States Meeting Transcript - 21st May 2019

STATES OF JERSEY OFFICIAL REPORT TUESDAY, 21st MAY 2019

COMMUNICATIONS BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER ........................................ 8

1.1 Welcome to His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor .................................... 8 APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS, COMMITTEES AND PANELS ........................... 8

2. Nomination of 2 members of the Legal Aid Guidelines Advisory Committee .......... 8

1. Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré: ................................................................. 8
2. Senator S.W. Pallett: ....................................................................... 8

QUESTIONS ......................................................................................... 9

3. Written Questions ........................................................................... 9

1. Deputy J.H. Perchard of St. Saviour of the Chief Minister regarding the diversity of States boards: (WQ.162/2019) .................................................................... 9
   2. Deputy K.F. Morel of St. Lawrence of the Minister for Children and Housing regarding the appointment of Altair as consultants to the Housing Policy Development Board: (WQ.206/2019) ........................................................................... 14
2. Deputy K.F. Morel of St. Lawrence of the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture regarding the appointment of Metro-Dynamics Limited as consultants to the Government: (WQ.207/2019) ...................................................... 14
   2. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Chairman of the States Employment Board regarding job losses within the public sector: (WQ.2018/2019) ......................... 15
   3. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Chief Minister regarding the implementation of Justice and Home Affairs: cessation of restructure' (P.24/2019): (WQ.209/2019) ..... 15
   4. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Minister for the Environment regarding the monitoring of air pollution levels: (WQ.210/2019) ...................................... 17
   5. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Chairman of the States Employment Board regarding the application of pay protection in respect of the new Target Operating Model: (WQ.211/2019)................................................................... 18
   6. Deputy J.H. Perchard of St. Saviour of the Minister for Education regarding the average earnings of teachers: (WQ.212/2019) .................................................... 18
   7. Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier of the Chairman of the States Employment Board regarding the ongoing dispute over teachers' pay and conditions: (WQ.213/2019) ..... 19
   8. Deputy J.M. Maçon of St. Saviour of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding Road Traffic Accidents involving dogs: (WQ.214/2019) ...................................... 21
   9. Deputy K.G. Pamplin of St. Saviour of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the staffing levels at the General Hospital: (WQ.215/2019) .................. 21
   10. Deputy K.G. Pamplin of St. Saviour of the Minister for the Environment regarding the Minister's input into proposals for a new hospital: (WQ.216/2019) ..................... 21

13. Deputy K.G. Pamplin of St. Saviour of the Minister for Education regarding mental health support within the Island's schools: (WQ.217/2019) ............................. 22
14. Deputy K.G. Pamplin of St. Saviour of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the proposed merging of Liberation Square and Weighbridge Place: (WQ.318/2019)...... 23
15. Deputy K.G. Pamplin of St. Saviour of H.M. Attorney General regarding the legal duties of the States of Jersey and Government of Jersey in respect of mental health facilities: (WQ.219/2019) ........................................................................... 24
16. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier of H.M. Attorney General regarding the payment of defence costs in cases where the client is acquitted or where no evidence is offered: (WQ.220/2019) ........................................................................... 25
17. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the action taken to encourage witnesses to the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry to provide evidence to the States of Jersey Police: (WQ.221/2019) ........................................... 28
18. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the legal representation of the States of Jersey Police before the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry: (WQ.222/2019) ........................................................................... 28
19. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the legal representation of the Health and Community Services Department before the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry: (WQ.223/2019) ............................ 29
20. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the prescription of opioids: (WQ.224/2019)................................... 29
21. Deputy C.S. Alves of St. Helier of the Minister for the Environment regarding the blood tests performed on cats and dogs in relation to pet travel: (WQ.225/2019) .............. 34
22. Deputy C.S. Alves of St. Helier of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the reporting of complaints about noise: (WQ.226/2019) .............................................. 35
23. Deputy C.S. Alves of St. Helier of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the requirement for drivers to apply for an international driving permit post-Brexit: (WQ.227/2019) ........................................................................... 35
24. Deputy C.S. Alves of St. Helier of the Chairman of the States Employment Board regarding the turnover of teaching staff: (WQ.228/2019) ................................ 36
25. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Saviour of the Minister for Social Security regarding the prospect of religion or belief' being added as a protected characteristic under the Discrimination (Jersey) Law 2013: (WQ.229/2019) ..................................... 38

4. Oral Questions ............................................................................. 38

1. Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat of St. Helier of the Chairman of the States Employment Board regarding applications for voluntary redundancy in the public sector: (OQ.121/2019) .............................................................................. 38

Connétable R.A. Buchanan of St. Ouen (Vice-Chairman, States Employment Board -

rapporteur)................................................................................ 38

1. Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat :................................................................. 38
2. Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat :................................................................. 39

2. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Saviour of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding proposals to allow mixed-sex couples the option of a civil partnership: (OQ.134/2019) .............................................................................................. 39

Connétable L. Norman of St. Clement (The Minister for Home Affairs): ...................... 39 4.3 Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade of the Chief Minister regarding the recommendations of the Jersey Citizens Panel: (OQ.129/2019)........................ 39

Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré (The Chief Minister): ............................................... 39

1. Deputy M. Tadier : ........................................................................ 39
2. Deputy M. Tadier : ........................................................................ 39

4. Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier of the Chief Minister regarding measures to add to the progressivity of the current tax and contributions systems: (OQ.133/2019) .... 40

Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré (The Chief Minister): ............................................... 40

1. Deputy G.P. Southern : .................................................................... 40
2. Deputy M. Tadier : ........................................................................ 40
3. Deputy M. Tadier : ........................................................................ 41
4. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier : ...................................................... 41
5. Deputy M.R. Higgins: .................................................................... 41
6. Deputy G.P. Southern : .................................................................... 41

5. Deputy S.M. Ahier of St. Helier of the Chief Minister regarding the establishment of a Public Service Ombudsman: (OQ.126/2019) ............................................ 42

Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré (The Chief Minister): ............................................... 42

1. Deputy S.M. Ahier : ....................................................................... 42
2. Deputy M.R. Higgins: .................................................................... 43
3. Deputy M. Tadier : ........................................................................ 43
4. Deputy M. Tadier : ........................................................................ 44
5. Deputy D. Johnson of St. Mary : .......................................................... 44
6. Deputy S.M. Ahier : ....................................................................... 44

6. Deputy K.F. Morel of St. Lawrence of the Chief Minister regarding e-mail correspondence between the Chief Minister and Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade : (OQ.129/2019) .............................................................................. 45

Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré (The Chief Minister): ............................................... 45 4.6.1 Deputy K.F. Morel : ....................................................................... 45

7. Deputy I. Gardiner of St. Helier of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding improvements to St. John 's Road: (OQ.125/2019) ...................................... 45

Deputy K.C. Lewis of St. Saviour (The Minister for Infrastructure): .......................... 45

1. Deputy I. Gardiner : ....................................................................... 46
2. Deputy M. Tadier : ........................................................................ 46
3. Deputy M. Tadier : ........................................................................ 46
4. Deputy M.R. Higgins: .................................................................... 47
5. Deputy I. Gardiner : ....................................................................... 47

