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Amendment to Standing Orders – the establishment of PPC sub-committees. (P.46/2023): comments

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STATES OF JERSEY

AMENDMENT TO STANDING ORDERS – THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PPC SUB-

COMMITTEES (P.46/2023): COMMENTS

Presented to the States on 8th September 2023 by the Privileges and Procedures Committee

STATES GREFFE

2023  P.46 Com.

COMMENTS

The Council of Ministers welcomes the establishment of permanent sub-Committees of the  Privileges  and  Procedures  Committee  (“PPC”)  as  proposed  by  P.46  and  the flexibility that the proposition allows for the establishment of further sub-Committees.

Sub-Committees  provide  opportunity  for  Members  of  the  Assembly  to  discuss improvements in the areas for which the Committee is responsible.

We should encourage constructive political engagement between Members who often have different political views, supporting consensus and understanding.

Indeed, across a wide range of topics, including public policy as well are governance, fora where all Members can work together in the best interests of Jersey are beneficial and should be promoted.

With reference to the sub-Committee’s included in the proposition, while we have made constructive progress and change, we need to ensure that as Members we continue to promote an Assembly, government, and civil society, that is diverse, tolerant, and inclusive. We have much more to do.

With respect to the Machinery of Government,the Chief Minister is responsible within the  Executive  branch  of  Government  for  constitutional  reform  and  strengthening democracy. Having a sub-Committee within which proposals from government can be discussed is helpful.

More broadly, how we support all Members as constituency representatives is a case- in-point for areas where Ministers and backbenchers can work together constructively on an issue of shared purpose and importance.

By working together, we can aim to avoid some of the trends we see elsewhere where politics seems to have become increasing polarised, tribal, and personal, and instead provide places where Members can work together on the issues that impact how we represent and support the needs of Islanders.

This proposition on sub-Committees is positive in supporting such outcomes and is therefore welcomed by Ministers.

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P.46/2023 Com.