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE

R.97/2016

Foreword by the Bailiff of Jersey, President of the States

I am pleased to have been asked by the Chairman of the Privileges and Procedures Committee to contribute a Foreword to this, the 11th Annual Report of the States Assembly.

The Annual Report shows that, despite the fact that in terms of public visibility the States' activity appears to have dropped, Members have, as usual, been working extremely hard. I say that activity appears to have dropped only because the Assembly has not sat for as long as it did in 2014, and the time spent on oral questions with notice, including urgent questions, has dropped. I note that less time was even spent on the roll call and communications from the Presiding Officer.

It is interesting to note that 25% of oral questions without notice were put to the Chief Minister, and that he had a slightly higher proportion of the overall total of oral and written questions. Perhaps that is something on which Members may wish to reflect because, although the Chief Minister is of course responsible for his Government, detailed questions seeking information (which is after all the purpose of question time according to Standing Orders) might be thought more profitably to be put to the Ministers who have actual day-to-day responsibility for those issues.

It is unsurprising that work in the Assembly may have paused slightly in 2015. A new Government was formed, and Ministers and Assistant Ministers have had to get to grips with their new portfolios. Similarly, there has been a change in the composition of  Scrutiny  Panels,  and  members  of  those  Panels  have  also  had  to  familiarise themselves with their new roles; and of course there have been a number of new States Members following the Elections. All of this is bound to mean that the first year of a new Assembly appears to run more quietly than previously.

Nonetheless, Parliamentary activity behind the scenes continues to be extremely busy as this Report shows. I commend it to Members and to the Public. At a time when States Members and the Assembly as a whole sometimes receives public criticism which seems out of proportion to the problems which have been identified, it is all the more important to draw to the attention of the Public that Members do work hard and they do that work in the interests of the Public at large, whether they are in the Executive or in Scrutiny. It is all very well having Members criticised for being out of touch with the Public, but sometimes one thinks that the Public does not inform itself sufficiently about all the good work which is done on the other side of the coin, and this Report contains some of the information which is available in that respect.

William James Bailhache , Esq.

Introduction by the Chairman of the Privileges and Procedures Committee

Connétable L. Norman of St. Clement

I am very pleased to be able to present the 2015 States Assembly Annual Report to the States on behalf of the Privileges and Procedures Committee.

In my Introduction last year, I drew attention to the fact that 2014 had been the fullest year in the life of the last Assembly, as the States convened for a total of 48 meeting days.

This year's Annual Report tells a very different story. Although the first year after an election is traditionally quieter than the other 2 years in the current 3 year electoral cycle, the Assembly held 34 meetings in 2015, the least amount since 2000.

However, the Assembly's workload remained constant, and although the States sat for a total of 159 hours and 46 minutes in 2015, some 104.5 hours less than in 2014, the total number of propositions debated during 2015 was 151, compared to 183 in 2014.

The amount of time dedicated to oral questions with and without notice remained comparable,  demonstrating  that  members  remained  alert  to  holding  Ministers  to account. The Assembly spent 25 hours and 39 minutes asking oral questions with notice, compared to 29 hours in 2014; and spent 1 hour 13 minutes more in 2015 asking questions without notice than in 2014.

Whilst there were no alterations to the elected membership during 2015, there were numerous changes to the non-elected membership of the States; with the retirement of the Bailiff , Greffier of the States and Judicial Greffier, and consequential appointment of a new Bailiff , Deputy Bailiff , H.M. Attorney General, H.M. Solicitor General, Greffier  of  the  States  and  Viscount.  The  Assembly  warmly  welcomed  new incumbents into all of the aforementioned roles throughout the  year, and special tributes are paid within this report to the retiring Bailiff and Greffier of the States.

Our Committees and Scrutiny Panels continued to grow in assuredness and influence. A diverse range of work has been undertaken by nearly 20 States Members serving full-time on Panels, with some additional Members who have either been co-opted to reviews  or  taken  part  on  Sub-Panels.  The  development  of  Jersey's  international profile also gathered pace, as 2015 saw the Island being represented at an array of inter-parliamentary bodies. All of this and more is expanded upon in the relevant areas of this report.

This is the 10th Annual Report for the States Assembly: it provides a comprehensive record of the work of the Assembly, while at the same time allowing comparisons to be made against previous years. The Annual Report requires contributions from a large number of officers in the States Greffe, and PPC is grateful to them all for the effort they have put in to make this Report such a comprehensive overview of 2015.

1. THE STATES ASSEMBLY

1. Introduction

33 Sittings were held in total during 2015, which was the first full year for the new Assembly which had taken office in November 2014. Excluding the one special Sitting  for  ceremonial  purposes,  there  were  only  32 meeting  days  for  ordinary' business in 2015, which is the lowest number of meeting days since 2000.

The number of meetings in every year since 2000 is shown below –

2. The make-up of the Assembly

1. Average length of service as an elected member

The  overall  average  length  of  elected  service  of  the  49  elected  members  as  at 31st December 2015  was  7 years.  The  longest-serving  member  of  the  Assembly, Connétable  L. Norman  of   St. Clement ,  had  served  as  an  elected  member  for 32½ years.

2. Average age of elected members

In  2015  the  average  age  of  elected  members  of  the  Assembly  was  52 years.  In December 2009 the average age was 53, and in 2012 there was an average age of 54 years. The breakdown in age of the 49 members of the Assembly is given in the following table –

3. Number of male and female members

The make-up of the membership of the Assembly during 2015 is set out below –

3. Tributes to former members

Five former members of the States and the serving Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey passed away during 2015, and the Bailiff or Deputy Bailiff paid tribute to each one at the next Sitting of the Assembly. Extracts from those tributes are reproduced below.

1. Tribute to the late Mr. John Philip Farley, M.B.E.

On 24th February 2015, the Bailiff paid tribute to the late Mr. John Philip Farley, M.B.E., former Deputy of St. Helier –

"Members  will  no  doubt  be  aware  that John Philip Farley, M.B.E. died on 16th February at the age of 87. He was born in St. Helier  in  1928  and  educated  at  the States  Intermediate  School.  He  was elected to the States in 1981 as Deputy of St. Helier  No. 3  and  he  served  in  that capacity for 2 terms, retiring in December 1987. During that time he served on the Public Works, Tourism, Jersey Overseas Aid,  Broadcasting  and  Fort  Regent Development  Committees.  Those  who heard the tributes paid  to  him on BBC Radio Jersey just over a week ago will have  recognised  that  he  had  a  great enthusiasm  and  passion  for  the  Island, coupled with a great interest in people and a wonderful sense of humour, all of which were apparent in his committee work. Many Members will remember Mr. Farley from the Red Triangle Stores in the Central Market. He was made an M.B.E. in December 2014  for  his  services  to  the  community.  He  had  been  involved  in  a  number  of charities, including the Battle of Flowers, the Lions Club of Jersey, Jersey Cancer Relief,  and  he  had  been  President  of  the  Jersey  Green  Room  Club.  It  is  very unfortunate that his wife, to whom he was devoted, had died in October 2014, shortly before he became aware of his receipt of the honour. Members will want to have in mind Mr. Farley's family, including in particular his 2 children, and I ask Members to stand as the usual mark of respect in his memory. May he rest in peace."

