States Meeting Transcript - 8th September 2020

STATES OF JERSEY OFFICIAL REPORT

TUESDAY, 8th SEPTEMBER 2020

COMMUNICATIONS BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER ........................................ 9

1. Welcome to His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor .................................... 9
2. Welcome to Members ....................................................................... 9

APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS, COMMITTEES AND PANELS ........................... 9

2. Resignation of Deputy J.H. Perchard of St. Saviour as a member of the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel. ...................................................... 9

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

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

1. Deputy K.F. Morel of St. Lawrence of the Minister of Health and Social Services in relation to the Safer Travel Programme: (WQ.282/2020). ................................ 9
2. Deputy K.F. Morel of St. Lawrence of the Minister of Social Security in relation to Social Security contributions: (WQ.283/2020). .......................................... 10
3. Deputy K.F. Morel of St. Lawrence of the Minister for Social Security in relation to training courses: (WQ.284/2020). ........................................................ 12
4. Deputy J.H. Perchard of St Saviour of the Chief Minister in relation to shortlisted hospital sites: (WQ.285/2020). ........................................................... 13
5. Deputy G.J.Truscott of St. Brelade of the Minister for Treasury and Resources in relation to the hospital loan: (WQ.286/2020). .................................................... 13
6. Senator K.L. Moore of the Chair of the States Employment Board in relation to employees earning more than £500 per day: (WQ.287/2020). ........................... 14
7. Senator K.L. Moore of the Chair of the States Employment Board in relation to the sickness rate amongst Government employees: (WQ.288/2020). ........................ 14
8. Senator K.L. Moore of the Chair of the States Employment Board in relation to vacancies amongst public sector employees: (WQ.289/2020). .......................... 15
9. Deputy J.H. Perchard of St. Saviour of the Minister for treasury and Resources in relation to the use of local businesses: (WQ.290/2020). ................................. 18
10. Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat of St. Helier of t he Chair of the States Employment Board in relation to Government employees: (WQ.291/2020)..................................... 19
11. Senator S.C. Ferguson of the Minister for Infrastructure in relation to the purchase of a lease: (WQ.292/2020). .................................................................... 21
12. Deputy T. Pointon of St. John of the Minister of Infrastructure in relation to traffic calming measures in Sion: (WQ.293/2020). .............................................. 22
13. Connétable of St. Martin of the Minister for the Environment in relation to the Wildlife Law: (WQ.294/2020). .................................................................... 22
14. Connétable of St. Martin of the Minister for Treasury and Resources in relation to Independent Taxation: (WQ.295/2020). .................................................. 22

15. Connétable of St. Martin of the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture in relation to financial support for further lockdowns: (WQ.296/2020)......... 23
16. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Saviour of the Minister for Social Security in relation to the Disability Strategy: (WQ.297/2020). ................................................. 24
17. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Savour of the Chair of the States Employment Board in relation to Non-Disclosure Agreements: (WQ.298/2020). ............................... 25
18. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Saviour of the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture: (WQ.299/2020). ............................................ 25
19. Deputy K.F. Morel of St. Lawrence of the Minister for Health and Social Services in relation to PCR Testing: (WQ.300/2020). ................................................ 26
20. Deputy K.F. Morel of the Chief Minister in relation to the Team Jersey Project: (WQ.301/2020). .......................................................................... 26
21. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Minister for Treasury and Resources in relation to current year taxation: (WQ.302/2020). ................................................... 27
22. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Minister for the Environment in relation to air pollution: (WQ.303/2020). ............................................................... 28
23. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Minister for Home Affairs in relation to disciplinary procedures: (WQ.304/2020). ................................................ 28
24. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Chair of the States Employment Board in relation to attendance policies: (WQ.305/2020). .................................................. 29
25. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Chair of the Comité des Connétable s in relation to total funding per Parish: (WQ.306/2020). ................................................ 29
26. Connétable of St. Helier of the Minister for Infrastructure in relation to seaweed removal: (WQ.307/2020). ................................................................ 30
27. Connétable of St. Helier of the Minister of the Environment in relation to artificial fertilisers and pesticides: (WQ.308/2020). ............................................... 32
28. Deputy S.M. Ahier of St. Helier of the Minister for Treasury and Resources in relation to Tax Payers: (WQ.329/2020). ............................................................. 32
29. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier of the Minister for Children and Housing in relation to complaints procedure: (WQ.311/2020). ............................................... 33
30. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier of the Minister for Children and Housing in relation to investigation and reports for Childrens Service: (WQ.312/2020). .................... 34
31. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier of the Minister of the Environment in relation to enforcement actions: (WQ.313/2020).................................................... 35
32. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier of the Minister for the Environment in relation to historic buildings: (WQ.314/2020). ...................................................... 35
33. Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier of the Minister for Treasury and Resources in relation to the estimate for the loss of £320m income tax: (WQ.315/2020). ...................... 37
34. Deputy G.P. Southern of the Minister for Health and Social Security in relation to the transfer of ownership of St Joseph's apartments: (WQ.316/2020). ...................... 37
35. Deputy I. Gardiner of St. Helier of the Minister for Infrastructure in relation to Liberty Bus: (WQ.317/2020). ..................................................................... 37
36. Deputy I. Gardiner of St. Helier of the Minister for Health and Social Services in relation to the Jersey Care Model: (WQ.318/2020). .............................................. 38
37. Deputy I. Gardiner of St. Helier of the Minister for Health and Social Services in relation to on-arrival Covid-testing: (WQ.319/2020). ............................................ 39
38. Deputy I. Gardiner of St. Helier of the Minister for Health and Social Services in relation to self-isolation: (WQ.320/2020). ........................................................ 40
39. Deputy J.H. Perchard of St. Saviour of the Minister for Treasury and Resources in relation to the use of local suppliers by the Government of Jersey: (WQ.321/2020).... 40

4. Oral Questions ............................................................................. 41

1. Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding GP services: (OQ.217/2020) ................................................... 41

Deputy R.J. Renouf of St. Ouen (The Minister for Health and Social Services):.............. 41 4.1.1 Deputy G.P. Southern : .................................................................... 42

2. Deputy J.H. Perchard of St. Saviour of the Chief Minister regarding shortlisted hospital sites: (OQ.206/2020) .............................................................. 42

Senator L.J. Farnham ( Deputy Chief Minister - rapporteur):................................... 42

1. Deputy J.H. Perchard: .................................................................... 42
2. Deputy G.P. Southern : .................................................................... 42
3. Deputy G.P. Southern : .................................................................... 43
4. Connétable A.S. Crowcroft of St. Helier : ................................................ 43
5. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier : ...................................................... 43
6. Deputy M.R. Higgins: .................................................................... 44
7. Connétable D.W. Mezbourian of St. Lawrence : .......................................... 44
8. The Connétable of St. Lawrence : ........................................................ 44
9. Deputy J.H. Perchard: .................................................................... 45

3. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Chief Minister regarding 3 priorities from the Common Strategic Policy: (OQ.210//2020) .............................................. 45

Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré (The Chief Minister): ............................................... 45

1. Deputy R.J. Ward : ........................................................................ 45
2. Deputy G.P. Southern : .................................................................... 46
3. Deputy R.J. Ward : ........................................................................ 46

4. Deputy J.M. Maçon of St. Saviour of the Chief Minister regarding when will Broad Street reopen: (OQ.207/2020) ............................................................. 47

Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré (The Chief Minister): ............................................... 47

1. Deputy J.M. Maçon: ...................................................................... 47
2. The Connétable of St. Helier : ............................................................ 48
3. Deputy M.R. Higgins: .................................................................... 48
4. Deputy M.R. Higgins: .................................................................... 49
5. Connétable M.K. Jackson of St. Brelade : ................................................ 49
6. Deputy J.M. Maçon: ...................................................................... 50

5. Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade of the Minister for Education regarding the George de Carteret statue: (OQ.227/2020) ........................................................ 50

Senator T.A. Vallois (The Minister for Education): ............................................ 50

1. Deputy M. Tadier :........................................................................ 50
2. Deputy J.H. Perchard: .................................................................... 50
3. Deputy M. Tadier :........................................................................ 51

6. Deputy S.G. Luce of St. Martin of the Minister for Treasury and Resources regarding a Memorandum of Understanding: (OQ.208/2020) ..................................... 51

Deputy L.B.E. Ash of St. Clement (Assistant Minister for Treasury and Resources -

rapporteur): ............................................................................... 51

1. The Deputy of St. Martin : ................................................................ 51
2. Deputy D. Johnson of St. Mary : .......................................................... 52
3. The Deputy of St. Martin : ................................................................ 52

7. Deputy K.F. Morel of St. Lawrence of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding La Collette waste collection site: (OQ.219/2020) ............................................ 52

Deputy K.C. Lewis of St. Saviour (The Minister for Infrastructure): .......................... 52

1. Deputy K.F. Morel : ....................................................................... 53
2. Deputy S.M. Ahier of St. Helier : ......................................................... 53
3. Deputy S.M. Ahier : ....................................................................... 53
4. Deputy K.F. Morel : ....................................................................... 53

8. The Connétable of St. Helier of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the closure of Broad Street: (OQ.221/2020) ........................................................... 53

Deputy K.C. Lewis (The Minister for Infrastructure): .......................................... 54

1. The Connétable of St. Helier : ............................................................ 54
2. Deputy I. Gardiner of St. Helier : ......................................................... 54
3. Deputy I. Gardiner : ....................................................................... 54
4. Deputy R.J. Ward : ........................................................................ 54
5. Deputy R.J. Ward : ........................................................................ 55
6. Connétable S.A. Le Sueur -Rennard of St. Saviour : ...................................... 55
7. The Connétable of St. Helier : ............................................................ 55

9. Deputy K.G. Pamplin of St. Saviour of the Chief Minister regarding the cost of the Islan's Covid testing: (OQ.215/2020) ..................................................... 56

Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré (The Chief Minister): ............................................... 56 4.9.1 Deputy K.G. Pamplin: .................................................................... 56

10. Senator K.L. Moore of the Minister for Treasury and Resources regarding the vacancy rate in the Treasury and Exchequer Department: (OQ.231/2020) ........... 56

Deputy S.J. Pinel (The Minister for Treasury and Resources): ................................ 56 4.10.1 Senator K.L. Moore :................................................................... 57

11. Deputy T. Pointon of St. John of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding a Domestic Abuse Law: (OQ.212/2020) ................................................................ 57

Connétable L. Norman of St. Clement (The Minister for Home Affairs): ...................... 57 4.11.1 The Deputy of St. John :................................................................ 57

12. Deputy G.J. Truscott of St. Brelade of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the contract to maintain the Railway Walk: (OQ.214/2020) ................................ 58

Deputy K.C. Lewis (The Minister for Infrastructure): .......................................... 58

1. The Connétable of St. Brelade : ........................................................ 58
2. Deputy G.P. Southern : ................................................................ 58
3. Deputy G.J. Truscott: .................................................................. 58

13. Deputy S.M. Ahier of the Chief Minister regarding the appointment of a Public Services Ombudsman: (OQ.220/2020) .................................................... 59

Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré (The Chief Minister): ............................................... 59

1. The Deputy of St. Mary : .............................................................. 59
2. Deputy S.M. Ahier : .................................................................... 60

14. Deputy I. Gardiner of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding compliance with the Disability legislation: (OQ.224/2020) ..................................................... 60

Deputy K.C. Lewis (The Minister for Infrastructure): .......................................... 60

1. Deputy R.J. Ward : ..................................................................... 60

2. Deputy I. Gardiner : .................................................................... 61

15. Deputy M.R. Higgins of the Minister for Children and Housing regarding the assessment of Children's Service: (OQ.228/2020) ....................................... 61

Senator S.Y. Mézec (The Minister for Children and Housing): ................................ 61 4.15.1 Deputy M.R. Higgins: ................................................................. 61

16. The Connétable of St. Helier of the Assistant Chief Minister regarding building the new hospital on People's Park: (OQ.222/2020).......................................... 62

Senator L.J. Farnham (Assistant Chief Minister):.............................................. 62

1. Senator K.L. Moore :................................................................... 62
2. The Deputy of St. Martin : ............................................................. 63
3. The Connétable of St. Helier : .......................................................... 63

17. The Deputy of St. John of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding European Community travel documents: (OQ.213/2020) .......................................... 63

The Connétable of St. Clement (The Minister for Home Affairs): ............................. 63

1. The Connétable of St. Helier : .......................................................... 64
2. Deputy M.R. Higgins: ................................................................. 64
3. Deputy R.J. Ward : ..................................................................... 64
4. The Deputy of St. John :................................................................ 65

18. Deputy R.J. Ward of the Chair of the States Employment Board regarding the changing need for isolation: (OQ.211/2020) .............................................. 65

Connétable R.A. Buchanan of St. Ouen (Vice-Chairman, States Employment Board - rapporteur): ............................................................................... 65 4.19 The Deputy of St. Martin of the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture regarding investigations by the Jersey Competition and regulatory Authority: (OQ.209/2020) ................................................................. 66

Senator L.J. Farnham (The Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture):

 ............................................................................................ 66 4.19.1 The Deputy of St. Martin : ............................................................. 66

20. Deputy I. Gardiner of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding LibertyBus drivers: (OQ.225/2020) .............................................................................. 66

Deputy K.C. Lewis (The Minister for Infrastructure): .......................................... 66 4.20.1 Deputy I. Gardiner : .................................................................... 67

21. Deputy K.G. Pamplin of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding mental health related projects: (OQ.216/2020) .......................................................... 67

Deputy K.C. Lewis (The Minister for Infrastructure): .......................................... 67 4.21.1 The Deputy of St. Martin : ............................................................. 67

22. Senator K.L. Moore of the Assistant Chief Minister regarding the cost of Our Hospital project: (OQ.232/2020) .......................................................... 67

Senator L.J. Farnham (Assistant Chief Minister):.............................................. 67 4.22.1 Senator K.L. Moore :................................................................... 68

23. Deputy M.R. Higgins of the Minister for the Environment regarding enforcement function: (OQ.229/2020) ................................................................... 68

Deputy J.H. Young of St. Brelade (The Minister for the Environment): ....................... 68

4.23.1 Deputy M.R. Higgins: ................................................................. 68

24. Deputy G.P. Southern of the Chief Minister regarding income inequality: (OQ.218/2020) .............................................................................. 69

Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré (The Chief Minister): ............................................... 69 4.24.1 Deputy G.P. Southern : ................................................................ 69

5. Questions to Ministers without notice - The Minister for Education .................. 70

1. Deputy K.G. Pamplin: .................................................................... 70 Senator T.A. Vallois (The Minister for Education): ............................................ 70
2. Deputy K.F. Morel : ....................................................................... 71
3. The Connétable of St. Helier : ............................................................ 71
4. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Saviour : .................................................. 71

5.4.1 Deputy L.M.C. Doublet : .................................................................. 71

5. Deputy S.M. Ahier : ....................................................................... 72

5.5.1 Deputy S.M. Ahier : ....................................................................... 72

6. Deputy I. Gardiner : ....................................................................... 72

5.6.1 Deputy I. Gardiner : ....................................................................... 72

7. Senator K.L. Moore : ...................................................................... 73
8. Deputy G.P. Southern : .................................................................... 73
9. Deputy M. Tadier :........................................................................ 73
10. Deputy R.J. Ward : ........................................................................ 73