8. Deputy J.H. Perchard of St. Saviour of the Chairman of the States Employment Board regarding the status of negotiations with unions over public sector pay: (OQ.122/2019) .............................................................................. 47

Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré (Chairman, States Employment Board): ............................ 47

1. Deputy J.H. Perchard: .................................................................... 48
2. Deputy K.F. Morel : ....................................................................... 48
3. Deputy G.P. Southern : .................................................................... 48
4. Deputy G.P. Southern : .................................................................... 49
5. Deputy J.H. Perchard: .................................................................... 49

9. Deputy K.G. Pamplin of St. Saviour of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the funding of Dewberry House: (OQ.127/2019) ............................................ 49

The Connétable of St. Clement (The Minister for Home Affairs): ............................. 49

1. Deputy K.G. Pamplin:.................................................................... 50
2. Deputy K.G. Pamplin:.................................................................... 50

10. Deputy K.F. Morel of the Minister for External Relations regarding the access of Islanders to quality independent financial advice: (OQ.130/2019) ..................... 50

The Connétable of St. Ouen (Assistant Minister for External Relations - rapporteur): ........ 50

1. Deputy K.F. Morel : .................................................................... 51
2. Deputy G.P. Southern : ................................................................ 51
3. Deputy K.F. Morel : .................................................................... 51

11. Deputy K.G. Pamplin of the Chief Minister regarding the condition of Orchard House: (OQ.128/2019) ..................................................................... 52

Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré (The Chief Minister): ............................................... 52

1. Deputy K.G. Pamplin: ................................................................. 52
2. Deputy K.G. Pamplin: ................................................................. 52

12. Deputy M. Tadier of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the Customs and Immigrations checks undertaken on journeys from St. Malo to Jersey: (OQ.132/2019) 52

The Connétable of St. Clement (The Minister for Home Affairs): ............................. 53

1. Deputy M. Tadier : ..................................................................... 53
2. Deputy K.F. Morel : .................................................................... 53
3. Deputy M. Tadier : ..................................................................... 54

13. Deputy I. Gardiner of the Minister for the Environment regarding the problem of feral chickens in the Island: (OQ.124/2019) .............................................. 54

Deputy J.H. Young of St. Brelade (The Minister for the Environment): ....................... 54

1. Deputy I. Gardiner : .................................................................... 54
2. Deputy K.F. Morel : .................................................................... 55
3. Deputy M. Tadier : ..................................................................... 55
4. Deputy I. Gardiner : .................................................................... 56

14. Deputy J.H. Perchard of the Chief Minister regarding the prospect of setting net migration to the Island to zero: (OQ.123/2019) .......................................... 56

Connétable C.H. Taylor of St. John (Assistant Chief Minister - rapporteur): .................. 56

1. Deputy J.H. Perchard: ................................................................. 56
2. Deputy S.M. Wickenden of St. Helier : ................................................ 57
3. Deputy J.M. Maçon: ................................................................... 57
4. Deputy G.J. Truscott of St. Brelade : .................................................. 57
5. Deputy S.G. Luce of St. Martin : ...................................................... 57
6. Deputy G.P. Southern : ................................................................ 57
7. Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat : .............................................................. 58
8. Deputy J.H. Perchard: ................................................................. 58

5. Questions to Ministers without notice - The Minister for Education .................. 58

1. Deputy K.F. Morel : ....................................................................... 58 Senator T.A. Vallois (The Minister for Education): ............................................ 58

1. Deputy K.F. Morel : ....................................................................... 59
   2. Deputy M.R. Higgins: .................................................................... 59
   3. Deputy S.M. Ahier : ....................................................................... 59
   4. Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat :................................................................. 60
   5. Deputy M. Tadier : ........................................................................ 60

5.5.1 Deputy M. Tadier : ........................................................................ 60

6. Deputy I. Gardiner : ....................................................................... 61
7. Connétable S.A. Le Sueur -Rennard of St. Saviour :...................................... 61
8. Deputy G.P. Southern : .................................................................... 61

6. Questions to Ministers without notice - The Chief Minister ............................ 62

1. Deputy S.M. Wickenden: ................................................................. 62 Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré (The Chief Minister): ............................................... 62
2. Deputy M. Tadier : ........................................................................ 62

6.2.1 Deputy M. Tadier : ........................................................................ 62

3. Deputy G.P. Southern : .................................................................... 63
4. Deputy G.J. Truscott: ..................................................................... 63
5. Deputy G.P. Southern : .................................................................... 63
6. Senator S.C. Ferguson: ................................................................... 63

6.6.1 Senator S.C. Ferguson: ................................................................... 64

7. Deputy G.J. Truscott: ..................................................................... 64
8. Deputy M.R. Higgins: .................................................................... 64

6.8.1 Deputy M.R. Higgins: .................................................................... 65

9. Deputy K.F. Morel : ....................................................................... 65

7. Urgent Oral Question ...................................................................... 65

7.1 Deputy K.F. Morel of the Minister for External Relations regarding public registers of beneficial ownership: ................................................................... 65

Senator I.J. Gorst (The Minister for External Relations): ...................................... 65

1. Deputy K.F. Morel : ....................................................................... 66
2. Deputy K.F. Morel : ....................................................................... 66

STATEMENTS ON A MATTER OF OFFICIAL RESPONSIBILITY ........................ 67

8. The Assistant Minister for Education made a statement regarding post-16 education consultation ................................................................................ 67

8.1 Deputy J.M. Maçon (Assistant Minister for Education): ................................. 67

8.1.1 The Connétable of St. Ouen : .............................................................. 67

PUBLIC BUSINESS ................................................................................ 68

9. Draft Revenue Administration (Jersey) Law 201- (P.122/2018) ........................ 68

1. Deputy S.J. Pinel of St. Clement (The Minister for Treasury and Resources): .......... 68
2. Deputy S.J. Pinel: ......................................................................... 72
3. Deputy S.J. Pinel: ......................................................................... 73

1. The Connétable of St. Ouen : .............................................................. 73
2. Connétable K. Shenton-Stone of St. Martin : ............................................. 73
3. Deputy S.J. Pinel: ......................................................................... 74
   4. Deputy S.J. Pinel: ......................................................................... 75

1. Senator S.W. Pallett: ...................................................................... 75
2. Deputy S.J. Pinel: ......................................................................... 75

5. Deputy S.J. Pinel: ......................................................................... 76
6. Deputy S.J. Pinel: ......................................................................... 76
7. Deputy S.J. Pinel: ......................................................................... 76
8. Deputy S.J. Pinel: ......................................................................... 78

1. The Connétable of St. Martin : ............................................................ 78

2. Deputy S.J. Pinel: ......................................................................... 78

10. Le Port Car Park, St. Peter : rescindment of parking restrictions (P.33/2019)........ 79

1. Senator S.W. Pallett: ...................................................................... 79

LUNCHEON ADJOURNMENT PROPOSED ................................................... 84 LUNCHEON ADJOURNMENT .................................................................. 85

2. Le Port Car Park, St. Peter : rescindment of parking restrictions (P.33/2019) - amendment (P.33/2019 Amd.) ............................................................ 85

