Bailiff of Jersey: cessation of dual role and the appointment of an elected Speaker of the States (P.54/2016) – comments.

STATES OF JERSEY

BAILIFF OF JERSEY: CESSATION OF DUAL ROLE AND THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE STATES (P.54/2016) – COMMENTS

Presented to the States on 22nd June 2016 by the Privileges and Procedures Committee

STATES GREFFE

2016  P.54 Com.

COMMENTS

PPC feels that it is important for the debate on the role of the Bailiff as the Speaker of the States to take place, as it is an issue that has been the subject of much discussion since  the  publication  of  the  Report  of  the  Review  Panel  on  the  Machinery  of Government in Jersey in 2000, in which the Panel said: "we recommend that the Bailiff should cease to act as the president of the States or to take any political part in the Island's government and that the States should elect their own Speaker.".

PPC does not make a recommendation one way or another as to how States Members should  vote  on  this  issue,  because  the  Committee  members  themselves  are  not unanimous in their views.

If the States support the proposition of Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade , it will be necessary for the Committee to report back to the Assembly with detailed proposals on an elected Speaker and Deputy Speakers, including the full financial implications.

To assist Members in their consideration of this Proposition, references to previous reports  and  debates  on  the  subject  are  set  out  below  in  chronological  order  of publication –

1. Report of the Review Panel on the Machinery of Government in Jersey (The Clothier Review', published December 2000): http://www.gov.je/SiteCollectionDocuments/Government%20and%20adminis tration/ID%20ClothierReport%20100331%20CC.pdf
2. The Review of the Roles of the Crown Officers' (The Carswell Report'), R.143/2010, presented on 6th December 2010 by the Chief Minister: http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/AssemblyReports/2010/38785-20056- 6122010.pdf
3. Review of the Role of the Crown Officers ("Carswell Review"): in Committee' debate', R.28/2011, presented on 14th March 2011 by PPC: http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/AssemblyReports/2011/14688-17346- 1432011.pdf
4. Elected Speaker of the States', P.160/2013, lodged on 10th December 2013 by the Connétable of St. Helier : http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/AssemblyPropositions/2013/P.160-2013.pdf
5. Elected Speaker of the States (P.160/2013): comments', P.160/2013 Com., presented on 16th December 2013 by PPC: http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/AssemblyPropositions/2013/P.160- 2013Com.pdf

Page - 2

P.54/2016 Com.

6. Elected Speaker of the States (P.160/2013): amendment', P.160/2013 Amd., lodged on 15th April 2014 by Senator Sir P.M. Bailhache : http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/AssemblyPropositions/2013/P.160- 2013Amd.pdf
7. Elected Speaker of the States (P.160/2013): additional comments', P.160/2013 Com.(2), presented on 17th April 2014 by PPC: http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/AssemblyPropositions/2014/P.160- 2013Com(2).pdf
8. Elected Speaker of the States (P.160/2013): comments', P.160/2013 Com.(3), presented on 22nd April 2014 by H.M. Attorney General: http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/AssemblyPropositions/2013/P.160- 2013Com(3).pdf
9. Elected Speaker of the States (P.160/2013): amendment (P.160/2013 Amd.) – amendment', P.160/2013 Amd.Amd., lodged on 23rd April 2014 by Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier of St. Saviour : http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/AssemblyPropositions/2013/P.160- 2013AmdAmd.pdf
10. Elected Speaker of the States (P.160/2013): comments', P.160/2013 Com.(4), presented on 25th April 2014 by the Chief Minister: http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/AssemblyPropositions/2013/P.160- 2013Com(4)corrected.pdf
11. Elected Speaker of the States (P.160/2013): amendment (P.160/2013 Amd.) – comments', P.160/2013 Amd.Com., presented on 25th April 2014 by PPC: http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/AssemblyPropositions/2013/P.160- 2013AmdCom.pdf
12. The debate on P.160/2013 and its associated amendments took place on

29th and 30th April 2014: http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/Pages/Hansard.aspx?docid=23c63325f7b43 3d56495c2c6a02a6b8d_StatesAssembly

and http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/Pages/Hansard.aspx?docid=176c56dd48745 748af6110f9daa62898_StatesAssembly

Page - 3

P.54/2016 Com.