States Meeting Transcript - 24th November 2011

STATES OF JERSEY OFFICIAL REPORT

THURSDAY, 24th NOVEMBER 2011

APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS, COMMITTEES AND PANELS..........................2

1. Appointment of the President of the Chairmen's Committee...........................2

1.1 Senator S.C. Ferguson:..................................................................2

2. Appointment of the Members of the Public Accounts Committee......................2

2.1 Deputy T.A. Vallois of St. Saviour (Chairman, Public Accounts Committee):...........2

3. Appointment of the Members of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel...............2

3.1 Senator S.C. Ferguson (Chairman, Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel):..................3

4. Appointment of the Members of the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel.................3

4.1 Deputy S.G. Luce of St. Martin (Chairman, Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel):..........3

5. Appointment of the Members of the Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel....3

5.1 Deputy J.M. Maçon of St. Saviour (Chairman, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel):...................................................................................3

6. Appointment of the Members of the Environment Scrutiny Panel......................4

6.1 Deputy J.H. Young of St. Brelade (Chairman, Environment Scrutiny Panel):............4

7. Appointment of the Members of the Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel ......................................................................................4

7.1 Deputy K.L. Moore of St. Peter (Chairman, Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel):..........................................................................4

8. Appointment of two Members of the States Employment Board........................4

1. Senator I.J. Gorst (The Chief Minister):..................................................5
2. Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier:......................................................5
3. Deputy J.A. Martin of St. Helier:........................................................5

ARRANGEMENT OF PUBLIC BUSINESS.....................................................5 The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):.......................................................5 Senator A. Breckon: ...........................................................................5

Appointment of two Members of the States Employment Board – result of ballot...........6 ADJOURNMENT.................................................................................6

[9:30]

The Roll was called and the Deputy Greffier led the Assembly in Prayer.

APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS, COMMITTEES AND PANELS

1. Appointment of the President of the Chairmen's Committee

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

Very well, the business of this morning is simply to continue the appointments of various officeholders and the first matter under Standing Order 121(1) is the appointment of President of the Chairmen's Committee and I invite nominations from among those persons who are Members of that Committee.

1.1 Senator S.C. Ferguson:

I would like to propose Deputy Vallois.

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

Deputy Vallois is proposed. Is that seconded? [Seconded] Are there any other nominations of any other Chairman? Very well, there are no nominations. I accordingly declare that Deputy Vallois is appointed as President of the Chairmen's Committee. [Approbation] We would normally come next to the Members of the Privileges and Procedures Committee but clearly in the absence of the Chairman, that matter will have to be held over to 6th December.

2. Appointment of the Members of the Public Accounts Committee

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

So we come therefore to the elected Members of the Public Accounts Committee. Madam Chairman, how many elected Members do you wish to nominate?

2.1 Deputy T.A. Vallois of St. Saviour (Chairman, Public Accounts Committee): I would like to elect 3 elected Members.

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

Very well, 3 elected Members. That will give a committee of 7 with 3 elected Members, 3 non- elected Members to be appointed in due course and yourself and you make your nominations, chairman?

Deputy T.A. Vallois:

Yes, Sir, I have pleasure in nominating the following people to work alongside me on the Public Accounts Committee over the next 3 years. The first is Senator Ferguson, the second Deputy Shona Pitman and the last, but by no means least, Deputy Richard Rondel.

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

So Senator Ferguson, Deputy Shona Pitman and Deputy Rondel are proposed. Are the nominations seconded? [Seconded] Are there any further nominations for membership of the Public Accounts Committee? Very well, there are no further nominations. I accordingly declare that Senator Ferguson, Deputy Shona Pitman and Deputy Rondel are appointed as Members of the Public Accounts Committee.  [Approbation]

3. Appointment of the Members of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

We come now to the 5 Scrutiny Panels in the following order, firstly, Corporate Services. Senator Ferguson, how many Members do you wish to nominate?

3.1 Senator S.C. Ferguson (Chairman, Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel): Yes, I have pleasure in nominating 4 people, Sir.

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

Very well, 4 Members, and your nominations are?

Senator S.C. Ferguson:

The Deputy of St. Ouen , the Constable of Grouville , Deputy Sean Power and Deputy Rondel.