1. Deputy J.M. Maçon: ................................................................... 85
2. Deputy J.H. Young: .................................................................... 85
3. Connétable R. Vibert of St. Peter : ..................................................... 87
4. The Deputy of St. Martin : ............................................................. 87
5. Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat : .............................................................. 87
6. Deputy K.C. Lewis : .................................................................... 87
7. Deputy K.F. Morel : .................................................................... 88
8. Senator S.W. Pallett: .................................................................. 88
9. Deputy M. Tadier : ..................................................................... 89
10. Deputy R.J. Renouf of St. Ouen : ................................................... 89
11. Deputy J.M. Maçon:................................................................ 90

3. Le Port Car Park, St. Peter : rescindment of parking restrictions (P.33/2019) - resumption .................................................................................. 91

1. Deputy K.C. Lewis : .................................................................... 91
2. The Connétable of St. Peter : .......................................................... 92
3. Deputy M. Tadier : ..................................................................... 95
4. Senator I.J. Gorst : ...................................................................... 96
5. Deputy R.E. Huelin of St. Peter : ...................................................... 98
6. The Connétable of St. Ouen : .......................................................... 99
7. Deputy K.F. Morel : .................................................................. 100
8. Deputy J.H. Young: .................................................................. 102
9. The Deputy of St. Martin : ............................................................ 104
10. Senator S.W. Pallett: .............................................................. 105

11. Proposed Merging of Liberation Square and the Weighbridge: cessation of project (P.34/2019) ................................................................................ 108

11.1 Deputy J.M. Maçon: .................................................................... 108

12. Draft Banking Business (Amendment of Law) (Jersey) Regulations 201- (P.36/2019)

 ............................................................................................. 109

1. The Connétable of St. Ouen (Assistant Minister for External Relations - rapporteur): 109

1. Deputy M.R. Higgins: ................................................................ 111
2. The Connétable of St. Ouen : ......................................................... 111

2. The Connétable of St. Ouen : ............................................................ 112

13. Draft Sea Fisheries (Minimum Size Limits) (Amendment No. 7) (Jersey) Regulations 201- (P.41/2019) ........................................................................... 113

13.1 Deputy G.C. Guida of St. Lawrence (Assistant Minister for the Environment - rapporteur): .............................................................................. 113

1. Deputy M.R. Higgins: ................................................................ 114
2. Deputy M. Tadier : .................................................................... 114

3. The Connétable of St. Saviour : ...................................................... 115
4. The Deputy of St. Martin : ............................................................ 115
5. Deputy G.C. Guida: .................................................................. 115

14. Commissioners of Appeal for Taxes: appointment (P.42/2019) ....................... 118

14.1 Deputy L.B.E. Ash of St. Clement (Assistant Minister for Treasury and Resources - rapporteur): .............................................................................. 119

1. Deputy J.H. Perchard: ................................................................ 119
2. Senator S.W. Pallett: ................................................................. 119
3. The Deputy of St. Mary : ............................................................. 119
4. Deputy L.B.E. Ash: .................................................................. 120

15. Draft Motor Vehicles (Removal from Private Land) (Jersey) Regulations 201- (P.43/2019) ................................................................................ 121

1. The Connétable of St. Clement (The Minister for Home Affairs):...................... 121

1. Senator T.A. Vallois: ................................................................. 123
2. Deputy M.R. Higgins: ................................................................ 123
3. Deputy J.H. Young: .................................................................. 123
4. Deputy R. Labey of St. Helier : ....................................................... 123
5. Deputy M. Tadier : .................................................................... 124
6. The Connétable of St. Clement : ...................................................... 124

2. The Connétable of St. Clement : ......................................................... 126

1. Deputy M.R. Higgins: ................................................................ 126
2. The Connétable of St. Clement : ...................................................... 126

16. Greville Bathe Fund: appointment of Jurats (P.45/2019) ............................. 128

16.1 Deputy S.J. Pinel (The Minister for Treasury and Resources): ......................... 128

1. Deputy G.P. Southern : ............................................................... 128
2. Deputy M.R. Higgins: ................................................................ 128
3. Deputy J.H. Perchard: ................................................................ 128
4. Deputy K.F. Morel : .................................................................. 129
5. Deputy M. Tadier : .................................................................... 129
6. Deputy K.G. Pamplin: ................................................................ 129
7. Deputy S.J. Pinel: .................................................................... 130

ADJOURNMENT ................................................................................. 131

[9:30]

The Roll was called and the Dean led the Assembly in Prayer.

COMMUNICATIONS BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER The Deputy Bailiff : 1.1  Welcome to His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor

On behalf of Members, I would like to welcome His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor to the Chamber this morning. [Approbation]

APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS, COMMITTEES AND PANELS

2. Nomination of 2 members of the Legal Aid Guidelines Advisory Committee The Deputy Bailiff :

We come on to appointment of committees and panels. The matter before us is the appointment of 2 members to the Legal Aid Guidelines Advisory Committee. I understand that the Chief Minister has given notice of intention to nominate the 2 elected members to appointment to that committee.

1. Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré:

Just by way to remind Members; the Assembly adopted the Draft Access to Justice Law on 1st May. Just in talking, can I raise the défaut on Senator Ferguson as well?

The Deputy Bailiff :

Yes, the défaut is raised on Senator Ferguson. Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré:

As I explained in writing to Members, a couple of weeks ago, Article 6(3)(h) provides the Assembly can nominate 2 Members of the Assembly to sit as members of the Legal Aid Guidelines Advisory Committee. We need to be very clear that the legislation is awaiting Royal Assent and registration is, therefore, not yet in force. Equally, it is clear that it is in the interests of everyone to get the work started as soon as possible, at the earliest possible stage. The proposal is that the Guidelines Committee will work in shadow form and if that does happen it is important the Assembly is represented at an early stage, which is why I am asking the Assembly to make nominations to the committee at this sitting. Having sought various expressions of interest, I am pleased to nominate Deputy Maçon and Deputy Morel to be the Assembly's representatives on the committee. Obviously, there may be other nominations from the floor.

The Deputy Bailiff :

Are those nominations seconded? [Seconded] Are there any other nominations?

2. Senator S.W. Pallett:

I would like to nominate Deputy Tadier . He has a longstanding interest in this particular area. I am sure his experience would add very much to the working party. I am happy to nominate Deputy Tadier .

The Deputy Bailiff :

Is that nomination seconded? [Seconded] Are there any other nominations? As there have been more than 2 nominations, under the normal process we use for committees of this nature, we will proceed to a secret ballot. The Usher will distribute ballot papers and Members should write clearly on their ballot papers the names of the 2 individuals that they wish to appoint. You may write up to 2 names, but obviously no more than 2 names. If everyone now has received a ballot paper, could you write one or 2 names on it, up to 2 names? The candidates are Deputy Maçon, Deputy Morel and Deputy Tadier . If everyone has had the opportunity of filling out their ballot papers, I ask the Greffier and the Usher to collect the ballot papers.

Connétable J.E. Le Maistre of Grouville :

While the Ushers are collecting those ballot papers, I have just read an email from the Constable of St. Brelade . He is at the C.P.A. (Commonwealth Parliamentary Association) conference in Guernsey. I think he is marked en défaut. Could I ask that he be excused?