2. Tribute to the late Mr. Reginald Robert Jeune , C.B.E.

On 14th April 2015, the Deputy Bailiff paid tribute to the late Mr. Reginald Robert Jeune , C.B.E., former Deputy of St. Helier and Senator –

"Members will be aware that a very eminent former Member of

the  States,  Mr.  Reg   Jeune , C.B.E., passed away on Sunday.

He was born in 1920, educated at De La Salle College, and by

profession  was  a  Jersey solicitor. It is fair to say that it

would  be  difficult  in  the  time available  even  to  list  all  of

Mr. Jeune 's  achievements  and contributions to the Island and

to the Assembly, let alone to say anything very much about them.

He was first elected in 1962 and he served as a States Member

for an impressive 35 years. First as  a   Deputy  of  St. Helier

District  No. 3.  He  was  a member  of  a  number  of

important committees including Defence,  Education  and

Telephones, and he was elected as President of the Public Works Committee, in which role he served between 1964 and 1969. He finished his time as a Deputy as President of the Education Committee. He was then elected to Senator in 1972 and went on to serve on many other committees, among the most important presidencies that he held were those of Finance and Economics from 1989, Policy and Resources also from 1989, Education, and Constitution. He also served as a member of many other standing and special committees of the States, and was President of the Special Committee  on  the  Review  of  the  Machinery  of  Government  which  successfully proposed the introduction of the Policy and Resources Committee, of which he was particularly proud, and of which, as I have said, he became President. It was also a source  of  pride  to  him  that  he  successfully  proposed  the  introduction  of  the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, which was introduced in 1972, and he continued to serve the Island after his retirement from the States by remaining as Chairman of the Panel  from  1997  until  2003.  He  was  heavily  involved  in  the  Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and served during his time in the States both as Chairman of the Jersey Branch, but also as International Treasurer of the Association, the first time ever that this position as an officer of the C.P.A. (Commonwealth Parliamentary Association) had been given to someone who was not a member of the U.K. House of Commons. As an active C.P.A. member, he represented Jersey in many conferences, including those in Canada, India, the Bahamas and Kenya, and in many other places. He was instrumental in enabling Jersey to join the L'Association internationale des parlementaires de la langue française, now the  L'Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie. His services to business were recognised and honoured in 1979 when he received an O.B.E. (Order of the British Empire), and in 1996 he was appointed C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to the community of Jersey. He was a family man with deep Christian faith. He was very close to his wife, Monica. Married in 1946, they had 3 children together and her death in recent times affected him very deeply. His interests stretched beyond his duties in the Assembly, and I am sure that fitting tributes will be paid to him for those other activities. It will be, however, for being among the most eminent and influential of Jersey's post-war statesmen that he will be best remembered. In 2003 he published his memoirs, in which he recalled his first day in the States as follows: "I remember making the conscious decision to listen and observe on my first day and not utter a word during the debates because I felt it was important to get a clear understanding of procedure and a feeling for how the machinery of government worked. Keeping silent was never my cup of tea, so years later it was not surprising that I had made it into the Evening Post top 5 talkers in the States.". He did not hold back from taking an active and passionate interest in his Island and in the work of the Assembly and, as that quotation illustrates, was happy to share his energies and opinions whenever he felt that he had something to contribute. When reflecting on his time as a Member of the Assembly he said: "I believe that the reason I became a States Member was to try and make my native Island a better place to live." I know that one of his proudest achievements was to bring forward the proposals to set up the Strategic Reserve or "Rainy Day Fund" at a time when States' income was growing and it would have been easy to increase public spending irresponsibly or reduce taxes further than he was able to do. The Strategic Reserve was one of a number of measures he promoted to ensure that Jersey gained a reputation for sound and prudent financial management for the benefit of future generations. I am sure all Members would agree with me that he certainly achieved his objective of making his native Island a better place to live. May I invite Members to rise for a minute in silence to his name? May he rest in peace."

3. Tribute to the late Mr. Peter Frederick Maurice Hanning

On 2nd June 2015, the Bailiff paid tribute to the late Mr. Peter Frederick Maurice Hanning, former Connétable of St. Saviour –

"I am sure Members will be aware that Mr. Peter Hanning, former Connétable  of St. Saviour , died on 18th May after  a  long  illness. Mr. Hanning was Connétable between  24th  August  2007 and  October  2011,  when  he lost  his  seat  in  the  general election. Apart from his work in  the  Parish  and  in  this Assembly,  Mr. Hanning's States' work involved sitting as a member of the Privileges and  Procedures  Committee during  the  time  that  that Committee  developed  the Freedom of Information Law. He  sat  on  the  Planning Applications Panel, where he served from September 2007 until November 2010, and he was a member of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Sub-Panel reviewing the proposed importation of bovine semen, which the Panel recommended that this took place. He was a great believer in the importance of the community, demonstrated by many examples, but perhaps none more telling than his support of the primary school visits to the States Chamber. During his time as a States Member, he attended every visit by St. Saviour  schools.  Peter  Hanning  was  a  gentleman.  This  is  an  overworked description and frequently does not really fit the man, but in this case it does. He was unfailingly courteous, even when agitated about the subject-matter of the debate. He was unfailingly kind in his treatment of those about him, and his contributions in debates were measured and thoughtful. I know Members will join me in expressing our admiration for Mr. Hanning, and on your behalf I extend our sympathy to his widow and his family. I ask Members to stand in his honour in the usual way. May he rest in peace."