6. Questions to Ministers without notice - The Chief Minister ............................ 73

1. The Connétable of St. Helier : ............................................................ 74 Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré (The Chief Minister): ............................................... 74

1. The Connétable of St. Helier : ............................................................ 74
   2. Deputy K.G. Pamplin: .................................................................... 74

6.2.1 Deputy K.G. Pamplin: .................................................................... 75

3. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet : .................................................................. 75

6.3.1 Deputy L.M.C. Doublet : .................................................................. 75

4. Deputy M. Tadier :........................................................................ 75

6.4.1 Deputy M. Tadier :........................................................................ 75

5. Deputy R.J. Ward : ........................................................................ 76

6.5.1 Deputy R.J. Ward : ........................................................................ 76

6. Senator K.L. Moore : ...................................................................... 76

6.6.1 Senator K.L. Moore : ...................................................................... 76

7. Deputy K.F. Morel : ....................................................................... 77
8. The Connétable of St. Saviour : ........................................................... 77

7. Questions to Ministers without notice .................................................... 78

1. Deputy M.R. Higgins: .................................................................... 78 Senator S.Y. Mézec (The Minister for Children and Housing): ................................ 78

1. Deputy M.R. Higgins: .................................................................... 78
   2. Deputy J.H. Perchard: .................................................................... 79 Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré (The Chief Minister): ............................................... 79

7.2.1 Deputy J.H. Perchard: .................................................................... 79

3. Deputy R. Labey : ......................................................................... 79 Deputy S.J. Pinel (The Minister for Treasury and Resources): ................................ 79
4. Deputy K.G. Pamplin: .................................................................... 79 The Deputy of St. Ouen (The Minister for Health and Social Services): ...................... 79

7.4.1 Deputy K.G. Pamplin: .................................................................... 79

5. Deputy G.J. Truscott: ..................................................................... 80 Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré: ...................................................................... 80
6. Deputy S.M. Ahier : ....................................................................... 80 Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré: ...................................................................... 80

7.6.1 Deputy S.M. Ahier : ....................................................................... 81

7. The Connétable of St. Helier : ............................................................ 81 Deputy K.C. Lewis (The Minister for Infrastructure): .......................................... 81

7.7.1 The Connétable of St. Helier : ............................................................ 81

8. Deputy K.F. Morel : ....................................................................... 82 Deputy S.J. Pinel: ............................................................................... 82

7.8.1 Deputy K.F. Morel : ....................................................................... 82

9. Deputy J.M. Maçon: ...................................................................... 82 Deputy K.C. Lewis : ............................................................................. 82
10. Deputy M. Tadier :........................................................................ 82 Senator S.Y. Mézec : ............................................................................ 83

7.10.1 Deputy M. Tadier : ..................................................................... 83

11. Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat of St. Helier : ................................................... 83 Deputy S.J. Pinel: ............................................................................... 83

7.11.1 Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat : .............................................................. 83

12. Senator K.L. Moore : ...................................................................... 84 Deputy S.J. Pinel: ............................................................................... 84

7.12.1 Senator K.L. Moore :................................................................... 84

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

13. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet : .................................................................. 85 The Deputy of St. Ouen : ........................................................................ 85

7.13.1 Deputy L.M.C. Doublet : .............................................................. 85

14. Deputy G.P. Southern : .................................................................... 85 The Deputy of St. Ouen : ........................................................................ 86

7.14.1 Deputy G.P. Southern : ................................................................ 86

15. Deputy R.J. Ward : ........................................................................ 86 Deputy K.C. Lewis : ............................................................................. 86

7.15.1 Deputy R.J. Ward : ..................................................................... 86

16. The Deputy of St. Mary : .................................................................. 86 The Deputy of St. Ouen : ........................................................................ 86

7.16.1 The Deputy of St. Mary : .............................................................. 87

17. The Deputy of St. Martin : ................................................................ 87 Deputy J.H. Young (The Minister for the Environment): ...................................... 87
18. Deputy I. Gardiner : ....................................................................... 87 The Deputy of St. Ouen : ........................................................................ 87
19. Deputy M.R. Higgins: .................................................................... 87 Deputy J.H. Young: ............................................................................. 88

7.19.1 Deputy M.R. Higgins: ................................................................. 88

20. Deputy K.F. Morel : ....................................................................... 88 Senator L.J. Farnham (The Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture): ............................................................................................ 88

7.20.1 Deputy K.F. Morel : .................................................................... 89

21. Senator K.L. Moore : ...................................................................... 89 Senator L.J. Farnham ( Deputy Chief Minister):................................................ 89

22. Deputy R.J. Ward : ........................................................................ 89 Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré: ...................................................................... 90

7.22.1 Deputy R.J. Ward : ..................................................................... 90

STATEMENTS ON A MATTER OF OFFICIAL RESPONSIBILITY ........................ 90

8. The Minister for Home Affairs will make a statement regarding the response of Home Affairs services to COVID-19 ............................................................. 90

8.1 The Connétable of St. Clement (The Minister for Home Affairs): ...................... 90

ADJOURNMENT .................................................................................. 92

1. The Connétable of St. Helier : ............................................................ 92
2. Deputy R.J. Ward : ........................................................................ 92
3. The Connétable of St. Ouen:.............................................................. 92

PUBLIC BUSINESS ................................................................................ 92

9. Draft Public Health and Safety (Rented Dwellings) (Licensing) (Jersey) Regulations 201- (P.106/2019) ........................................................................... 93

9.1 Deputy J.H. Young (The Minister for the Environment): ................................ 95

1. Senator S.C. Ferguson: ................................................................... 99
2. Deputy R.E. Huelin of St. Peter : ........................................................ 100
3. Connétable C.H. Taylor of St. John : .................................................... 103
4. The Connétable of St. Brelade : .......................................................... 103
5. The Connétable of St. Peter : ............................................................ 104
6. Deputy K.F. Morel : ...................................................................... 105
7. Deputy I. Gardiner : ...................................................................... 106
8. Senator S.Y. Mézec : .................................................................... 106
9. The Deputy of St. Mary : ................................................................ 110
10. Deputy R.J. Ward : .................................................................... 111
11. Deputy S.M. Ahier : .................................................................. 112
12. Deputy K.G. Pamplin: ................................................................ 112
13. Deputy J.A. Martin of St. Helier ..................................................... 114
14. Deputy G.P. Southern : ............................................................... 114
15. Deputy S.M. Wickenden of St. Helier ............................................... 115
16. The Connétable of St. Ouen : ......................................................... 116

ADJOURNMENT ................................................................................. 118

[9:33]

The Roll was called and the Dean led the Assembly in Prayer. COMMUNICATIONS BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER

The Bailiff :

1. Welcome to His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor

On behalf of Members I would like to welcome His Excellency to the Chamber this morning.

2. Welcome to Members

Could I also welcome Members back to this first sitting after the summer recess? APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS, COMMITTEES AND PANELS

2. Resignation of Deputy J.H. Perchard of St. Saviour as a member of the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel.

The Bailiff :

I announce the resignation of Deputy Perchard from the membership of the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel.

QUESTIONS

3. Written Questions

1. Deputy K.F. Morel of St. Lawrence of the Minister of Health and Social Services in relation to the Safer Travel Programme: (WQ.282/2020).

Question

Will the Minister provide details of the following in respect of the Safer Travel programme at the Ports of Jersey –

1. the total budget for on-arrival testing;
2. the amount that has been spent to date on the testing in (a);
3. the number of people that have been tested to date;
4. the cost of testing per person; and
5. the total budget for the track and trace' scheme?