The Deputy Bailiff :

If we can deal with that just in a moment. Has everybody has had the opportunity of registering their ballots by placing them in the ballot box? In which case, I will ask the Greffier and the Attorney General to retire and count the ballots. I am sorry, Connétable , you were saying.

The Connétable of Grouville :

Yes, the Constable of St. Brelade is at the C.P.A. conference in Guernsey, so he is on States business, and I ask that he be excused.

The Deputy Bailiff :

Very well, States business. [9:45]

QUESTIONS

3. Written Questions

3.1. Deputy J.H. Perchard of St. Saviour of the Chief Minister regarding the diversity of States boards: (WQ.162/2019)

Question

Further to the response to Written Question 231/2018, will the Chief Minister –

1. provide a list all States boards (including arms-length bodies such as school boards, States- owned entities and majority-owned entities);
2. show for all such boards where the information is collected on the percentage of male, female and other board members and, for those boards where such information is not collected, provide an indication to that effect;

and if the information cannot be provided in time for the meeting on 26th March 2019, will the Chief Minister undertake to publish this information by the beginning of May 2019?

Answer

In response to the written question, the Chief Minister instructed that the information requested be compiled as soon as possible, expecting this to be the beginning of May given the volume of information. The response is as follows:

1. States groups or boards with managerial, supervisory, investigatory, or advisory responsibilities can be found in Part C of the Constitution of the States of Jersey(https://bit.ly/2YZPywk) and Appendix A of the Jersey Appointments Commission Guidelines for the recruitment of Senior States Employees, appointees and members of independent bodies (https://bit.ly/2uUiRSS). A list of school boards is as follows:

• Grainville school
• Hautlieu school
• Haute Vallee school
• Highlands College
• Jersey College for Girls
• Le Rocquier school
• Les Quennevais school
• Victoria College

Appointments to these groups may be made by the States Assembly through proposition, Ministers by ministerial decision, recruitment to the civil service, or through other appointment processes, such as election to a Board of Governors or external recruitment to arms' length organisations or States owned entities.

2. Information on the percentage of male and female members is presented below. This information is derived from a listing of group membership. It is not self-reported, and therefore the information does not take into account members with a non-binary gender identity, or other than as interpreted from the listing. It should also be noted that:

• There are instances where an individual is a member of more than one group so the grand total is not necessarily reflective of the total male/female split of appointments
• Membership of many groups is by virtue of the Board constitution and which individual occupies a particular position or post, e.g. Ministers, Attorney General, Medical Officer of Health, etc.

Some school Boards of Governors have staff and students representation.

3.2   Deputy K.F. Morel of St. Lawrence of the Minister for Children and Housing regarding the appointment of Altair as consultants to the Housing Policy Development Board: (WQ.206/2019)

Question

Will the Minister provide –

1. the date of the meeting of the Housing Policy Development Board at which it was decided to appoint Altair as consultants to the Board;
2. the cost of the Altair contract;
3. the details of the work Altair has been contractually asked to undertake; and
4. whether or not a tender process was used to select Altair and, if a tender process was used, the number of companies that bid for the work and the opening and closing dates of the tender process?

Answer

The Chief Minister established the Housing Policy Development Board by Ministerial Decision on 19 March 2019. This included a requirement to use an external housing specialist.

The work of the housing specialist is set out in the Ministerial Decision from the Chief Minister as follows:

• manage the work and activities of the Board
• undertake research (primary and secondary; identification and liaison with expert witnesses
• scope policy, delivery and financing recommendations
• prepare final reports

The first meeting of the Housing Policy Development Board was held on 9 April 2019. The minutes from the Board meeting have been published on gov.je. The minutes from the meeting note:

It was noted that the board hoped to be able to engage an independent housing adviser to produce a report on issues in Jersey's housing market and the long-term measures required to deliver a sustainable housing market.

Following the first meeting of the board, funding for the external housing specialist was confirmed as part of a larger sum (£122,780) approved by the Minister for Treasury and Resources, which is recorded in a Ministerial Decision (18 April).

The contract with Altair in respect of support for the Housing Policy Development Board was agreed in the sum of £97,850 and was approved by a senior officer under Financial Directions and did not require a tender process.

The balance of the sum released by the Minister for Treasury and Resources relates to a separate contract to undertake additional detailed research in respect of key worker accommodation provision. This contract will also be undertaken by Altair, continuing the successful work completed at the end of 2018, which has already supported the provision of key worker accommodation.

3.3. Deputy K.F. Morel of St. Lawrence of the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture regarding the appointment of Metro-Dynamics Limited as consultants to the Government: (WQ.207/2019)

Question

With regard to the appointment of Metro-Dynamics Limited as consultants to the Government in its work on improving productivity, will the Minister state –

1. the financial cost of the contract to the Government;
2. the length of the contract; and
3. whether a tender process was held to select the best-value provider and, if so, where the tender was advertised and the number of companies that tendered for the contract?

Answer

1. The total cost of the contract is £64,333.58 which includes contracted fees of £62,550 and expenses of £1,783.58.
2. The contract commenced on the 23rd August 2018 and was for a period to the 31st December 2018.
3. An exemption from the tender process was obtained in accordance with Financial Directions.

4. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Chairman of the States Employment Board regarding job losses within the public sector: (WQ.2018/2019)

Question  

Given the ongoing process of public sector reform and the target of £30 million of savings, will the Chairman state how may posts it is proposed will be lost in the public sector by the end of 2021 and provide a breakdown by sector within the public service to show the number of proposed job losses in each sector?

Answer

At this stage there is not a specific FTE reduction target nor will FTE reduction be the only outcome of the efficiency programmes that are being developed to achieve the proposed savings target. The savings will be derived from the:

• Departmental restructurings (TOMs) which are underway.
• Development of more shared services in various clusters of activity
• Service redesigns as we join up departmental service lines and focus on the outcomes the citizen needs from their public service.

Budgets will be reset to crystallise the savings made both in 2019 and over the duration of the next Government Plan.

All proposals, including those that may have an FTE impact, will require appropriate Director General and Ministerial approval.

5. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Chief Minister regarding the implementation of Justice and Home Affairs: cessation of restructure' (P.24/2019): (WQ.209/2019)

Question

What actions, if any, have been taken to inform and instruct Directors General to ensure the implementation of the proposition Justice and Home Affairs: cessation of restructure' (P.24/2019), as amended, in particular part (e) of the proposition?

Answer

In line with the undertaking provided in response the proposition Justice and Home Affairs: cessation of restructure' (P.24/2019), a new policy has been published by the Greffe.

his new policy (attached) has been circulated to Director Generals, and senior supporting staff, and raised at relevant management team meetings, with an instruction to follow the policy as part of any restructuring process, including:

• ensuring that relevant legislation is identified of part of any restructuring proposals, and
• that following any required approvals by the States Employment Board and the relevant Minister, that any legislative changes required as part of a restructuring should be presented to the Assembly for consideration and approval prior to the relevant elements of the reorganisation governed by that legislation being implemented.

The Council of Ministers, States Employment Board, and One Government Political Oversight Group have also been provided with the policy, helping to promote compliance.