4. Tribute to the late Mr. Mervyn Renouf Billot

On 23rd September 2015, the Deputy Bailiff paid tribute to the late Mr. Mervyn Renouf Billot, former Deputy of St. Saviour No. 2 –

"A  former  Member  of  this Assembly, Mr.  Mervyn  Billot, passed away last Saturday at the General  Hospital  just  5 days after  his  90th birthday.  I  must firstly  apologise  to  his  family and to Members that I did not make this tribute yesterday, but news  of  his  passing  only reached  us  after  the  end  of yesterday's  Sitting.  Mervyn Renouf Billot was first elected unopposed to this Assembly as a Deputy of St. Saviour No. 2 in March 1983 to fill the vacancy caused  by  the  resignation  of Deputy  Brian   Troy .  He  was welcomed to the Assembly for the first time on 12th April 1983, and on that same day showed the enthusiasm that he was to have throughout his term for committee work, by being elected on that very day as a member of the Harbours and Airport Committee, the Committee for Postal Administration  and  to  the  Resources  Recovery  Board.  He  was  re-elected  in  the general elections of 1984 and 1987 and served for a total of 7½ years until he retired from office in 1990. He was an active member of committees, and served on the Harbours and Airport Committee for his entire term of office, and he also served on the Cottage Homes Committee in addition to further terms on the Committee for Postal Administration and the Resources Recovery Board. In addition, in 1987, he was  appointed  to  chair  the  Committee  of  Inquiry  which  investigated  the circumstances relating to the development of the Rue Fondon Trading Estate. Since leaving the Assembly, he continued to take an active interest as an Associate Member of the Jersey Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, but as some 25 years have passed since Mr. Billot left the Assembly there are only 2 Members who  have  served  here  alongside  him,  Senator   Bailhache  and  the   Connétable  of St. Clement . The Connétable of St. Clement recalls him as a Member who always made a measured and thoughtful intervention in the Assembly and who contributed significantly  on  all  of  the  committees  that  he  served  on.  The   Connétable  also remembers him as a very cheerful and ebullient character. Our thoughts today are with his wife, Sheila, and his children, Cara, Frances and Nicolette, as well as with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and I ask Members to rise for a few moments in his memory. May he rest in peace."

5. Tribute to the late Mr. John Philip de Carteret

On 5th October 2015, the Bailiff paid tribute to the late Mr. John Philip de Carteret, former Senator and Deputy of St. Lawrence –

"Members will have noticed that Mr. John de Carteret sadly died over the weekend. Mr. de Carteret was elected as a Deputy in St. Lawrence in 1975 and served one term of 3 years, as it then was, in that capacity. He was subsequently elected as a Senator in 1978, when he topped the poll. During his time in the States he was known as a fluent contributor in debates, and he served on the establishment of the Gambling Control and Overseas Aid Committees. He retired from the States in 1984, although he obviously did not lose his enthusiasm for politics, standing again, unsuccessfully as it turned out, in the 1990s. I am sure Members would want to join me in expressing our sympathy to  his  widow and  family, and  I ask Members to  stand for  a few moments in the customary way in his memory as a past Member of the Assembly. May he rest in peace."

4. Tribute to the late Air Marshal Peter Walker , Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey

On 8th September 2015, the Deputy Bailiff paid tribute to the late Air Marshal Peter Walker , the serving Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey –

"On  a  more  sombre  note,  Members  will  be  aware  of  the  sudden  death  of  the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey, His Excellency, Air Marshal Peter Walker . The Bailiff issued the following message on behalf of the Assembly: "It is a great shock to hear of the sudden passing of His Excellency, Air Marshal Peter Walker , Lieutenant Governor  of  Guernsey.  Air  Marshal   Walker  was  in  his  last  year  of  service  in Guernsey and he has been assiduous in his work on behalf of that Bailiwick. On behalf of the States and people of Jersey I would like to express our deepest sympathy to Mrs. Walker and her family who we will hold in our thoughts and prayers, and likewise to extend our condolences to the people of Guernsey on their loss." Although he was not a Member of this Assembly we do not therefore stand, but we will pause for a moment as a mark of respect and sympathy."

5. Changes to the non-elected membership of the States

Whilst there were no alterations to the elected membership of the States during 2015, there were numerous changes to the non-elected membership of the States; with the retirement  of  the   Bailiff ,  Greffier  of  the  States  and  Judicial  Greffier,  and consequential appointment of a new Bailiff , Deputy Bailiff , H.M. Attorney General, H.M. Solicitor General, Greffier of the States and Viscount.

1. The Bailiff of Jersey

The Bailiff of Jersey, Sir Michael Birt, the President of the States, retired at the end of January 2015.

Sir Michael had been Bailiff since 2009. He had been appointed as H.M. Attorney General on 17th January 1994. During his time  as  Attorney  General,  there  were many high-profile issues to be dealt with, but of greatest significance was the role he  played  alongside  Senator  Pierre Horsfall and the Sea Fisheries Adviser to conclude  negotiations  with  the  French authorities  on  the  Bay  of  Granville Agreement  which  set  out  the  maritime boundary between the Bailiwick of Jersey and France, and enabled the fishing rights to  Jersey  and  French  fishermen  to  be agreed  within  the  respective  territorial seas. He was sworn in as Deputy Bailiff in  February  2000  and  presided  in  the Assembly for the first time on 4th April 2000.  He  was  sworn  in  as   Bailiff  on 9th July 2009,  and  was  knighted  in  the Queen's  Birthday Honours  List in  June 2012.

The retirement of the Bailiff was marked in a number of ways in the Island, and the Chairman  of  the  Privileges  and  Procedures  Committee,  the   Connétable  of St. Clement , paid tribute to him on behalf of all States Members at the end of his last Sitting on 21st January 2015. The Chairman drew attention to the tremendous esteem in which the Assembly held Sir Michael, and praised the fair and decisive way in which he had presided. His contribution to the Island and his involvement in major events, such as Royal visits and the 350th Commemoration of the Royal Mace, was also applauded. It was recognised that his participation at the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth, most notably as a presenter, had placed Jersey very firmly at the centre of such meetings. The Chairman's good wishes to the Bailiff  for  a  long,  happy  and  healthy  retirement  were  met  with  sustained  foot- stamping from all members.

EXTRACT FROM HANSARD OF 21ST JANUARY 2015

"FAREWELL TO THE BAILIFF

11.  The Connétable of St. Clement (Chairman, Privileges and Procedures Committee):

This being the final occasion on which you will preside over this Assembly it falls to me to say a few words to mark your retirement. I nearly said a few words to celebrate you retirement, but that might have been misconstrued. You are perfectly entitled to celebrate your own retirement as you may wish to do after a sitting such as today's. [Laughter] We might wish to celebrate, and I am sure we wish to celebrate with you, a job extremely well done. [Approbation] But my few words as I said are to mark your retirement. Accordingly I now bring out my proverbial and virtual red book. Those who remember Eamonn Andrews and Michael Aspel will know exactly what I am talking about. Sir Michael Cameron St. John Birt, my big red book tells me that you were born on 17th January 1994. [Laughter] Now that might come as a surprise to some, but that was the date on which you joined the public service and was sworn in as Attorney General for Jersey. In fairness, some things did happen to you before that date, like obtaining a law degree from Magdalene College, Cambridge; you were called to the English bar in 1970 and practised as a barrister in London until 1975. But in 1976 you saw the light and joined the law firm Ogier and Le Cornu in Jersey, becoming a partner in 1978 and a Crown Advocate in 1987. But as I said, it was in January 1994 that your real public life began. During your time as Attorney General there were many high profile issues to be dealt with. But the one that I think was very significant was the role you played alongside Senator Pierre Horsfall and the then Sea Fisheries Adviser Dr. Simon Bossy to conclude negotiations with the French authorities on the Bay of Granville Agreement. This was eventually approved by the States in 1999 I think and then signed by the British and French Governments at a ceremony held in Jersey.