Answer

1. The business case for on-arrival testing for 1 July – 31 December 2020 requests funding of £17.938m. The funding has been approved by the Council of Ministers.
2. Direct expenditure totalling £2.559m has been recorded in the financial system from 1 July to 31 August. This includes costs associated with on-island testing as well as people arriving in the island, and incorporates clinical staff costs and costs for test processing. In addition, test processing costs for August are anticipated to be c£2.274m.

Due to the way in which it has been recorded, it is very difficult to split out the costs between testing for arriving passengers and testing Islanders.

3. Between 1 July and 31 August 2020, 57,102 on-arrival tests had been undertaken, along with 10,851 tests for Islanders seeking healthcare and/or essential workers.
4. Based on the above information, the average direct cost per test was £71. This comprises clinical staff (swabbers) and test processing costs.

5. The budget for Contact Tracing for May – December 2020 is £1.258m. In addition, the business case for Monitoring and Enforcement for 1 July – 31 December 2020 requests funding of £1.549m for monitoring and £0.378m for isolation measures. The funding has been approved by the Council of Ministers.

2. Deputy K.F. Morel of St. Lawrence of the Minister of Social Security in relation to Social Security contributions: (WQ.283/2020).

Question

Will the Minister provide details, in table format, of the following Social Security contributors for each quarter from Quarter 1 2018 to Quarter 2 2020 inclusive –

1. the number of Class 1 contributors; and
2. the number of Class 2 contributors;

and, furthermore, will the Minister provide details, in table format, of –

1. the amount of funds paid by each class of contributor for each quarter in question;
2. the average number of contributors for each of Class 1 and Class 2 for 2018, 2019 and to the end of Q2 for 2020; and
3. the annual totals of contributions paid by each class?

Answer

(1) (a) and (b)

Note that confirmed figures for 2020 are not yet available. These figures will be circulated to States Members once they have been confirmed.

Class 1 Contributors  Class 2 Contributors Year  Quarter  Month

Number  Number

Jan  49,177   4,212 A  Feb  49,243   4,135 Mar  49,524   4,098

Apr  50,284   4,293 B  May  50,479   4,219 Jun  51,063   4,190

2018  

Jul  51,420   4,333 C  Aug  51,217   4,249

Sep  50,760   4,240 Oct  50,236   4,436

D  Nov  50,363   4,360 Dec  50,089   4,334

2019  A  Jan  49,545   4,452

Feb  49,492   4,399 Mar  49,844   4,360

Apr  50,405   4,336 B  May  50,534   4,246 Jun  51,010   4,198

Jul  51,315   4,322 C  Aug  51,262   4,256 Sep  50,823   4,217

Oct  50,355   3,973 D  Nov  50,138   3,904 Dec  50,001   3,841

(2)

Note that confirmed figures for 2020 are not yet available. These figures will be circulated to States Members once they have been confirmed.

(a)

Apr  18,023  1,887 B  May  19,764  2,032 Jun  16,701  1,767

Jul  18,821  1,970 C  Aug  17,353  1,913 Sep  14,880  1,561

Oct  18,009  1,691 D  Nov  18,408  1,871 Dec  16,784  1,621

(b)

Note that confirmed figures for 2020 are not yet available. These figures will be circulated to States Members once they have been confirmed.

Average  Average

Monthly  Class  1  Monthly Class 2 Year  Contributors  Contributors

(Number)  (Number) 2018  50,321  4,258 2019  50,394  4,209

(c)

Note that confirmed figures for 2020 are not yet available. These figures will be circulated to States Members once they have been confirmed.

Total  Class  1  Total  Class  2 Year  Contributions  Contributions

(£,000s)  (£,000s) 2018  203,172  22,020 2019  210,737  21,704

3. Deputy K.F. Morel of St. Lawrence of the Minister for Social Security in relation to training courses: (WQ.284/2020).

Question

Will the Minister detail the number of training courses that have taken place for people registered as Actively Seeking Work, or who are otherwise out of work, since 1st April 2020, including the names of the courses, their length and the number of attendees on each one?

Answer

Training courses for registered Actively Seeking Work (ASW) jobseekers were impacted due to covid19 from March this year, no training courses have been able to be facilitated due to the lock- down and social distancing rules imposed. As Jersey moves through the safe exit framework, Back to Work appointments are now being arranged with actively seeking work clients. As normal service starts to resume, training courses will again be scheduled as part of the Back to Work offer.

4. Deputy J.H. Perchard of St Saviour of the Chief Minister in relation to shortlisted hospital sites: (WQ.285/2020).

Question

Will the Chief Minister advise –

1. which of the shortlisted hospital sites, if any, would require residents to leave their homes in order for the new hospital to be built;
2. whether it is planned that compulsory purchase orders will be issued in the event that any resident does not wish to leave their home;
3. how many people, if any, it is envisaged would need to leave their home for the new hospital to be built on the Five Oaks site;
4. whether any residents have been approached in relation to selling their home, having their home valued, or expressing their view on the placement of the new hospital on the Five Oaks site byany member or official of the Government or any person employed to work on any aspect of the new hospital development outside of Government or any person engaged informally on the matter; and
5. if so, who has approached these residents, under whose instruction did they do so and what those instructions were?  

Answer

1. It is not the Government of Jersey preferred approach to require residents to leave their homes in order for the new hospital to be built. As announced last week, the shortlist of locations under consideration for the hospital has been reduced from 5 sites to 2 and these are Overdale and People's Park. Detailed technical assessments are being undertaken on the two remaining sites and once this work is completed, it will be possible to confirm whether any residential properties will be directly affected.
2. It is hoped that any acquisition of land or property needed for the Our Hospital project can be achieved through negotiation and agreement. However, in some circumstances existing covenants or title issues may mean that compulsory purchase may be needed to acquire property to assemble a hospital site. Compulsory purchase that will require residents to leave their homes will not be the preferred approach of the Government of Jersey.
3. The Five Oaks site is no longer being considered for the Our Hospital project.
4. All the residents directly affected by the suggested site at Five Oaks were contacted prior to the original shortlist being announced. However, the Five Oaks site is no longer being considered.
5. The residents at Five Oaks were approached by a professional land agent acting on behalf of the Our Hospital project team. The land agent was instructed to inform the residents of the pending announcement of the shortlist. No agent or representative of the Government was instructed to inform owners that their property could be compulsory purchased.

5. Deputy G.J.Truscott of St. Brelade of the Minister for Treasury and Resources in relation to the hospital loan: (WQ.286/2020).

Question

In relation to funding the Our Hospital Project, will the Minister provide members with the estimated total of capital and interest repayments, assuming current interest rates, that would arise over the following periods on the basis of borrowing the entire amount (up to £1 billion) required to fund the project –

1. 30 years
2. 40 years
3. 50 years?"

Answer

The Our Hospital Project is not yet in a position to make a recommendation for consideration by States Members as to the site or total cost of funding the project.

The table below shows repayments at various interest rates over the periods requested and assumes that any funding is raised through the issuance of a public rated sterling bond which has a fixed annual interest cost and requires no capital repayments other than a single repayment in full at the maturity date.

The Minister wishes to make clear that, in answering this question, it is not intended that Our Hospital will cost anything close to £1 billion.

The interest is calculated on a capital sum of £1 billion and can be applied pro-rata for lower or higher capital amounts.

6. Senator K.L.   Moore  of  the  Chair  of  the  States  Employment  Board  in  relation  to employees earning more than £500 per day: (WQ.287/2020).

Question

Will the Chair provide a table identifying the number of people in each department (or independent body appointed by a Minister or the States Assembly) who are employed either under a fixed-term contract, or as an interim or consultant, and who are paid more than £500 per day, with the information broken down by each £100 over £500 and with a separate column to show the amount, if any, that the department or body in question distributes to such employees for additional expenses?