Policy relating to necessary legislative change as part of departmental restructuring

Public services operate within the legislative framework decided by the Assembly. This is an essential feature of our democratic system of government. Ministers and other public servants are required to uphold the law at all times.

Accordingly, and to make matters clearer following the adoption of P.24/2019, "Justice and Home Affairs: Cessation of Restructure", as lodged by the Deputy of St. John , the Chief Minister has approved this short policy with reference to the restructuring of public services.

1. Any necessary changes in legislation required as part of restructuring a government department should be presented to the Assembly for consideration and approval, prior to the relevant elements of the restructuring governed by that legislation being implemented.
2. Proposals for departmental restructuring should identify any relevant legislation that may need to change.  
3. Any required approvals need to be secured with reference to the States Employment Board, Council of Ministers and/or relevant Ministers, together with consultation with staff and other stakeholders where appropriate as part of a considered change process.
4. Drafting instructions for any necessary legislative changes will be considered bythe relevant Minister and recorded by means of a Ministerial Decision in the usual manner, and the legislation lodged with the Assembly once drafted.
5. This policy does not prevent elements of a restructure that are not governed by statute from proceeding, if they are able to proceed separately from those elements that do require legislative change while remaining in accordance with that legislation.  

The relevant Director General is responsible for supporting Ministers in adhering to this policy, and the Council of Ministers, or any political oversight board so tasked, shall monitor its compliance.

6. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Minister for the Environment regarding the monitoring of air pollution levels: (WQ.210/2019)

Question

What live monitoring of air pollution levels, if any, is currently being undertaken in and around St Helier; and what live monitoring of air pollution levels, if any, is being undertaken around schools across the Island?

Answer

Air quality monitoring takes place at a number of sites across the island. Around St Helier air quality diffusion tubes are deployed at the following locations:

• NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen) Monitoring:

Le Bas Centre, St Saviours Hill, Union Street, Central Market, Weighbridge, Liberation Station, Broad Street, The Parade, Rouge Bouillon School, Gloucester Street (Hospital), Kensington Place (Hospital), and Esplanade.

• VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) Monitoring: Le Bas Centre and the Central Market

Real time monitoring is undertaken at two sites in St Helier. The sites are The Central Market and Howard Davis Park. These monitoring results are published on the Government of Jersey website.

From time to time other real time monitoring is required of developers to demonstrate best practice with respect to the control of dust from demolition and building activities. These tend to be in St Helier. This monitoring is carried out at the developer's expense and is available to Environmental Health as part of their regulatory function.

In relation to schools, air quality diffusion tubes (NOx) are positioned near Rouge Bouillon School and St Saviours School. There is no real time monitoring currently undertaken near schools.

Schools Air Quality Education package

Officers from the Government of Jersey Environmental Health and eco active teams are working on an educational package for schools. This is being piloted now and will allow those schools which choose to take part to monitor air quality around their school, to better understand air quality, pollution issues, and to take part in a citizen science project. The proposed launch date of this initiative is 20th June, to coincide with the Clean Air Day.

The Journey to school.

Plans are in hand to monitor the air quality experienced by children on their journeys to school using specialist lightweight monitors. It is proposed to join the school walking bus (supervised walk to school). This too will provide useful air quality data and will include monitoring for NOx and particulates.

Development

Environmental Health are working on the expansion of real time monitoring. A memorandum of understanding has been signed by Environmental Health, Digital Jersey and AirSensa to investigate the collection of real-time air quality and environmental data using approximately 200 sensors across the entire island. The aim is to generate air quality data needed to enable individuals, industry and government to make informed choices.

7. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Chairman of the States Employment Board regarding the application of pay protection in respect of the new Target Operating Model: (WQ.211/2019)

Question

How many civil service employees is it envisaged will be on pay protection following any regrading arising from implementation of the new Target Operating Models; and what is this figure as a percentage of the total workforce?

Answer

It is not possible, at this stage, to provide any definitive data in response to this question. Directorates are actively working through their restructures as a result of the Target Operating Model (TOM) and when the process is complete, this information will be provided.

8. Deputy J.H. Perchard of St. Saviour of the Minister for Education regarding the average earnings of teachers: (WQ.212/2019)

Question

In relation to the average earnings of teachers, will the Minister state –

1. the mean average earnings of teachers who are currently in training (i.e. those on the Jersey Graduate Teacher Training Programme or with Newly Qualified Teacher status);
2. how many teachers, if any, are currently in such training but are not paid;
3. the mean average earnings of teachers who do not receive any additional pay for taking on extra roles of responsibility;
4. the mean average salary of headteachers;
5. the mean average salary of senior leadership teams within schools; and
6. the median and modal average salaries of all teachers (including those who are unpaid)?

Answer

1. The mean average earnings of teachers who are currently in training – so includes anyone classed as NQT or who is on the Graduate Teacher Training Programme is £30,853.

If we were to only include those working as a teacher, not in unpaid training or in a supply teacher role, the average salary of the NQT group would be £35,927.

2. There are 5 teachers who are in training but are not paid – these 5 are included in the figure above.
3. The Average earnings of a teacher, excluding any additional pay for extra responsibilities is £49,371. This is taken from the April 2019 Headcount report and only includes teachers at State Schools, it does not include private schools, highlands lecturers or supply teachers.

Currently only 41% of teachers receive no supplementary allowances, the average salary inclusive of these supplements is £53,671.

4. The mean average salary of the Heads in state funded Primary, Secondary and Fee Paying schools is £84,671. This is taken from the April 2019 Headcount report.

5. We have assumed in our workings that those on a schools senior leadership team are the Head, Deputy and any teachers within the school receiving a supplementary allowance 6 or 5.

The mean average salary of this group is £71,088.

If Heads were excluded from the calculation the mean average salary is £67,375.

6. The Median and mode average salaries of all teachers (including those unpaid) but excluding Heads and Deputies are both the same at £53,078 which is the equivalent of those on an MPSU5 or grade TCH1 15

9. Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier of the Chairman of the States Employment Board regarding the ongoing dispute over teachers' pay and conditions: (WQ.213/2019)

Question  

Will the Chairman update members on what progress, if any, there has been in resolving the ongoing dispute over teachers' pay and conditions; and if no agreement has been reached, what further initiatives, if any, does the Chairman propose to take?

Answer

Aspects of the 18/19 pay review remain at a very delicate stage and, in a public environment there are constraints in what can be said about our negotiating strategy in order to avoid potential prejudice to these talks. The employer has always sought to ensure confidentiality and not conduct negotiations in public.

The Employer has settled with Nurses, Manual workers, Police, Head Teachers and other groups who are related to those pay and conditions.

The Fire Service have rejected the pay offer and binding arbitration will take place under their No impairment of service agreement with the employer. Prison Officer s discussions still continue.

Discussions continue with the Civil Service unions, who remain working to rule whilst in dispute with the employer.

The current three-year pay offer for teachers is worth 8.6% in consolidated (pensionable) pay rises, plus 2.1% in one-off cash payments. In 2020, the offer is worth RPI plus 1.3% (with RPI currently expected to be 3.1%).