[16:45]

The agreement was a significant one as it set out the maritime boundary between the Bailiwick of Jersey and France and enabled the fishing rights to Jersey and French fishermen to be agreed within the respective territorial seas. That agreement took many, many years to come to fruition. It has so far stood the test of time. Your significant input as legal adviser was recognised when the matter was taken to the States for approval, and I think it is worth recalling that these negotiations took place over a time when it was still extremely unusual for Jersey to be representing itself on the international stage. These negotiations undoubtedly paved the way for Jersey to begin to play an ever-increasing international role in our own right. You were sworn in as Deputy Bailiff in February 2000 and presided in this Assembly for the first time on 4th April 2000. Well, maybe not much changes, but as you might recall that one matter dealt with at that very first sitting you presided over, was the statement made by the then president of Policy and Resources Committee explaining that the Planning and Environment Committee had decided to produce a design code for the remaining areas of the St. Helier waterfront to guide the Waterfront Enterprise Board in the development of the waterfront, something which we are still discussing today. Indeed, that has taken even longer than the Bay of Granville Agreement took. You were sworn in as Bailiff of Jersey on 9th July 2009. I can now tell you that since that date

and up to the end of 2014 you have presided for a total of 783 hours and 8 minutes. I bet, Sir, it feels like a lot longer. I must thank the Greffier for that information because I have not kept that record. [Laughter] For completeness we need to add the time you have presided at this session and no doubt the Greffier will provide the updated figures just before we adjourn. I have been in this place for so long that I have served – now I just want, is the word "under" or is the word "with" 4 Bailiff s: Sir Frank, Sir Peter, Sir Philip and for the past 5½ years, Sir Michael. I have been advised that making comparisons on occasions like this is not appropriate, but I cannot resist saying [Laughter] that of all of the Bailiff s with whom I have served you are undoubtedly the tallest. [Laughter] [Approbation] I have to say that your talents go further than that. In your Christmas greetings in 2011 you said, and I quote: "As I have said on previous occasions, chairing the Assembly is not perhaps as straightforward as one might think. With 51, as it is now, strong-minded individuals it is inevitable that during a politician's career he or she will face rulings from the Chair with which he disagrees, perhaps strongly." I can vouch for that. "But I am always appreciative" you went on to say "of the spirit in which Members accept rulings and certainly so far as the Chair is concerned and all of those who sit here, our sole intention is to conduct proceedings fairly and impartially as best we can." No one could doubt that you have throughout your time as Bailiff presided in a manner which is fair, decisive and, dare I say it, charming. We have all been cross with you at some time or another, but your courteous response to our challenges accompanied by an always disarming smile I think has always won us over. Your impartiality has been beyond question or reproach and has been valued and appreciated by all who have sat in this place. [Approbation] One of your roles as presiding officer that has been little known is your participation in the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth. Unlike the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association which is open to State and Provincial legislatures of the Commonwealth this group is normally reserved for the presiding officers of the Sovereign States in the Commonwealth. But the Crown Dependencies seem to have wangled their way in. You attended the 2006 conference in Kenya in your capacity then as Deputy Bailiff and attended 3 conferences held since your elevation to Bailiff . Invariably you have been asked to be one of the lead presenters at the conference sessions, a singular honour as only some 4 to 6 speakers are asked to do this. In 2010 in India you made a presentation to the conference on the use of technology in the parliamentary context. I am significantly impressed because I and others who have seen you attempting to use a computer [Laughter] would not have recognised you as a technology expert you obviously must be. In 2012 you were a lead speaker at the conference in Trinidad and Tobago where you spoke on executive accountability, oversight role of parliament alongside Dr. Lockwood Smith, then speaker of the New Zealand Parliament and now as Sir Lockwood Smith New Zealand High Commissioner in London whom we had the pleasure of welcoming to Jersey just a few weeks ago. In New Zealand in January 2014 you were lead presenter for the topic "Small parliaments, big challenges". These contributions have placed Jersey very firmly at the centre of C.S.P.O.C. (Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth) meetings. Only last week you hosted here in Jersey the 2015 C.S.P.O.C. Steering Committee meeting bringing together speakers from some of the largest commonwealth countries, including the Speaker of the U.K. House of Commons, the House of Commons of Canada, the President of the Australian Senate and the Honourable Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Lower House of the Indian Parliament. You were knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours' List in June 2012 and that was a most deserved and worthy recognition

which you received at that time. That award I believe recognised your commitment to public service by reflecting on the fact that in early 1994 at the age of 45 you left your position as a senior partner with the law firm Ogier and Le Cornu to take up the position of Attorney General. I suspect this might have been at no small financial sacrifice. The Island owes a huge debt of gratitude to those who are willing to enter Crown Office in this way. [Approbation] You have taken a very active part in the civic life of the Island throughout your term of office. You have continued to ensure that Liberation Day is celebrated appropriately and we have welcomed many distinguished guests to the commemorative events. In addition to the States meeting in ceremony in Liberation Square every 9th May you have also made sure that the afternoon ceremony at the Slave Workers' Memorial on Westmount receives appropriate recognition. In 2010, the 65th anniversary of the liberation, you hosted a reception at the R.J.A. & H.S. (Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society) for those who were here in the occupation, including deportees, those who left in order to fight in the armed forces and those who worked through it. In the spirit of reconciliation you and Lady Birt also visited Bad Wurzach with the then Chief Minister and the Constable of St. Helier . You have been active in marking many important civic occasions, but I shall highlight just 2 or 3. You oversaw a number of local events to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen in 2012, culminating with a visit of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall who represented Her Majesty at the Island celebrations in the Royal Square where the States held a special meeting where His Royal Highness unveiled a commemorative marking in the granite paving. In your Christmas greetings in 2012 you referred to the Diamond Jubilee as the highlight of the year. You also mentioned the number of Parish-based events you and Lady Birt attended as well as the food fair, the Fort Regent concert and the magnificent firework display. You completed your remarks by saying: "But in many ways I think the highlight, certainly for us sitting here, was the sitting of the States in the Royal Square. It was marvellous, I think, so hundreds of people who could come and witness the occasion which we could never have done if we were sitting in here. My own abiding memory of that is when, right at the beginning, I started my address in a very ordinary way, expressing a welcome to the Prince of Wales and also that we were very pleased to welcome the Duchess of Cornwall. This brought a spontaneous cheer from the audience and you could visibly see the Prince of Wales warming, how pleased he was that his wife was being received in this way." All of us who were present on that occasion were equally pleased. In 2013 the 350th anniversary of the presentation to the Island of the mace was celebrated with another States sitting in the Royal Square in the presence this time of the Earl of Wessex and the event is now preserved for posterity in the magnificent painting by Jason Butler that hangs in the atrium of the Royal Court building. On 4th August last year the ceremony of light was a very moving commemoration in the Royal Square at the start of World War I. I have to confess that many of us worried about how appropriate such a commemoration was, but I have to say it would prove to be very appropriate as well as moving and respectful. It gave us all the opportunity to reflect on the events a century ago, the colossal loss of life which ensued and the hardship suffered by our community. The commemoration was a mix of music, religious service and readings from contemporary letters and left all who attended really moved. It was good that the Parishes were involved at the heart of this commemoration. We are grateful to you, Sir, for leading the team that organised it. During these few comments I have mentioned your wife, the lovely Lady Joan, on at least a couple of occasions. This has caused me to reflect that usually behind every