Answer

This information is provided to the States Assembly through the P.59/2019 Proposition which is issued every six months. The latest report was lodged on the 26th June 2020 covering the period July to December 2019. The next report for January to June 2020 is due to be lodged with the States Assembly by December 2020.

The report for July to December 2020 will be lodged with the States Assembly by June 2021, providing this information would take a considerable amount time to collate and reconcile data which would not be available within the timeframe of the response required.

/assemblyreports/2020/r.63-2020.pdf

7. Senator K.L. Moore of the Chair of the States Employment Board in relation to the sickness rate amongst Government employees: (WQ.288/2020).

Question

Will the Chair provide the sickness rate for the Government of Jersey for 2019 in the same format that it was expressed in the annual report and accounts for 2018 and previous years?

Answer

We measure the average number of days lost to sickness absence, known as average working days lost (AWDL), based on the number of full-time equivalent employees. In 2019 we had an AWDL of 5.6 days, a noticeable decrease from the 2018 figure of 8.9 days, which is broadly comparable with the trend in the UK public sector.

We continue to monitor the effectiveness of the Managing Attendance Policy which was reviewed in 2017 to ensure that it was being applied, as intended, to assist the sensitive management of attendance problems.

We also continued to promote employees' health and wellbeing through initiatives which led to the approval of a new employee wellbeing strategy aimed at supporting our workforce in the delivery of their roles and ultimately assisting with the reduction of sickness absence levels moving forward.

In the Annual Report and Accounts for 2019, the figures were not included in the same format as 2018 as they did not afford any cause for concern.

8. Senator K.L. Moore of the Chair of the States Employment Board in relation to vacancies amongst public sector employees: (WQ.289/2020).

Question

Will the Chair identify the number of staff in each department who have left the employment of the States of Jersey (or Government of Jersey) since January 2018 and the current number of vacancies, breaking the figures down by department and grade or tier?

Answer

The tables below reflect employees who have left the organisation, it doesn't include staff who've moved between departments.

Number of staff who have left the employment by Department

Number of staff who have left the employment by Department and Pay Group

Number of staff who have left the employment by Pay Group

Number of vacancies

9. Deputy J.H. Perchard of St. Saviour of the Minister for treasury and Resources in relation to the use of local businesses: (WQ.290/2020).

Question

In light of the requirements of Putting Jersey businesses first' (P.56/2020), as amended, will the Minister, as shareholder representative, provide details of –

1. all documentation (to include but not limited to minutes, e-mails and other procurement documents) in relation to the appointment of architects for the new Waterfront development;
2. the reasons for the appointment that has been made?

Answer

The process for the appointment of architects for the new development began some six months before P.56/2020 was debated and the appointment itself similarly took place before the debate.

In answer to part a) of the question, it is not appropriate to share confidential records of a procurement process. However, the Minister can say that, following the adoption of the Southwest St. Helier Planning Framework by the Environment Minister in December 2019, SoJDC commissioned the support of the Design Council in the process of selecting a designer for a Visionary Framework for the Waterfront.

With input and recommendations from the Design Council, SoJDC had sought expressions of interest from  targeted  architects and  landscape architects  (UK  and  European)  to  develop  a  Visionary Framework for Key Opportunity Sites 1, 2, 3 & 7 (forming the St. Helier Waterfront area).

SoJDC received 12 submissions and a selection panel comprising SoJDC team, the Design Council and a senior Government of Jersey representative reviewed the bids and agreed upon a short-list of four practices for the next stage.

The selection panel comprising those referenced above as well as a Commissioner of the Jersey Architecture Commission and another senior Government of Jersey representative, were asked to score the final proposals received. The selection panel were unanimous that the appointed firm had produced the most compelling vision for the Waterfront and should be selected as the designers.

In terms of the reasons for the appointment, part b) of the question, at a public consultation in September 2019, attendees had been unanimous in requesting that the new vision for the Waterfront should be landscape led, have a good mix of uses and create a destination. The appointed firm has landscape  architecture  at  its  heart  and  their  concept  positively  responds  to  the  initial  public comments.

Creating a new vision for the Waterfront area (comprising 15 acres) is a major undertaking and it is important that we have the right team in place. The appointed firm has extensive experience of designing and creating fantastic visions for significant areas of land which have been successfully developed out.

This phase of work will propose a new vision for the area however, this will not include the detailed design of each building. The appointment of future designers to design a particular building or series of buildings, will be tendered in the open market at a future date.

10. Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat of St. Helier of t he Chair of the States Employment Board in relation to Government employees: (WQ.291/2020).

Question

Will the Chair provide details of the following in respect of Government employees, excluding those working in Health and Community Services and Education –

1. the number of people employed in the following categories in January 2018 and the total cost to the Government of each category for that month –

1. Chief Officers or other A' Grades;
2. Other A' grades if not included in (a) above;
3. Grade 15;
4. Grade 14;
5. Any others above Grade 15 not included above;

2. the number of people employed in the following categories in July 2020 and the total cost to the Government of each category for that month –

1. Tier 1;
2. Tier 2;
3. Grade 15;
4. Grade 14;
5. Any others receiving a spot' salary;

3. the number of people in each category in (a) and (b) above that received a supplement payment; and
4. the total amount that was paid out in supplement payments in each category in (a) and (b) above, showing the division between pensionable and non-pensionable supplements?

Answer ( a )

( b )

( c )

( d )

*Supplement payments can be pensionable, non-pensionable or a combination of both

11. Senator S.C. Ferguson of the Minister for Infrastructure in relation to the purchase of a lease: (WQ.292/2020).

Question

Further to the presentation of R.87/2020 on 25th August 2020, and given that the States of Jersey owns properties that are currently unoccupied, will the Minister advise the Assembly –

1. why he has agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 168(1)(a), for the Public to enter into a lease for 4 Edward Place;
2. the cost of the lease on the property, as well as the length and terms of the lease; and
3. the length of time the property has been on the market?

Answer

1. In July 2020, Family Nursing and Home Care unexpectedly announced that it would be selling Gloucester Lodge. The HCS Alcohol & Drugs Service operates from these premises and it is home to some 25 staff. The Service was asked to find new accommodation by September 2020. As there was no rental agreement between Family Nursing and Jersey Property Holdings for Gloucester Lodge, the HCS Estates team was tasked to find suitable accommodation for the client-facing service relatively quickly. A solution for the Alcohol and Drugs Service has been identified and the service will be relocated to existing government estate at Maison Le Pape. With the relocation, the increased number of staff at Maison Le Pape, will mean not all of the current HCS services can operate from this building.

The HCS Estates team has engaged with the medical team that operates from Maison Le Pape – the Allan Lab, which delivers state of the art medical, virtual reality, teacher training. As this service is not client facing, the most viable option was deemed to be to relocate it to other premises.

4 Edward Place was identified as best fit for the Allan Lab relocation due to its close proximity to the general hospital. This meets a key requirement of the clinical team as the staff involved are on duty during training sessions and can be called back to the hospital for emergencies. As the property has a direct access link to the hospital, this was seen as an ideal solution. The facility also has the government networking infrastructure in place from a previous lease.

Other government facilities were looked into and ruled out for reasons such as distance from the hospital, cost effectiveness and space allocation.

2. £20,000 per annum. 5-year lease with annual break option.
3. 8 months (previous lease held for the Future Hospital design team).

12. Deputy T. Pointon of St. John of the Minister of Infrastructure in relation to traffic calming measures in Sion: (WQ.293/2020).

Question

Will the Minister advise the Assembly of the progress made, if any, in discussions with local residents in and around Sion in relation to reducing speed limits, introducing traffic-calming measures and safer crossing points on La Grande Route de St. Jean, which runs through the built up area of Sion?

