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STATES OF JERSEY
STATES OF JERSEY LAW 2005: REMOVAL OF RESTRICTIONS ON NUMBER OF MINISTERS AND ASSISTANT MINISTERS (P.145/2011) – COMMENTS
Presented to the States on 22nd September 2011 by the Privileges and Procedures Committee
STATES GREFFE
2011 Price code: A P.145 Com.
COMMENTS
PPC agrees that a review of the present structure of the machinery of government in Jersey would be desirable and believes that this view is shared by many members of the present Assembly. There have been many calls to create a more inclusive' system in Jersey and the Committee shares the view that it is unfortunate that many members feel excluded from decision-making since the introduction of ministerial government.
PPC does not, however, believe that it would be appropriate to support Senator Shenton's proposal to remove the current restriction on the total permitted number of Ministers and Assistant Ministers in isolation. Senator Shenton's proposition asks members to make this change before any in-depth work has been done to consider the consequential impact that any such change would have on scrutiny or on whether there is, in fact, a need for an increased number of Assistant Ministers.
PPC is concerned that the simple abolition of the current requirement for a minority Executive (the so-called Troy ' rule') could simply increase the power of the Council of Ministers at the expense of members who were not Ministers or Assistant Ministers as, if these members were in a minority, they would have less ability to hold the Executive to account through scrutiny and in their capacity as private members.
PPC is hopeful that the new Assembly elected this October will agree to establish a proper review of the machinery of government in Jersey, and therefore urges Senator Shenton to withdraw this proposition so that all aspects of this issue can be considered together, rather than asking the States to agree one reform in isolation at this stage.
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P.145/2011 Com.