successful man is a surprised woman. I doubt if Lady Birt is surprised at all at your success, but may I express our appreciation of the active role she has played throughout your time as Bailiff and the very genuine and wide interest she has personally taken in Island matters as well as accompanying you on so many events. [Approbation] Whatever we do in life, to do it well and to do it to the best of our ability we need the support of our partners, and it is clear that you have had that and had it in abundance. We are very grateful to Lady Birt for the support she has given you. Mr. Bailiff , we are going to miss you, but of course we wish you and Lady Birt well in your retirement and in whatever you wish to do. Your long, dedicated and valuable service to this Assembly will be long remembered and all of us in this place wish you and Lady Birt a long, happy and healthy retirement. [Approbation]

The Bailiff :

Well, Mr. Chairman, Connétable , thank you so much for those kind words, particularly about my wife, with which I entirely agree. I have to say I am really feeling quite emotional this week. I have been a Member of this Assembly as you have said for some 21 years, 6 as Attorney General and then 15 years during which I have had the honour of presiding either as Bailiff or as Deputy Bailiff . Indeed, it is only you, Connétable , Senator Routier and Senator Bailhache who remember when I joined back in 1994. It does not seem as if I have grey hair for nothing then. It will certainly seem very strange when I walk out for the last time in a few moments and not to be attending your sitting in February. One often hears or reads criticisms of the States just as there is criticism regularly of the Parliament at Westminster, and of course that is as it should be in a democracy. I have to admit there have been occasions when I have wondered if a Member is participating in the same debate over which I am presiding because there appears to have been little connection between the two. There have also been some wonderful occasions of amusement; both when Members have deliberately been extremely witty, and also perhaps – as we are all capable of doing – when they have not intended to be. I am only going to mention one or two as I wish to save the rest for my speech at the retirement dinner tomorrow night. But I like the one of Deputy Duhamel, the former Deputy Duhamel, saying: "I ask for the support of this House and of the other members who will sit on me with this committee;" and of the former Deputy Fox speaking of the tourists for the new waterfront hotel saying: "They will be flying in, or using the airport." I leave Members to guess which Deputy it was who said: "I have been trying to keep up with this debate, it has been quite difficult to keep up with at times, I know now how Members feel when I speak." [Laughter] But much more frequently I have heard speeches spoken from the heart and articulated with passion and with reason why a particular course of action would be the best for the Island. Because of the absence of party politics, which tends in other countries to mean that the outcome of the debate is known in advance, I have seen debates swing or turn on a particularly eloquent or persuasive speech, and that has been a most invigorating part of presiding. Having been a Member for this period of one thing I am certain: all Members seek election in order to try and improve the lot of their fellow citizens and while they are here, from whatever political perspective they come, they try to the best of their ability to do that.

[17:00]

I suspect most members of the public have no idea of the amount of reading Members have to do or of the amount of research and the hard work which goes into bringing a proposition or making a major contribution to a debate. So I would like to take this

opportunity in my final moments as a Member of this Assembly to pay tribute to those of you here today and to those who have gone before you and to thank you and them for the service which Members give the Island. It has been my privilege to serve you by presiding in debates so as to facilitate your decision-making. As I have said on other occasions, and as the Connétable has reminded you, presiding over 49 – it is now – individuals with strong views is not as easy as it might seem, and I am sure that on occasions as the Connétable has referred I have made rulings which have upset one or more of you. But I shall miss being told by the former Connétable of St. John that yet again I have cut him off at the knees, or being told by the former Deputy Le Claire that he is getting to the point if only I would give him a little more time. [Laughter] I thank you all for your courtesy, for your tolerance. I thank the Greffier and his hardworking team for the wonderful assistance they have given me over the years and I wish the States every continued success in the future as you chart the way forward for this wonderful Island of ours. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as your Bailiff and I thank you all very much. [Approbation] Thank you all very, very much indeed. So for the last time I shall say the session is closed and we shall reconvene on 3rd February, but I will not be here."

_______________

Sir Michael Birt's successor, the then Deputy Bailiff , Mr. William James Bailhache , was sworn in as Bailiff on 29th January 2015. Mr. Bailhache presided in the States Assembly for the first time in his new capacity on 3rd February 2015, when he was welcomed by the Chairman of PPC on behalf of all members.

Mr. William James Bailhache presiding in the States Assembly for the first time after his swearing-in as Bailiff of Jersey; with His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, General Sir John McColl, K.C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., present at the Sitting (Photograph courtesy of the Jersey Evening Post)

2. The Deputy Bailiff of Jersey

The former H.M. Attorney General, Mr. Timothy John Le Cocq , was appointed as Deputy Bailiff on 2nd April 2015. He presided in the States Assembly for the first time on 14th April 2015, at which Sitting he was welcomed to the Assembly by the Connétable of St. Clement , on behalf of all Members. Mr. Le Cocq had, however, already faced a baptism of fire' by chairing the primary schools visits in the Chamber several times prior to this date!

3. H.M. Attorney General and H.M. Solicitor General

Mr. Le Cocq 's successor as H.M. Attorney General, Mr. Robert James MacRae , Q.C., was  sworn  in  on  5th  May  2015;  and  Mr.  Mark  Howard  Temple,  Q.C.  became H.M. Solicitor General on 17th August 2015.