Answer

Since May, officers from Growth Housing and Environment have been in discussion with local residents who are part of a local group representing the community of Sion. As the Deputy will be aware, the community spans residents in three different Parishes, so officers have also been in contact with all elected representatives of the area rather than dealing with one Parish in particular.

In July, a Transport Planner wrote to all elected representatives outlining the challenges faced in trying to introduce traffic calming or crossing points, but recommending that a 20mph speed limit is considered as the first step in making improvements and making the offer to parishes to start the process. This has been discussed by the Trinity Roads Committee who have confirmed their support. Officers have very recently attended a Roads Committee in St John where it was agreed that a further roundtable meeting should be arranged with stakeholders from all parishes as well as the residents of Sion. Discussions have not taken place with the Roads Committee of St Helier, as none of the roads in question fall within their boundary.

A wider improvement scheme has been entered into the Department's prioritisation for future funding and staff resource allocations. Additionally, there may be opportunity to implement some very minor improvements and a 20mph speed restriction alongside the next phase of the Speed Limit Review if agreement can be reached. Whilst ordinarily I would not consider implementing changes outside the parish speed limit review process, the way this community crosses the boundaries makes it appropriate to treat as a separate matter.

13. Connétable of St. Martin of the Minister for the Environment in relation to the Wildlife Law: (WQ.294/2020).

Question

Will the Minister provide an update on the drafting of the new Wildlife Law and the date when he expects to lodge the legislation?

Answer

The Ministerial Decision (MD-PE-2020-0066) to lodge the draft wildlife law for debate was signed Monday 7 September. The Proposition will be brought to the Assembly for debate once the appropriate lodging period according to standing orders has been met.

14. Connétable of St. Martin of the Minister for Treasury and Resources in relation to Independent Taxation: (WQ.295/2020).

Question

Will the Minister provide an update on the progress towards independent taxation and whether any aspects of the move have been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

Answer

The Treasury remains on track to implement a regime of independent taxation with effect from the 2022 year of assessment, subject to the approval of the States Assembly.

Further, planned, consultation on the issue has been deferred due to the Pandemic and the prioritisation of work on the proposal to remove the prior-year basis of paying taxes.

The "stepping-stone" measure (Proposition P.119/2019) to reform "married-people's taxation" has been deferred in part - to allow Treasury officers to accelerate the work on proposals to remove the prior-year basis of paying taxes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. For 2021, the Minister intends to lodge draft legislation to provide equal access to tax information for married people and civil partners. "Joint and several liability" in respect of tax obligations will be introduced later, alongside independent taxation.

15. Connétable of St. Martin of the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture in relation to financial support for further lockdowns: (WQ.296/2020).

Question

Will the Minister outline what financial and economic support mechanisms it is planned will be put in place should a second wave of COVID-19 lead to further lockdowns in the coming months?

Answer

We continue with our Respond, Recover and Renew approach to addressing the economic challenges we face now and in the future because of the pandemic. Government has intervened with a range of economy protecting measures and to address the Fiscal Policy Panel recommendations to: provide liquidity and cashflow measures through the introduction of the Business Disruption Loan Guarantee Scheme and deferrals for GST, Social Security, rent and utilities; to minimise the unnecessary contraction of employment through the Payroll Co-funding Scheme; to provide short-term support for individuals and households in hardship through the CRESS scheme and Income Support measures.

It is difficult to forecast how long this situation will last, what kind of recovery patterns we will see and therefore, where and how Government intervention will be required in the future. There are also some longer-term factors to consider in parallel in terms of the impact of a recession.

As such, and in addition to the initial response measure above, a fiscal stimulus package of £150m was announced in July with the aim boosting the economy and supporting key infrastructure in the aftermath of the pandemic, on the basis that Jersey, like other jurisdictions, is experiencing a sharp downturn in output, income and employment that requires significant Government spending to support and stimulate the economy into the future.

We have also begun to recover economic activity with a progressive, medically led Safe Exit Strategy, with substantial investment in test and trace' and to increase on-Island test capacity going forward. This is helping restore demand-led air and sea transport links, provide confidence to islanders and visitors that risks are being managed, encourage the normalisation of business activity, albeit at lower levels than desired due to health-driven restrictions.

Direct business advice, free at the point of delivery, is being provided through increased Government support to Jersey Business to provide an enhanced service including 1:1 professional support to businesses in crisis and to provide advice on how to horizon-scan and develop contingency plans in order to insulate SMEs against the possibility of a second wave and/or other resultant recessionary challenges and pressures.

We continue to work closely with industry leaders and sector representatives through the Economic Council and other groups, which provides external foresight and guidance of future recovery policy considerations.

Supplementing this work the Future Economy Programme is reviewing our existing economic evidence base in the light of the pandemic, filling gaps to provide better scope for data-driven policy development. Supply-Use Tables will be produced this year, which will be a powerful predictive tool for analysis of the Jersey economy in general and sector reports in hospitality and retail will allow for a more detailed forward planning against those sectors particularly impacted by the economic lockdown and how future risks can be mitigated.

There is significant work being undertaken on upskilling preparation, looking at what skills will be required post COVID by first understanding of the current skills landscape and mix in Jersey based on available data and scoping the ambition and needs on upskilling for the future economy, with a clear focus on precipitating productivity improvements.

Much work has and is being done that provides critical support infrastructure designed to provide the foundations to weather future economic storms. Whatever the future holds, there is little doubt that if we are to protect our economy, livelihoods and standard of living, we will need to continue to direct substantial investment towards the economic renewal and recovery from the long-lasting effects of the pandemic through the Government Plan and other recovery funding. Current interventions have so far proved effective and provide an ongoing framework for supporting the economy, that can be expanded or contracted as the economy requires and whilst future policies are developed that may identify new approaches.

The Government continues to take advice from business leaders and health experts and monitor the situation on an ongoing basis. The current Covid Strategy is under constant review and will frame the different aspects of response across government, depending on the status of infections in the coming weeks and months.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Cell (STAC) will continue to meet with the Chief Economist in attendance to provide balanced advice that factors in economic impacts.

The preparation that we are undertaking and the new internal Government and external organisational structure that we have right now in dealing with this current wave, provides a strong platform for Jersey to be able to deal with any second wave that might come, where we will be wiser, well organised and better prepared as a result of the successful, safe and pragmatic approach we have taken to date.

16. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Saviour of the Minister for Social Security in relation to the Disability Strategy: (WQ.297/2020).

Question

Further to the response to Oral Question 53/2020, in which it was stated that the next Disability Strategy Annual Progress Report would be published in May 2020, will the Minister advise whether the Progress Report has indeed been completed and, if so, where it may be found; and if the latest Progress Report has not yet been completed, will the Minster state when it will be published and what the estimated impact on people with disabilities is of the delay in this work?

Answer

When Oral Question 53/2020 was posed on the 25th February 2020 it was the intention to publish the Disability Strategy Annual Progress Report in May of this year.

In light of subsequent events, Government focus has necessarily remained on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, including additional support for disabled and other higher risk Islanders. Redeployment of key officers and public health restrictions that prevented the meeting of the implementation group, resulted in a delay on the delivery of the Disability Strategy and the production of the annual report.

Despite these challenges, progress has been made with the recruitment to the Disability Inclusion Officer Post and that the Learning Disability Cluster continues to meet virtually.

In addition, the Disability Strategy Implementation Group will meet later this month to understand the impact COVID 19 has had on disabled Islanders and the strategy.

The Disability Strategy Annual Progress Report will now be published by the end of this calendar year, subject to change should we need to move back through our Safe Exit Framework during the autumn and winter months.

While the delay has been unavoidable we now need to redouble our efforts to implement the strategy while considering the impact of COVID 19 on the whole community.