This means that 80.3% of teachers will earn more than £50,000 and 38.3% will earn more than £60,000 after the implementation of the offer. In addition, 59% of teachers earn at least one supplementary allowance worth between £2686 and £16,116.

Negotiators representing SEB have actively continued to meet with both the NEU, and NASUWT to find a solution to the dispute. Last week, three full days of meetings took place and further meetings will take place this week.

Some progress is being made and it is to be hoped that unions will recognise that and withdraw their industrial action whilst discussions continue.

Such an approach will be to the benefit of all concerned, teachers, children, parents and the island as a whole.

10. Deputy J.M. Maçon of St. Saviour of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding Road Traffic Accidents involving dogs: (WQ.214/2019)

Question

Will the Minister provide an explanation of the circumstances surrounding each of the 17 reported incidents of Road Traffic Accidents (R.T.A.s) involving a dog (as reported in the comments of the Comité des Connétable s on P.30/2019); and state whether the States of Jersey Police attended all of these incidents in person and, if not, why not?

Answer

The States of Jersey Police are required to create and maintain a record of each incident of a Road Traffic Accident involving a dog, provided it meets the criteria of a recordable Road Traffic Collision.

The majority of the 17 incidents involved dogs running into the path of a car. Out of the 17 incidents reported to the States of Jersey Police, 6 incidents were attended. The Police did not attend the other 11 incidents because no one was injured and the dog owners and the drivers exchanged contact details, as required under Article 52 of the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956.

11. Deputy K.G. Pamplin of St. Saviour of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the staffing levels at the General Hospital: (WQ.215/2019)

Question

Will the Minister provide an update on staffing levels at the General Hospital from the past 18 months, indicating when and in which departments staffing levels were under capacity and in which departments and on which dates reduced staffing levels coincided with higher than average demand for the services provided by those departments?

Answer

The Minister regrets that in the time available he has not been able to answer this question. He will provide the Member with an answer and distribute it to all Members as soon as possible.

12. Deputy K.G. Pamplin of St. Saviour of the Minister for the Environment regarding the Minister's input into proposals for a new hospital: (WQ.216/2019)

Question

Will the Minister explain what input and advice he has provided to the Chief Minister in respect of the newly-presented proposals regarding a new hospital and explain whether he has any concerns in relation to those proposals from the perspective of his portfolio?

Answer

I have, in my capacity as Minister for the Environment, provided advice to the Chief Minister about the new hospital project which has naturally focussed on its relationship with the planning process.

In this, I was particularly concerned to ensure that the development of new proposals were based on some key requirements, including:

• a sound understanding and consensus that any new proposal adequately meets current and future clinical needs, relative to the overall plan for health care in the island;
• a site assessment process, which is objective, evidence-based, consistent and sound; and
• an open, transparent and participative process of engagement with islanders, as a prerequisite to any subsequent planning application.

I am pleased to note that these elements are contained within the Chief Minister's proposed process, as set out in his report to the States Assembly on 03 May 2019.

Perhaps what was disappointing and of concern to me, as Environment Minister, was the finding of the report, based on the discussions of the Chief Minister with States Members, which stated that it was conclusive that the Island Plan was inhibiting the process.' This suggests to me a failure of States Members to recognise the role and purpose of the Island Plan.

It is important to recognise that the Island Plan is there to provide a framework – approved by the States Assembly - against which to test the implications of new development and to ensure that balanced decisions are made. Importantly, it ensures that the adverse implications of development – where they arise - are properly considered. This is important where the effects of development might be to otherwise create serious harm.

It was my judgement, and that of my predecessor, that the two applications for a new hospital submitted to date had such adverse implications that they could not be approved. In both cases, there was not considered to be sufficient justification to outweigh and override the policies of the Island Plan.

The Chief Minister's proposals envisage that the work to progress the new hospital project will be progressing in parallel with the preparation of the new Island Plan. The new Island Plan will need to ensure that the key elements of public infrastructure that are required over the Plan period – including the need for a new hospital – can be provided. This will either take the form of a site-specific allocation or a policy regime that enables a new hospital to be delivered.

Should the new hospital project progress more quickly, any new proposal would fall to be considered under the current Island Plan. Should this come about, I propose to bring forward changes – in planning guidance and the way in which major planning decisions, where there is a clear and significant public interest, are made – to help ensure that the provision of a new hospital could be enabled under the current planning policy regime, whilst still following a due and robust assessment process that is provided by the planning system.

13. Deputy K.G. Pamplin of St. Saviour of the Minister for Education regarding mental health support within the Island's schools: (WQ.217/2019)

Question

Will the Minister confirm what plans, if any, are in place to improve the mental health support available at all levels of schooling?

Answer

Current arrangements available to schools include the following:

• A comprehensive training offer for all school based staff in the areas of Mental Health and well being
• The opportunity for professionals to access face to face and telephone consultation with primary mental health workers; educational psychologists; well-being facilitators. This is an opportunity to talk through concerns, signpost and where appropriate agree suitable next steps including relevant interventions
• Direct support (either 1:1 or as part of a small group) to children, young people provided by:

- primary mental health workers

- educational psychologists

- well-being facilitators

- school-based counsellors

- emotional literacy support assistants

Some young people can be reluctant to access support in school and they have the option to access similar in the community through the Youth Enquiry Service (YES).

• Wider support from the voluntary and community sector including (but not limited to) Mind Jersey and Youthful Minds
• Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) support for a small but significant number of children and  young people with more complex needs. This will typically involve close partnership working with schools

There is work ongoing and scheduled to review current arrangements across the whole system and sector for supporting children and young people with mental health needs both in schools and the community. This will ensure clarity on levels of need via a strategic needs assessment; review capacity to provide for these needs and ensure a clear position on how services are organised to ensure support has maximum impact.

Currently a project team led by the Group Director, Children, Young People, Education and Skills (CYPES) and the Operations Director, Health and Community Services (HCS) are working to deliver the safe and effective transfer of community based health services of children, including CAMHS, from the operational management of HCS to CYPES.

There will then be a joint piece of work to consider the future shape and design of services to children and young people with mental health and emotional wellbeing issues. The project will consider international best practice and review services across the spectrum of need from early help to more intensive service specialist services dealing with acute difficulties. There is a link to the work taking place on early help across children's services.

14. Deputy K.G. Pamplin of St. Saviour of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the proposed merging of Liberation Square and Weighbridge Place: (WQ.318/2019)

Question

Will the Minster provide a time line, including the dates of any meetings held, of the work undertaken to date on the plans to merge Liberation Square and Weighbridge Place?

Answer Meetings

15. Deputy K.G. Pamplin of St. Saviour of H.M. Attorney General regarding the legal duties of the States of Jersey and Government of Jersey in respect of mental health facilities: (WQ.219/2019)

Question

Will  H.M.  Attorney  General  advise  what  legal  duties  and  roles  the States  of  Jersey  and  the Government of Jersey have in respect of providing facilities to support Islanders' mental health; and what the legal consequences are in the event that any such facility is adjudged to have failed in relation to Human Rights standards or regulations?