Mr. Robert James MacRae , Q.C., H.M. Attorney General

Mr. Mark Howard Temple, Q.C., H.M. Solicitor General

4. The Greffier of the States

Greffier of the States, Mr. Michael Nelson de la Haye, being awarded his O.B.E. by the Duke of Cambridge, at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace in November 2014.

(The award was announced in H.M. The Queen's 2014 Birthday Honours List, for services to the States of Jersey and to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.)

The Greffier of the States, Mr. Michael Nelson de la Haye, O.B.E., retired from office on 19th December 2015. Mr. de la Haye joined the States Greffe as Assistant Greffier of the States in 1999; and promotion came quickly, with Mr. de la Haye becoming Deputy Greffier in 2000, and Greffier on 5th November 2002. During his time as Greffier  of  the  States,  he  also  served  as  Honorary  Secretary  of  the  Jersey Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Outside of the States, he is Chairman of the Jersey Friends of Anthony Nolan, raising funds for the Anthony Nolan Trust, who maintain  a  register  of  potential  stem  cell  donors  (often  through  bone  marrow donation) so that matches can be found between potential donors and patients to provide life-saving transplants for people suffering from blood cancers.

The  Chairman  of  the  Privileges  and  Procedures  Committee,  the   Connétable  of St. Clement , paid tribute to him on behalf of all States Members at the end of the Greffier's last Sitting on 16th December 2015, and noted that he had served 3 Bailiff s and  got  through  and  seen  off  7 chairmen  of  the  Privileges  and  Procedures Committee'.  The  Greffier  had  overseen  a  number  of  significant  changes  and developments  which  had  added  to  the  complexity  of  the  role  of  Greffier;  most notably,  the  move  to  ministerial  government  in  2005.  Mr. de la Haye  acted  as instructing officer for the drafting of the States of Jersey Law and Standing Orders, which had not been altered for nearly 40 years. His advice was always well respected and trusted. The Chairman's good wishes to the Greffier for a long, happy and healthy retirement were met with applause from all members.

Mr. Michael Nelson de la Haye, O.B.E., being applauded by the Assembly during his final attendance as Greffier of the States, at the Continuation States Sitting of 16th December 2015.

EXTRACT FROM HANSARD OF 16TH DECEMBER 2015 "APPRECIATION TO THE GREFFIER OF THE STATES

6.1  The Connétable of St. Clement :

This is the last occasion on which our current Greffier will be sitting with us in the States Assembly and, therefore, I think it is right that I say a few words. Those words I say on behalf of the current elected Members and indeed all of those who have sat in this  place  since  1999  to  thank  wholeheartedly  Mr.  Michael  de  la  Haye  for  the wonderful service he has given each and every one of us during his term of office. [Approbation]  Mr.  de  la  Haye  joined  the  Greffe  in  1999  and  promotion  came quickly, becoming Deputy Greffier in the year 2000 and his current role, Greffier, in 2002. It is interesting to note that he has served 3 Bailiff s: Sir Philip, Sir Michael and yourself, but perhaps even more telling, is he has got through and seen off 7 Chairmen of the Privileges and Procedures Committee. [Laughter] Now I am not sure what that says about  Mr.  de la  Haye or indeed about  the Chairmen of the Privileges and Procedures Committee, but perhaps time will tell. The Greffier has seen a number of significant changes and developments which have added to the complexity of the role of  Greffier,  most  notably,  I  think,  the  move  to  ministerial  government  in  2005. Mr. de la Haye acted as instructing officer for the drafting of the States of Jersey Law and Standing Orders, which had not been altered for nearly 40 years. That was a monumental task well undertaken and clearly they have served us well since they were approved. Under the leadership of Mr. de la Haye, the Greffe has provided high quality support services to Members, while at the same time they have embarked on a range of public engagement initiatives including the excellent and user-friendly States Assembly website. We have always been able to rely on his advice, be it in relation to States procedures, or the C.P.A. (Commonwealth Parliamentary Association) or the A.P.F. (Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie). Mr. de la Haye has served us tirelessly answering e-mails at all hours, at weekends and even when out of the Island. [Approbation] Tomorrow we shall enjoy his humorous side as Clarrie makes us choke on our plum pudding. [Approbation] Sir, I shall now break Standing Orders and speak directly to the Greffier and I hope you will not pull me up. Mr. Michael de la Haye, yours are going to be very large shoes to fill in more ways than one. Sir, we thank you. We thank you, Michael de la Haye, and we wish you well in whatever you do in the future. Thank you. [Approbation] [Applause]."

_______________

Mr. de la Haye's replacement, Dr. Mark Egan, was appointed on  21st  December  2015.  Dr. Egan  joined  the  States  Greffe  from  Westminster, where he was a Clerk in the House of Commons.  

5. The Viscount

Mr. Michael Wilkins retired from the position of Viscount at the end of April 2015, having held that post since 1981. During his time as Viscount, Mr. Wilkins had been seconded to the post of Judicial Greffier in 1997, and had continued as both Viscount and Judicial Greffier until his retirement.

On 12th May 2015, Advocate Elaine Millar was appointed as his successor, and took up her new role on 10th July 2015.

The retiring Viscount, Mr. Michael Wilkins  The new Viscount, Advocate Elaine Millar

6. Fire!

On 25th March 2015, during the opening speech of the Chief Minister in relation to his proposition entitled Committee of Inquiry: Historical Child Abuse – additional funding' (P.20/2015), the fire alarm sounded and the States Assembly was forced to adjourn. The States Chamber had to be evacuated because of a fire in the main States building, and the Assembly reconvened that afternoon in the Assembly Room at the Town Hall , in order that this important debate did not have to be delayed. It was to the credit of the Ports of Jersey Communications team that the recording and sound equipment was able to be set up in a very short time to allow the States Sitting to continue.

2. MEETINGS OF THE STATES

1. Introduction

2015 was the first full year for the new States Assembly which had taken office in November 2014.

2. Number of meetings

The Assembly met for considerably fewer days in 2015, with a total of 32 meetings; compared to 2014, in which there were 48 meetings in total held during the year that saw the Island's first general' election.

A comparison of the number of meetings held in each year since 1999 is shown in the following table –

3. Length of meetings

The Assembly sat for a total of 159 hours and 46 minutes in 2015. The ceremonial meeting on Liberation Day lasted for 21 minutes, meaning that the Assembly spent 159 hours  and  25 minutes  on  ordinary'  business,  compared  with  263 hours  and 55 minutes in 2014.

With no meetings in August, the allocation of time for this ordinary business' was spread between the First and Second Sessions, with a total of 84 hours and 50 minutes in the First Session and 75 hours and 35 minutes in the Second Session; although it is important to note that the First Session lasts some 7 months from January to July, whereas the Second Session lasts for only 4 months from September to December.