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

Are those nominations seconded? [Seconded] Are there any further nominations for membership of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel? Very well, I accordingly declare that the Deputy of St. Ouen, the Connétable of Grouville , Deputy Power and Deputy Rondel are elected as Members of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel. [Approbation]

4. Appointment of the Members of the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

We come now to the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel. Deputy of St. Martin, how many Members do you wish to nominate?

4.1 Deputy S.G. Luce of St. Martin (Chairman, Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel): I would like to nominate 2, please.

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

Very well, 2 Members, and would you like to make your nominations?

The Deputy of St. Martin :

Yes, I have great pleasure in nominating the Constable of St. Brelade and the Constable of St. Ouen.

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

The Connétable of St. Brelade and the Connétable of St. Ouen. Are those nominations seconded? [Seconded] Are there any further nominations for membership of the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel? There being no further nominations, I declare that the Connétable s of St. Brelade and St. Ouen are elected as Members of the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel. [Approbation]

5. Appointment of the Members of the Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

We come now to the Education and Home Affairs Panel, Deputy Maçon?

5.1 Deputy J.M. Maçon of St. Saviour (Chairman, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel):

I would be delighted to nominate 2 Members. I would like to nominate the Connétable of St. Brelade and the Connétable of St. Martin .

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

Are those nominations seconded? [Seconded] Are there any further nominations for the Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel? Very well, I accordingly declare that the Connétable s of St. Brelade and St. Martin are appointed as Members of that panel. [Approbation]

6. Appointment of the Members of the Environment Scrutiny Panel The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

We come now to the Environment Panel, Deputy Young?

6.1 Deputy J.H. Young of St. Brelade (Chairman, Environment Scrutiny Panel):

I am seeking a panel of 2 new Members but today I have to report to the Assembly that I am unable to nominate more than one so my proposal today is that I nominate the Constable of St. John and I shall be coming back to the House at the next opportunity once Members have had an opportunity to see the shape of Assistant Ministers and the Ministerial shape and I think that is the better way of doing it so it gives us time to form a well-rounded Environment Panel, so I ask for the Assembly's agreement to that.

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

Very well, you are proposing a panel of yourself and one other Member at the moment who is the Connétable of St. John. Is that nomination seconded?  [Seconded] Are there any further nominations for the panel, alternative nominations? Very well, I declare that the Connétable of St. John has been appointed to the Environment Scrutiny Panel. [Approbation]

7. Appointment of the Members of the Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

We come finally in relation to the panels to the Health, Social Security and Housing, Deputy of St. Peter?

7.1 Deputy K.L. Moore of St. Peter (Chairman, Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel):

I would like to nominate 2 Members also for my panel.

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair): Yes, and you wish to make the nominations?

The Deputy of St. Peter :

Yes, Deputy Hilton and the Deputy of St. Ouen .

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

Very well, the 2 nominations, Deputy Hilton and the Deputy of St. Ouen. Are those nominations seconded? [Seconded] Are there any further nominations for the panel? Very well, I accordingly declare that Deputy Hilton and the Deputy of St. Ouen are appointed as Members of the Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel. [Approbation] Now, we would normally next come to the appointment of Members of the Overseas Aid Commission but once again, the chairman is not with us so we must defer that matter until the next sitting.

8. Appointment of two Members of the States Employment Board The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

Chief Minister, are you in a position to nominate Members of the States Employment Board?

1. Senator I.J. Gorst (The Chief Minister):

Yes, Sir, if I may. It gives me pleasure to nominate the Connétable of St. Lawrence and the Deputy of St. Mary .

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

Very well, I would remind Members that the States Employment Board consists of 2 Ministers or Assistant Ministers appointed directly by the Chief Minister and 2 Members who are not Ministers or Assistant Ministers appointed by this Assembly this morning. The 2 nominations of the latter category, namely Members who are not Ministers or Assistant Ministers from the Chief Minister, are the Connétable of St. Lawrence and the Deputy of St. Mary. Are those nominations seconded? [Seconded] Are there alternative nominations?

2. Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier :

Yes, Sir, I would like to propose Deputy Shona Pitman.