In terms of the impact, the delay caused by the pandemic has slowed the planned implementation of the strategy but it has also seen closer working between Government of Jersey Departments, Parishes and the Voluntary and Community Sector to support all vulnerable people during the pandemic.

17. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Savour of the Chair of the States Employment Board in relation to Non-Disclosure Agreements: (WQ.298/2020).

Question

Further to Written Question 213/2020, in response to which the Assembly was advised that the relevant information would be gathered by the end of June 2020, will the Chair advise how many non-disclosure agreements have been signed since 2000 between either individuals or companies and (i) each of the Government Departments and (ii) non-Ministerial bodies?

Answer

Non-disclosure agreements are not held centrally, searching for an accurate answer is a time-intensive exercise. As the majority of records are still paper-based and physically held in offices, COVID has significantly impacted on the ability for staff to be physically present to collate this information.

A request has been made to each Department for this activity to take place and for this work to be completed by December 2020.

18. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Saviour of the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture: (WQ.299/2020).

Question

In light of emerging research that shows women have been disproportionately affected by the economic impact of Covid-19, will the Minister advise whether an assessment has been undertaken in relation to women in Jersey; and will he state what action, if any, will be taken to mitigate any impact that has already been felt and to prevent any such imbalance in the future?  

Answer

No specific research has been carried out by the Economy team into the economic impact of Covid- 19 on women in Jersey. The Government's pandemic response measures were designed to protect the lives, livelihoods and wellbeing of all islanders, and the economic support schemes have been directed to support the island workforce as a whole. No gender specific measures are planned.

However, if Deputy Doublet would like to share the research she has access to on this matter, the Ministerial team of Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture can take it onto consideration and seek further advice.

19. Deputy K.F. Morel of St. Lawrence of the Minister for Health and Social Services in relation to PCR Testing: (WQ.300/2020).

Question

Will the Minister provide, in table format, the total cost to the Government of Jersey since the commencement of the pilot testing regime of –

1. polymerase chain reaction (P.C.R.) testing of people arriving in the Island (broken down by visitors and residents, including the number of each that have arrived); and
2. tracking and tracing people who have arrived in the Island (broken down by visitors and residents, including the number of each that have been covered by this programme)?

Answer

1. Direct expenditure totalling £2.559m has been recorded in the financial system from 1 July to 31 August. This includes costs associated with on-island testing as well as people arriving in the island, and incorporates clinical staff costs and costs for test processing. In addition, test processing costs for August are anticipated to be c£2.274m.

Due to the way in which it has been recorded, it is very difficult to split out the costs between testing for arriving passengers and testing Islanders.

Between 1 July and 31 August 2020, 57,102 on-arrival tests had been undertaken, along with 10,851 tests for Islanders seeking healthcare and/or essential workers. The arrivals testing figures are not collected by category of passenger.

2. The budget for Contact Tracing for May – December 2020 is £1.258m. In addition, the business case for Monitoring and Enforcement for 1 July – 31 December 2020 requests funding of £1.549m for monitoring and £0.378m for isolation measures. The funding has been approved by the Council of Ministers.

A total of 45 individuals have tested positive for Covid-19 upon arrival as part of the Safer Travel programme. Of those:

  26 were Jersey residents

  19 were non-Jersey resident.

There were a total of 421 direct contacts.

20. Deputy K.F. Morel of the Chief Minister in relation to the Team Jersey Project: (WQ.301/2020).

Question

Will the Chief Minister provide the following information in relation to TDP Consulting –

1. the amount paid for its work on the Team Jersey project to date;
2. the amount, if any, paid for other projects or workstreams; and
3. if payments have been made under (b) above, the identity of the other projects or workstreams and the breakdown of costs for each one?

Answer

The amount paid to TDP Consulting to the end of August 2020 for the Team Jersey project is :

In addition, TDP Consulting have undertaken the following three pieces of work (the following figures include both contract payments and expenses to the end of August 2020) :

21. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Minister for Treasury and Resources in relation to current year taxation: (WQ.302/2020).

Question

In light of the proposal to move all taxpayers who pay Income Tax on a prior-year basis to pay on a current-year basis, will the Minister state what the anticipated impact would be on income to the States of waiving the first proportion of remaining tax owed for 2019 at the following levels –

1. £1,000;
2. £2,000; and
3. £3,000?

Answer

Based on the latest information held (in respect of the 2018 year of assessment), the estimated impact on States income of waiving the first proportion of tax owed as indicated in the question is as follows:-

This assumes no retrospective repayment to former prior year basis taxpayers or current year basis taxpayers.

22. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Minister for the Environment in relation to air pollution: (WQ.303/2020).

Question

Further to the response to Written Question 219/2020, will the Minister provide an update on any progress made in respect of air pollution monitoring; will he state whether the project to install Island- wide monitoring remains at a halt due to the Government's response to Covid-19 and, if not, when the project will have been completed to allow for real-time air pollution monitoring to take place?

Answer

In terms of installation of additional and replacement monitoring equipment the programme remains at  a  halt  due to  the  Government's  response  to Covid-19.  However  work  has  continued  with development of newer versions of the equipment. For example later models will have a more robust enclosure, better to handle the sometimes harsh environment near the coast. Work with the machine learning software also continues to improve the accuracy of those monitors already installed. The project is pushing boundaries in many areas, and as such will be continually improving. I am keen to recommence the installation of monitors as soon as circumstances allow. The nature of the "mesh" is that accuracy is increased as more monitors are added. It should be noted that our existing monitoring programme continues to run in parallel to ensure our data is maintained.

23. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Minister for Home Affairs in relation to disciplinary procedures: (WQ.304/2020).

Question

To what extent is the Minister made aware of the outcomes of any disciplinary procedure undertaken at any level within his portfolio and what details, if any, is the Minister given regarding incidences of whistle-blowing'?

Answer

As Minister, I am notified of any disciplinary procedure, whistleblowing or significant investigations concerning employees in Tiers One and Two through regular Ministerial briefings by the Director General.

Where it is not appropriate for the Director General to undertake this, the Chief Executive or Group Director of People and Corporate Services will provide the briefings.

In line with the Government procedures on whistleblowing and disciplinary matters, I am initially notified of the existence of such a complaint. I am kept informed of the stages of any investigation and timetable and the outcome of any such formal processes.

24. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Chair of the States Employment Board in relation to attendance policies: (WQ.305/2020).

Question

In view of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant need for workers in the public sector to take extra care in relation to any illness from which they may suffer, and the extra absence from work that may arise, how will attendance policies be applied to address these circumstances and what changes, if any, will be made to those policies?

Answer

No changes have been made to the managing attendance policy as a result of Covid-19.

During the different stages of the Government's response, and in line with guidance from the Deputy Medical Officer for Health, the Government issued additional guidance on how to support employees absent as a result of Covid-19 requirements. This included absences related to individuals shielding or with caring responsibilities who were unable to work from home, those who are required to isolate as a result of contact with Covid-19 cases, those with symptoms, those with childcare responsibilities etc. Such leave was recorded as special leave and not under the managing attendance policy.

The guidance (see link below) was updated regularly, including when clarifications were sought by managers, employees or trade unions or when public health advice was updated.

https://www.gov.je/working/workingforthestates/coronavirusemployees/pages/frequentlyaskedquestionsforgo vernmentemployees.aspx

25. Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier of the Chair of the Comité des Connétable s in relation to total funding per Parish: (WQ.306/2020).

Question

How much has each Parish paid towards funding the activities of the Comité des Connétable s in each year since 2016?

Answer

In relation to the activities of the Comité des Connétable s, being the contribution to the Comité office, the information is recorded in the Comité's minutes which are available online at https://parish.gov.je/Pages/Comité-des- Connétable s.aspx.