4. Allocation of time

The total of 159 hours and 25 minutes during the 32 meetings for ordinary business was broken down as follows –

5. Oral Questions with notice

Oral  questions  with  notice  can  be  answered  at  any  scheduled  meeting  of  the Assembly, but not during continuation days unless they are approved by the Bailiff as urgent questions. There were 4 urgent questions asked during 2015.

A total of 209 oral questions with notice and 4 urgent oral questions were answered during the year, and no questions that had been listed on the Order Paper remained unanswered because the 2 hour period allocated had expired. This was the first time that this had occurred. The total time spent answering the 209 questions with notice and the 4 urgent questions was 25 hours and 39 minutes, meaning that an average of 7.2 minutes was spent on each one.

During 2014, when the time spent answering the 224 oral questions with notice and the  8 urgent  oral  questions  totalled  29 hours  exactly,  this  gave  a  slightly  higher average of 7.5 minutes being spent on each question.

The  breakdown  of  Ministers/Committees  and  others  with  official  responsibility answering the oral questions with notice (including the 4 urgent questions) was as follows –

6. Oral Questions without notice

Following the period of oral questions with notice at every scheduled States meeting there is a period of 30 minutes set aside for oral questions without notice to Ministers. Two Ministers answer for up to 15 minutes each on a rota basis, with the Chief Minister answering at every other States meeting. A total of 9 hours and 23 minutes was spent on oral questions without notice during the year.

Ministers answered as follows –

7. Written Questions

During  2015,  312 written  answers  were  tabled  at  20 meetings,  compared  with 284 written answers at 16 meetings in 2014, an average in 2015 of 15.6 questions per meeting, compared to the 2014 average of 17.8. The largest number tabled at one Sitting was 25, on 28th April 2015, with the majority (7 questions) answered by the Chief Minister.

The breakdown of Ministers, Panels, Committees and others answering the written questions was as follows –

8. Statements

There were only 13 statements made in the Assembly during 2015 (2 fewer than in 2014), and these statements and the period of questioning that followed lasted a total of 2 hours and 37 minutes (which includes the 7 minutes for the Liberation Day statement) meaning that each statement took an average of some 12 minutes.

Eleven  of  the  statements  were  made  by  Ministers,  Scrutiny  Chairmen  and  other office-holders on matters of official responsibility, one was for Liberation Day and only one was a personal statement.

The breakdown of those making statements was as follows –

9. Public Business

During  2015,  the  Assembly  spent  a  total  of  112 hours  and  5 minutes  on  Public Business. The time spent on Public Business represented 70.72% of the total Sitting hours during 2015, compared to 72.1% of the total Sitting hours during 2014.

In  comparison,  during  2014,  190 hours  and  30 minutes  were  spent  on  Public Business: 185 hours and 4 minutes in the old' States, and 5 hours and 26 minutes in the new' States.

The  total  number  of  propositions  debated  during  2015  was  151,  compared  to 183 in 2014. The breakdown of the number of each type of proposition debated during the year was as follows –

2015  2014 Appointments  29  15 Budget/Medium Term Financial Plan/Strategic Plan  3  1 Legislation:

The total time spent on the various categories of proposition, the percentage of the total time, and the average time spent per proposition in each category is shown in the following table –

Total  % of  Average time  total  time per time  projet (Minutes)

Appointments  4h 38m  4%  8 Budget/Medium Term Financial Plan/Strategic Plan  26h 57m  25%  809 Legislation:

Acts (including Appointed Day Acts)  35m  0.5%  3 Laws  5h 44m  5%  15.5 Regulations  11h 28m  10.2%  15 Standing Orders  12m  0.2%  6

Ministers' policy matters  30h 39m  27.2%  92 Petitions  4h 5m  3.6%  122 Private Members' policy matters  25h 13m  22.3%  89 Privileges and Procedures Committee's policy matters  2h 34m  2%  154 TOTAL  112h 5m

Council of Ministers' and individual Ministers' policy matters took up well over half of the Assembly's time in 2015, with private Members' propositions only accounting for 22% of the Assembly's time. This is in contrast to previous years, when the debate of propositions brought by private Members equated to a third of the Assembly's time.

If the time spent in debates is divided into 3 broad categories, namely –

1. draft legislation (Laws, Regulations, Acts and Standing Orders);
2. ministerial policy and appointments; and
3. private Members' business,

the percentage of time spent on each can be illustrated as follows –

Percentage of time spent in States debates during 2015, by category

The number of propositions lodged au Greffe' during any year will always differ from  the number of propositions debated, as some propositions  that are debated during the year have been lodged in the last few months of the previous year and, similarly,  some  propositions  lodged  during  a  year  will  not  be  debated  until  the following  year.  In  addition,  there  are  a  quite  significant  number  of  propositions lodged that are never debated, because they are withdrawn before coming to the Assembly. The number of propositions lodged during the year is nevertheless a useful indication of the level of activity, and can be compared from year to year.

During 2015, 163 new propositions were lodged, 18 fewer than the 2014 total of 181. The breakdown of different types of propositions lodged is shown in the following table –

2015  2014 Appointments  32  18 Budget/Medium Term Financial Plan/Strategic Plan  3  1 Legislation:

The following table shows those responsible for lodging the 163 propositions –

Any proposition lodged can be subject to amendment and, in turn, Amendments may themselves be subject to amendment (these are the Amendments to Amendments'). The total number of Amendments, and Amendments to Amendments lodged during 2015 was as follows –

2015  2014 Amendments  55  69 Amendments to Amendments  10  15 TOTALS  65  84

10. Significant debates during 2015

As stated in previous Annual Reports, it is clearly a subjective judgement for anyone to attempt to identify the most important or significant items debated by the Assembly during the year, as the relative importance of matters will depend largely on every person's individual and political opinions, but some of the items discussed by the Assembly that may be considered as the most significant were as follows.

Draft Strategic Plan 2015 – 2018 (P.27/2015, adopted by the States, as amended, on 30th April 2015).

The States adopted the Draft Strategic Plan 2015 – 2018, which sought to prioritise investment and transform the Health Service in the Island. A total of 14 Amendments, and 5 Amendments to Amendments to P.27/2015 were lodged for debate, and the majority of these amendments were adopted.

Draft Air and Sea Ports (Incorporation) (Jersey) Law 201- (P.5/2015, adopted by the States, as amended, on 2nd June 2015).