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

Deputy Shona Pitman is proposed. Is that nomination seconded? [Seconded] Are there any further nominations for the States Employment Board?

3. Deputy J.A. Martin of St. Helier :

Yes, can I propose Deputy Montfort Tadier , please?

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

Deputy Montfort Tadier is proposed. Is that nomination seconded? [Seconded] Are there any further nominations for the membership of the States Employment Board? Very well, we must therefore proceed to a ballot. There are 4 candidates, the Connétable of St. Lawrence, the Deputy of St. Mary , Deputy Shona Pitman and Deputy Montfort Tadier . I would remind Members they can vote for up to 2 candidates but they are not obliged to vote for 2 so Members can vote for one or 2 of the 4 candidates and those Members obtaining the most votes in a first past the post ballot will be elected as Members and I would ask the usher and the Deputy Viscount to distribute the ballot papers. I just remind Members of the 4 candidates, the Connétable of St. Lawrence, the Deputy of St. Mary, Deputy Shona Pitman and Deputy Montfort Tadier . I will ask for the ballot papers to be collected.

[9:45]

Have all Members placed their ballot paper in the ballot boxes? I will ask the Deputy Viscount and the Attorney General to act as scrutineers for the ballot.

ARRANGEMENT OF PUBLIC BUSINESS

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

Perhaps while we are awaiting the result of the ballot, there is only one further matter for the Assembly to address this morning. Members will find on their desks a yellow sheet with the proposed current list of future business for the next 3 sittings. The Chairman of P.P.C. (Privileges and Procedures Committee) is not here to address the Assembly on the list but do Members have any matters to raise on the proposed order?

Senator A. Breckon:

Yes, Sir, I have got a number of matters down. The dilemma was the old House there was some pressure on not debating some of these matters with the outgoing House so the pressure was on a number of Members to carry them forward to the present Assembly. Having said that, that then means that somebody like the new Minister for Social Security has not really had time to look at what is being proposed so I have 2 matters down there that concern Social Security which are P.164/2011 - Old Age Pension: method for increase; and P.170/2011 - Mobile dental service funded from the Health Insurance Fund. I have arranged to meet with the Minister for Social Security on Monday and following that, I was hoping to get some information out to Members to give the Minister time to say what he feels about these so it is possible that they may not be down for debate, but I would inform Members by email as soon as possible after that if that were to be the case. So what I am doing now is giving Members prior notice of that. The other matter that I have down for debate is the Homebuy and Shared Equity Scheme and what I would like to bring to Members' attention, especially new Members, is that the Public Accounts Committee on 21st April 2011 produced a report on that very thing and it might be helpful if Members could obtain that and have a look at it because it is significant in the context of Homebuy and Shared Equity. So that matter is still down for debate - that is P.163/2011 - and I am proposing that stays there, but the other 2 matters, depending on the meeting with the Minister for Social Security, could well be removed from the Order Paper so I am giving Members notice of that.

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

For the time being, you wish to maintain them on the list? Very well. Are there any other matters Members wish to raise on the proposed order of business? Very well, that will be inscribed on the Order Paper in that order and we will await the outcome of the ballot.

Senator L.J. Farnham :

May I just draw Members' attention to the fact that the new States Assembly website is up and running and can I, I am sure on behalf of all Members, congratulate the Presiding Officer and his team for doing what appears to be an excellent job. [Approbation] I spent an hour or so looking at the site last night and have failed to find any fault thus far.

Appointment of two Members of the States Employment Board – result of ballot

The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):

Thank you, Senator. Very well, if I can call Members to order. I am now in a position to announce the result of the ballot. This is the ballot for the 2 Members of the States Employment Board. The Connétable of St. Lawrence obtained 39 votes, the Deputy of St. Mary obtained 33 votes, Deputy Shona Pitman obtained 11 votes and Deputy Tadier obtained 11 votes so I accordingly declare that the Connétable of St. Lawrence and the Deputy of St. Mary have been elected. [Approbation] Very well, that concludes the business of the Assembly. The Assembly meeting is closed and the Assembly will reconvene at 9.30 a.m. on 6th December.

ADJOURNMENT [9:56]