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STATES OF JERSEY
NOTICE UNDER ARTICLE 29A(3) OF THE STATES OF JERSEY LAW 2005:
MINISTER FOR CHILDREN AND EDUCATION AND MINISTER FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES
Presented to the States on 16th February 2021 by the Chief Minister
STATES GREFFE
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REPORT
Minister for Children and Education & Minister for Housing and Communities
On 4th February 2021, I wrote to all States Members giving notice of my intention to establish a Minister for Children and Education (by re-naming the Minister for Education), and a Minister for Housing and Communities (by re-naming the Minister for Children and Housing). This communication is attached as annex 1.
This intention was confirmed in the consolidated order paper for the States sitting on 9th February. Elections for the posts of Minister for Education and Minister for Children and Housing proceeded at that sitting, in anticipation of an Order following, under Article 29A of the States of Jersey Law 2005, which would give effect to the above-mentioned name changes.
I now hereby give formal notice of my intention to make an Order, on 2nd March 2021, which gives legal effect to these new Ministerial titles under Article 29A(1)(b) of the 2005 Law.
In addition, work continues to transfer the relevant statutory functions to the proposed Minister for Children and Education from the current Minister for Children and Housing (as well as any associated transfer of responsibilities and functions and such supplemental, incidental, consequential, transitional and savings provisions as are necessary or expedient to give effect to the decision).
In the meantime, and until such time as the transfer of statutory functions is complete, Deputy Maçon will be appointed as an Assistant Minister to the current Minister for Children and Housing, to ensure that any statutory functions can be discharged in relation to children. This Assistant Ministerial appointment, and delegation, will expire as soon as the transferring Order is made.
Minister for External Relations and Financial Services
I also wish to give notice of my intention to re-name the Minister for External Relations as the Minister for External Relations and Financial Services. This accords with a recommendation of the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel, and better reflects the full responsibilities of the Minister.
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Annex 1:
Email dated: 04 February 2021 21:39, and titled "Press release Ministerial role reallocation" Dear Members
I wanted to provide you notice of my intention to nominate Deputy Macon as Minister for Education at next week's sitting.
I believe he has already shown a strong aptitude for ministerial role, and his appointment will deliver continuity in the final year of this government following his excellent service as Assistant Minister.
I am also preparing a Ministerial Decision to give notice of my intention to merge responsibilities for children with education to create a Minister for Children and Education. Should Deputy Macon be successful in being elected next week, this will mean he will assume responsibilities for both.
I have been in correspondence with the Children's Commissioner, and you will be aware that she has outlined in a published letter that she supports this change. As she has said: "This will mean that the Minister will be able to focus on joining up legislation, policy and practice development that seeks to ensure children's needs are understood and met, and the best interests of children are paramount". I agree with this, and see very strong reasons for taking the opportunity now – as we have seen recently, education and the well-being of children are fundamentally linked and can be best be delivered by one Minister and one Department putting children first.
I believe Deputy Macon is absolutely the right person to deliver on this agenda, and I hope you agree.
Alongside this, it remains crucial to have a Minister with responsibility for housing, especially with the Housing Policy Development Board Report due to be published. However, a home is more than just a building, and therefore I would like the person nominated to also assume wider responsibilities, as "Minister for Housing and Communities".
This will mean that whoever is elected to this position will work closely with other Ministers as part of delivering homes within strong communities. I will also ask them to promote the role of the third sector, to focus on the needs of the elderly, recognising that we are ageing as a society, and also applying the relevant lessons learnt from our experience of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The nomination for this position will follow, and I also hope to hold the election next week.
I hope Members will see the above as welcome developments, and I look forward to the elections.
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