This significant new Law put in place the framework for the creation of a wholly States-owned self-funding company called the Ports of Jersey Limited', to control and operate the air and sea ports. The harbours and airport together (the Ports of Jersey) would have required a £420 million investment to keep them operating at 2015 levels over the next 25 years. This necessary capital investment would have created a potential cash shortfall of up to £314 million that would need to have been funded by the States; funding which had not been accounted for in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016 – 2019 (P.72/2015). Incorporation provided the best possible structure for the harbours and airport operations to be financially self-sustainable, thereby avoiding the potential risk of the financial shortfall falling upon the public purse.

Draft Discrimination (Sex and Related Characteristics) (Jersey) Regulations 201- (P.40/2015, adopted by the States, as amended by P.40/2015 Amd., itself amended by P.40/2015 Amd.Amd., on 2nd June 2015).

Following the States Assembly's decision in 2014 to introduce Jersey's first Discrimination Law which outlawed race discrimination, the important second step was taken to extend the Law to cover discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender re-assignment and pregnancy and maternity. An Amendment was successful in further protecting the rights of women to breastfeed in public.

Draft Restriction on Smoking (Motor Vehicles) (Jersey) Regulations 201- (P.36/2015, adopted by the States on 2nd June 2015).

The States adopted Regulations which prohibit smoking in motor vehicles when someone under the age of 18 years is present.

The Draft Air and Sea Ports Incorporation (Transfer) (Jersey) Regulations 201- (P.80/2015, adopted on 8th September 2015) completed the incorporation of the Ports of Jersey by transferring the property, assets and staff to the new company

The Regulations also contained provisions that described the relationship between the new company and the Public in certain areas – such as rights retained by the Public to access or use areas that had been transferred. The movable property consisted of the assets in use at the Harbours and Airport. This included large, high-value equipment such as vehicles, generators, floodlights, cranes, etc.

The Regulations came into force on 30th September 2015, the day before the incorporation date, and the transfer became effective at the same time as incorporation.

Same-sex marriage, divorce and dissolution (P.77/2015, adopted by the States on 22nd September 2015).

The Assembly gave in-principle approval to same-sex marriage; parental responsibility being automatically conferred upon unmarried fathers; and the introduction of a new system of divorce and dissolution.

The Draft Christmas Bonus (Repeal) (Jersey) Law 201- (P.102/2015, adopted by the States on 8th October 2015) caused some controversy, proposing, as it did, to close the Christmas Bonus Scheme after it had been paid at the end of 2015. This was part of a package of proposals put forward by the Minister for Social Security, which were designed to reduce the annual benefit budget by £10 million by 2019.

The Christmas Bonus was not means-tested, or targeted, and cost over £1.5 million in 2014. In adopting the draft Law, the States agreed that it was becoming increasingly difficult to justify the growing expenditure of the Christmas Bonus, when the government was facing the increasing costs of health and social care. Instead of maintaining the Christmas Bonus, the States instead agreed the proposal of the Minister for Social Security to reinvest £200,000 of the savings to improve the existing 65+ Health Scheme. This scheme helps older people to remain independent and stay healthy, by helping to pay for dental, ophthalmic and chiropody costs.

Committee of Inquiry: Historical Child Abuse – additional funding (P.20/2015, adopted by the States on 25th March 2015).

Independent Jersey Care Inquiry: amendment to Medium Term Financial Plan 2013 – 2015 (P.75/2015, adopted by the States, as amended, on 8th October 2015).

Strategic Reserve Fund: funding for Independent Jersey Care Inquiry and transfers from and to the Consolidated Fund (P.76/2015, adopted by the States, as amended, on 8th October 2015).

The States Assembly was supportive of the Committee of Inquiry reaching its completion and recognised that additional sums would be required.

The Assembly agreed that additional funding should be made available from the Consolidated Fund. It was noted that, to date, a large proportion of the funds had been spent on legal fees, and the Assembly was encouraged that efforts would be made by States lawyers and Eversheds, who were acting as administrators of the Inquiry, to implement a more streamlined redaction process to help manage future costs.

Medium Term Financial Plan 2016 – 2019 (P.72/2015, adopted by the States, as amended, on 8th October 2015).

A total of 15 Amendments, and 2 Amendments to Amendments, to P.72/2015 were lodged for debate, but only 5 were adopted by the States, of which 3 were put forward by the Council of Ministers themselves. The remaining 2 successful Amendments were lodged by the Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel (which saw an increase in the net revenue expenditure of the Education, Sport and Culture Department by £263,200 in 2016) whilst Deputy J.A. Martin of St. Helier 's amendment reduced the Chief Minister's Department and the Treasury and Resources Department budgets in the sum of £90,000 and £67,000 respectively, and consequentially increased the net revenue expenditure of the Social Security Department by £157,000, in order to fund the continued provision of means-tested free television licences for the over-75s.

Draft Budget Statement 2016 (P.127/2015, adopted by the States, as amended, on 15th December 2015)

In addition to the normal Budget decisions on capital spending and taxation measures, the Budget included measures to support health, education, housing and the reform of the public sector, but also introduced measures to develop a tax system that is simple and more equitable. Two Amendments were adopted. The first retained a VED exemption for cars over 50 years old at the time of first registration, and the other excluded some agricultural tractors from changes to VED rates.

Draft States of Jersey (Transfer of Functions No. 8) (Miscellaneous Transfers) (Jersey) Regulations 201- (P.46/2015, adopted by the States, as amended, on 16th December 2015).

The Assembly approved a major transfer of responsibilities (to take effect on 1st January 2016). The "Department for Community and Constitutional Affairs" was created from what previously comprised the Home Affairs Department, Strategic Housing Unit, and parts of the Chief Minister's Department. Responsibilities for Sport and Culture were merged with Economic Development to form the Department for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture. Digital, innovation, and competition responsibilities moved to the Chief Minister's Department. Jersey Property Holdings moved to join the former Transport and Technical Services Department to create a new "Department for Instructure".

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

The States again ratified a number of international Agreements negotiated by the Government of Jersey, such as Tax Information Exchange Agreements and Double Taxation Agreements. Agreements ratified included those with –

• the Republic of Korea (see P.93/2015)
• the Republic of Seychelles (see P.95/2015)
• the Republic of Rwanda (see P.90/2015)
• the United States of America (see P.26/2015);

and  the  States  also  ratified  the  Multilateral  Competent  Authority  Agreement  on Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information to improve international tax compliance based on the Common Reporting Standard for the Automatic Exchange of Financial Information approved by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (see P.117/2015).

Private Members' propositions

Of the 24 new propositions lodged au Greffe by private Members in their own right during 2015 (as distinct from private Members' Amendments to lodged propositions), only 6 were adopted during 2015 by the States (5 adopted in full and one partially adopted). These are listed in the table below, along with a brief description of the outcome of their adoption by the States –