Answer Duties:

Under the Mental Health (Jersey) Law 2016 (Article 2) the Minister for Health and Social Services (the Minister'') has the primary duty to "make provision in Jersey for the care and treatment of persons suffering mental disorder". This includes the duty to approve establishments and premises for the purpose of care and treatment of patients suffering from mental disorder (Article 5). Further, the Minister has a power (under Article 3) to do anything which appears to him "to be necessary, conducive or expedient" to properly discharge the duty imposed by Article 2. For instance: the Minister may, under Article 3:

"provide or secure the provision of, establishments and facilities for care and treatment, and management and general supervision of such establishments and facilities";

"make arrangements for . the treatment, care detention of patients in such establishments";

"make arrangements for the treatment and care of patients who are not admitted to nor liable to be detained in approved establishments";

And,

"provide,  or  secure  the  provision  of,  ancillary  or  supplementary  services  designed  for -  the promotion of better mental health, the prevention of mental disorder, promoting better care and treatment of patients, and the welfare of patients."

Legal consequences in the event a facility is adjudged to have failed in relation to Human Rights standards or regulations?

The Mental Health Law is designed to ensure that mental health services are provided in a way compatible with human rights. Under the Human Rights (Jersey) Law 2000, if there was an allegation that the Minister has acted in a manner that is in contravention of an individual's Convention rights (under the European Convention on Human Rights), e.g. protection from inhuman or degrading treatment, proceedings could be brought against the Minister by the individual concerned. If the Court found that the Minister had breached an individual's rights the Court could grant such relief or remedy within its powers which it finds just and appropriate. This could include an award for damages.

Further, if an "approved establishment" was found to contravene duties owed under the Health and Safety at Work (Jersey) Law 1989 this could lead to the issue of advice, improvement or prohibition notices, or prosecution where appropriate, of the States Employment Board as an employer.

16. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier of H.M. Attorney General regarding the payment of defence costs in cases where the client is acquitted or where no evidence is offered: (WQ.220/2019)

Question

Further to the response to Written Question 244/2018, will H.M. Attorney General advise members how a decision not to pay defence costs in full in criminal cases where the client has either been acquitted of the offence(s) charged, or the prosecution does not offer any evidence, is compatible with the European Convention of Human Rights, in particular Article 6?

Answer

There is no right under the European Convention on Human Rights ("ECHR") to recover costs. This has been clearly established by the European Court of Human Rights ("ECtHR") in the cases of Masson v The Netherlands (1996) 22 EHRR 491 and Ashenden v United Kingdom (2012) 54 EHRR

13. In Masson the point was made at [49]:

" the Court observes firstly that the Convention does not grant to a person charged with a criminal offence' but subsequently acquitted a right either to reimbursement of costs incurred in the course of criminal proceedings against him, however necessary these costs might have been Such a right can be derived neither from Article 6(2) nor from any other provision of the Convention or its Protocols. It follows that the question whether such a right can be said in any particular case to exist must be answered solely with reference to domestic law."

The matter was considered recently in the English High Court in R (Henderson) v Secretary of State for Justice [2015] EWHC 130 (admin) which considered the position of a defendant who paid for his own lawyers when successfully defending criminal proceedings having wrongly come to the conclusion that he was not entitled to legal aid. Article 6(3)(c) of the Convention creates a duty on states to provide legal assistance in criminal cases to those who could not afford it:

"24 The argument relating to restriction of choice proceeds upon the premise that defendants should not be forced' to engage lawyers who accept instructions on criminal legal aid by the prospect of lack of recovery of privately incurred costs paid to their lawyers of choice. It is suggested that for many reasons a defendant might wish to engage the services of lawyers who do not accept instructions on legal aid. For example, in cases where the client judges his solicitors and advocates of choice to have expertise in a specialist field not shared by legal aid lawyers or because he has a long-standing relationship with a particular firm in whom he reposes confidence. We do not know whether the claimant would have gone to legal aid solicitors had he been correctly advised that he was eligible. But I am unable to see how this point can assist the claimant's argument. Article 6(3)(c) protects the right of a defendant to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing; or if he has insufficient means to do so to be given free legal assistance when the interests of justice so require. In the claimant's case he defended himself with his own lawyers. He exercised the right protected by the Convention. The Strasbourg case law makes plain that the Convention does not in those circumstances guarantee to an acquitted defendant a right to recover the costs of defence."

Similarly, it may be reasonable for a company or person under financial or fiscal regulatory enquiry to engage elite lawyers to provide the best possible representation, but there is no human right to pass the bill onto the prosecutorial or regulatory authority concerned should those lawyers succeed in securing an acquittal.

In England and Wales an acquitted defendant can only recover their legal costs if:

1. They are a natural person (i.e. companies etc can not recover their legal costs) ;and,

Either

2. The proceedings were dealt with in the Magistrates' Court

Or

3. If the proceedings were dealt with in the Crown Court, the Defendant applied for, but was refused legal aid on the grounds of financial ineligibility.

If an Order for Defence Costs is made by an English Court, the rates which are recoverable for Crown Court proceedings are as follows:

Litigators:

Junior advocates

Queens Counsel

An English Lawyer's fees charged to the client will often be four and five times these rates (if not higher). These additional costs are not recoverable.

The following table shows the position in some other jurisdictions with similar criminal justice systems:

In summary, the ECHR and its case-law does not recognise any general right for an acquitted defendant to recover costs, whether that be after a trial or when no evidence is offered.

17. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the action taken to encourage witnesses to the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry to provide evidence to the States of Jersey Police: (WQ.221/2019)

Question

Further to the response to Written Question 197/2019, will the Minister advise what action, if any, was taken to encourage the named and anonymous witnesses to the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry to come forward to give their evidence to the States of Jersey Police in the case of the alleged physical abuse at Les Chênes children's home?

Answer

I refer to my earlier response to Q197/2019 which addressed this issue.

Following commencement of Operation Whistle in June 2015, the States of Jersey Police provided frequent and regular public updates via the media and social media platforms. These updates always included information for victims of non-recent abuse to either contact the police directly or via a third party e.g. Crime Stoppers. This practice continues today.

As I indicated in my previous response, 60 new victims have come forward since June 2015 (including circa 15 live investigations), which demonstrates trust and confidence in Jersey's Criminal Justice System.

18. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the legal representation of the States of Jersey Police before the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry: (WQ.222/2019)

Question

Will the Minister advise members of the reasons why the States of Jersey Police were legally represented before the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry and of the cost of such representation; and is it his assessment that the cost of this representation was value for money?

Answer

The rules governing a Committee of Inquiry are set out in the Standing Orders of the States of Jersey. Standing Order 149 allows, subject to agreement by the Committee of Inquiry, any person appearing before it to be legally represented.

The States of Jersey Police used independent legal representation in order to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

With regard to the legal costs for the States of Jersey Police, I refer to an answer provided by the Chief Minister in response to a written question on 18th July 2017:

/assemblyquestions/2017/(435)%20dep%20higgins%20to%20cm%20r e%20full%20cost%20of%20legal%20representation%20for%20states%20departments%20at%20th e%20independant%20care%20inquiry.pdf.

The response to this question stated that the total legal costs for the States of Jersey Police were £1,290,428.

I am not in a position to judge whether the legal costs were value for money.

19. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the legal representation of the Health and Community Services Department before the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry: (WQ.223/2019)

Question

Will the Minister advise members of the reasons why the Health and Community Services Department was legally represented at the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry and the cost of such representation; and is it his assessment that the cost of this representation was value for money?

Answer

As set out in paragraph 1.1 of the Executive Summary of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry: "Our remit has been to establish what went wrong in Jersey's child care system over many decades." Given that the statutory responsibility for the care and protection of vulnerable children lay with the Minister for Health and Social Services, it was appropriate for the Minister to be legally represented at the Inquiry. This is in line with the procedure at other public inquiries, including the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales, where those designated as core participants have special rights in the Inquiry process, including the right to be legally represented.

In the answer to written question 435/2017 of 18th July 2017 asked by Deputy Higgins, it was stated that to the end of February 2017, total legal costs for States Departments were £4,765,830 broken down as follows:

Law Officers' Department £1,210,919 States of Jersey Police £1,290,428

All other departments £2,264,483

The Minister for Health and Social Services' legal representative also represented other States departments so it is not possible to identify the cost of the Health and Social Services representation alone.

I am not in a position to judge whether the legal costs were value for money.

20. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the prescription of opioids: (WQ.224/2019)

Question

Will the Minister advise members of the number of opioids prescribed by (a) the General Hospital and (b) general practitioners for each year from 2014 to 2018, as well as the respective costs; and will he also advise whether any assessment has been undertaken of the incentives being offered by pharmaceutical companies to doctors to prescribe their products and what steps, if any, he is taking to avoid a repetition in Jersey of the opioid crisis' that has arisen in the United States and that is also reportedly starting to occur in the United Kingdom?

Answer

1. The General Hospital

The table below shows the quantities of opioids supplied in each year from the hospital pharmacy system. These figures include inpatient and outpatient use. Records are not kept in a way that records the number of prescriptions. The figures are regularly monitored with any areas of concern examined further.

2. General practitioners

• Opioid (morphine-type) painkillers account for 1% of all prescription items dispensed in the community under the Health Insurance Fund (HIF), and 3% of total expenditure.
• The volume and cost of prescription opioid medicines dispensed in the community under the HIF are shown below for the past 5 years
• Compared with England, Jersey has seen lower growth in prescription volume of opioids of 30% over the past 10 years (cf 60% in England)
• Prescribing rates for opioids are lower in Jersey than in most of England. In 2017, around 260 prescriptions for an opioid per 1,000 residents were dispensed in Jersey, lower than all but 2 regions in England (see figure below)
• Opioid  prescribing  under  the  HIF  is  monitored.  GPs  receive  feedback  on  their  opioid prescribing both at practice level, as part of the JAM card [Jersey Activity Monitoring cards are  distributed  by  the  Primary  Care  Governance  Team  to  GP  practices  and  include comparative measures of performance, including prescribing], and at an individual level, as part of 1:1 reviews
• Community  pharmacies  are  working  to  raise  awareness  of  opioid  misuse.  There  is  an educational event on 30th May for community pharmacists on Medication Misuse' and the local branch of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society is working with Silkworth Lodge to develop 'Codeine Cards' to improve awareness around over the counter (OTC) purchases of codeine- containing medicines and management of the conditions when OTC opiates are commonly requested
• The pharmaceutical industry is regulated and representatives are no longer able to offer GPs direct incentives greater than the value of £5.

21. Deputy C.S. Alves of St. Helier of the Minister for the Environment regarding the blood tests performed on cats and dogs in relation to pet travel: (WQ.225/2019)

Question

Given that the current advice (available on www.gov.je) regarding pet travel after Brexit states that cats or dogs should have a "blood test after the rabies vaccination to confirm that the pet is adequately protected", will the Minister provide the percentage of cats and dogs which have failed the blood test but which were vaccinated with the rabies vaccine prior to 2019 and were still within the 3 years vaccination validity period?

Answer

The Deputy 's question relates to the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) and the advice published on the Government of Jersey website if there is no deal' Brexit. In the event of a no deal' Brexit, Jersey would be seen by the EU as a third country with no listed or preferential status.

The PETS allows owners to travel to EU countries with their pets (cats, dogs and ferrets only). Animals coming to the EU from third countries are required by the EU to have a blood test at least 30 days after rabies vaccination. Animals' antibodies will be at their highest around this time and then slowly decline over time. Some animals may have up to date rabies vaccination but if not recently vaccinated they may fail the blood test. In this situation the vet would probably advise the owner to revaccinate the animal to boost antibody levels and then retest the animal. Many vets may advise an owner to revaccinate if not recently vaccinated for this purpose before doing a blood test in the first place to reduce the chance of failing the blood test. Obviously additional vaccination and testing incurs greater costs for owners. Owners are advised to seek advice on this matter from their private vet.

The PETS is administered by authorised vets and they carry out the required blood tests. There is no requirement for authorised vets to notify the Government of Jersey of the blood tests carried out or the results of any tests.

The Government of Jersey do not hold the information requested by the Deputy .

22. Deputy C.S. Alves of St. Helier of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the reporting of complaints about noise: (WQ.226/2019)

Question

How many noise complaint reports in the last three years, if any, have resulted in no action being taken due to the requirement to have three separate complainants regarding the incident before any action is taken?

Answer

During the last three years the States of Jersey Police have received 628 noise complaints, the vast majority of which were noisy parties. It is current policy that Police Officers do not attend unless there are two separate complaints. The Police did not attend any of the 628 noise complaints as only one complaint was made. All reports are recorded in case there are repeat complaints. If appropriate the information is shared with other relevant organisations (e.g. Environmental Health).

23. Deputy C.S. Alves of St. Helier of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the requirement for drivers to apply for an international driving permit post-Brexit: (WQ.227/2019)

Question

Given that the current advice regarding driving abroad post-Brexit (available on www.gov.je) is that drivers may have to apply for an international driving permit to drive in European Union (E.U.) countries, will the Minister advise whether this will be applicable to people who originally obtained their driving licence within the E.U. and –

1. if that is the case, explain why that is so; or
2. if that is not the case, explain how any such individuals will be able either to obtain their original driving licence or to prove that they have such an E.U. licence?

Answer

Applying for an International Driving Permit will be applicable to people who originally obtained their driving licence within the EU, but now hold a Jersey Driving Licence.

Driving licence holders are required to hold a licence issued in their place of permanent residence. Those who originally obtained their driving licence within the EU and subsequently became resident in Jersey will have had to exchange their EU licence for a Jersey Driving Licence at their Parish Hall . The EU licence would have been returned to the issuing authority along with notification that they now hold a Jersey licence. If they ever return to take up permanent residence in the EU they can apply to the authorities in the relevant jurisdiction to obtain a licence of that jurisdiction.

Whilst the UK Government continue to negotiate with the EU regarding BREXIT, Jersey's Government has been working on plans to ensure any impact for local residents are minimised as much as possible, one key area is to ensure our vehicles and drivers can continue to circulate internationally. By having the 1968 United Nations' Vienna Convention on Road Traffic extended to Jersey ensures that Jersey residents can continue to drive in the EU.