18 July 2016 - £6,250 per parish 10 July 2017 - £6,635 per parish 16 July 2018 - £7,265 per parish 15 July 2019 - £8,840 per parish

The budget for 2020 has not yet been finalised so the contribution per parish has not been set.

The office costs fund the employment of staff (an increase in hours is the reason for the higher contribution in 2018 and 2019), premises, equipment and supplies.

The office supports the Comité des Connétable s, the Supervisory Committee and Rate Appeal Board (established under the Rates (Jersey) Law 2005), the Comité des Chefs de Police and the Jersey Honorary Police Association (established by the Honorary Police (Jersey) Regulations 2005) and all twelve parishes in their statutory functions.

26. Connétable of St. Helier of the Minister for Infrastructure in relation to seaweed removal: (WQ.307/2020).

Question

Will the Minister advise what the cost to his department has been this year of removing and processing seaweed and what the cost was last year; and will he explain whether or not he has assessed the programme to be successful and what changes, if any, he proposes to make to the programme next year?

Answer

St Aubin's Bay sea lettuce removal and disposal costs for the 2019 season and 2020 year-to-date are as follows:

As the Connétable will know from previous answers given in reply to written and oral questions on this subject, the presence, timing and density of sea lettuce in St Aubin's Bay each summer season varies daily and is dependent on several factors. Its occurrence in the Bay affects all four Parishes that front the beach with the worst affected areas often being the St Helier frontage. As a result my Department's removal and processing programme is to a large degree reactive using a number of techniques to meet the circumstances.

This season, which still has a couple of weeks to run, has seen the harvesting' technique developed by the Department in 2018 and 2019 become the pro-active measure in doing what we can to remove as much of the early season growth as possible.

Up to the week commencing 10th August, these actions had coped with the presence of general light deposits of sea lettuce with the collected clean green' material being taken to the Green Waste site for composting. The quantity collected in the main matching the site's maximum weekly processing capacity of 80 tonnes of sea lettuce.

The presence of heavy deposits on the tide line at the end of the first week in August coinciding with a week of neap tides, resulted in calls to the Department to take action at a time when tidal conditions didn't allow the landing craft, previously used for loading from the beach, to operate.

As a result of an urgent meeting between the skipper of the Normandy Trader' and the GHE Assistant Manager – Highways & Beaches, a trial to load and operate the vessel from the old lifeboat slipway' in St Helier harbour was agreed and permission given by Ports of Jersey for this to take place. Although additional transportation costs by trucking the collected sea lettuce by road were incurred, the dumping at sea operation was more efficient as 2 – 3 trips per day were possible compared with only one from the beach.

Some additional clearance work took place at West Park during the first week of September using contractors and the landing craft with estimated costs included in the table above.

This revised method of disposal does provide the Department with more options in future years for dealing with heavy deposits not suitable for composting or the other new disposal route of taking clean green harvested' sea lettuce directly for spreading onto pre-arranged and suitable agricultural land for use as a top dressing organic growth stimulant if spread thinly on approved land.

At the time of this written answer, both new methods have so far been seen to be very successful. As with most things, they come with a financial cost at a time when there are calls for budget reductions as a result of essential Covid-19 actions however the Department will as always do its upmost to use its available funds and physical resources to support the Island's best interests.  

In summary, the options available to my GHE Municipal Services section for 2021 are:

. * FEPA Licence = Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (Jersey) Order 1987 – Licence to carry out work

For 2021 my Department will prepare to use any of the above as the situation dictates. They continue to look for more efficient ways, both in cost and environmental impact, to deal with this problem.

One area under development is a simple method to reduce the sea water content of harvested' sea lettuce before it is transported from the beach either for spreading on agricultural land or for composting. This would reduce the bulk being transported and remove a significant amount of salt water which is a major problem and hinders any process. Work on developing a prototype machine will continue over the winter with trials hopefully being undertaken early in the 2021 season.

It should be noted however that this seasonal problem will continue to exist while the Island's water courses and water supply are at the top end of the nitrate scale that flow into a perfectly formed bay for the growth of sea lettuce. In addition the wider marine environment of the Bay of St Malo, in which Jersey is situated, has a high base level of nitrates, due in part to the French agricultural industry and, as we are in a period of climate change that sees sea temperatures likely to rise, the problem will continue for some years to come.

27. Connétable of St. Helier of the Minister of the Environment in relation to artificial fertilisers and pesticides: (WQ.308/2020).

Question

Will the Minister state whether records are maintained on the import of fertilisers and, if so, what quantities of artificial fertilisers and pesticides used in the Island have been imported annually in each of the last five years, as well as the estimated cost to the agricultural industry of these imports?

Answer

The quantity of fertiliser imported has only been collected since last year and is only collected for commercial users. The total weight of fertilisers imported by commercial users into Jersey in 2019 was 4,072 tonnes.

The quantity of pesticides imported during the past five years by commercial users was;

The value of the imports of fertiliser and pesticides is not collected.

28. Deputy S.M. Ahier of St. Helier of the Minister for Treasury and Resources in relation to Tax Payers: (WQ.329/2020).

Question

Will the Minister advise the Assembly –

1. how many people have ceased through retirement to pay Income Tax on a prior-year basis over each of the last 10 years; and
2. how many years it is estimated it would take for all taxpayers to pay Income Tax on a current- year basis through natural progression in this way?

Answer

1. When people who pay tax on a prior year basis (PYB) retire they remain on that basis of payment, so no taxpayers have ceased to be PYB taxpayers on retirement. In addition, when people that pay tax on a current year basis (CYB) retire they become PYB taxpayers.

The Challenge that PYB taxpayers have at retirement is the payment of the tax on their previous year's income out of what is usually far less retirement income than that prior year employment income. In the event that the Assembly agrees the move to CYB, this significant challenge would be removed.

2. The CYB basis of paying tax will not therefore occur naturally. It should also be noted that self- employed people and all pensioners pay tax on a PYB.

29. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier of the Minister for Children and Housing in relation to complaints procedure: (WQ.311/2020).

Question

Will the Minister –

1. set out in detail the complaints procedure that is available to all users of the Children's Service, including each step in the procedure and the details of who hears any complaints and how they do so;
2. detail the number of complaints made about the Service over each of the last 5 years;
3. state the average time it takes for a complaint to be heard;
4. explain what quality assurance of the complaints-handling process has been undertaken, if any, and if such quality assurance has occurred, by whom and when it was undertaken; and
5. provide details of any inspection reports on the running of the complaints-handling process followed by the Service?

Answer

1. As part of the One Government approach, the Customer Feedback Policy has been developed and sets out how all service users are able to express their views about how our services are provided. This policy does not cover feedback about services that were provided over 12 months prior to the feedback being received. There are three levels of complaint handling which have been listed below:

• Stage 1 - Frontline complaint handling and early resolution of complaints Timescale - up to 5 working days from point of escalation
• Stage 2 - Escalation to team leader or manager for issues that require further investigation or are complex/serious/high risk Timescale - up to 10 working days from point of escalation
• Stage 3 - Escalation to Director General if issue is still not resolved after stage 2. The Director General can include or refer the complaint to another Director General or an independent third party, if appropriate. Timescale - up to 10 working days from point of escalation

The service encourages complaints to be resolved as quickly as possible so encourages islanders to contact their Team Managers in the first instance with the option for contacting the Head of Service. The website provides a contact number for the Head of Service and also a link to an online complaints form.

2. The below table shows the number of complaints over past 5 years.

Historically up until 2020 the service has used Datix, a data management system managed by Health and Community Services, this was used to capture all feedback across Children's Service. Since 2020, we have moved across to the Customer Feedback Management System, CFMS.

The data from CFMS shows that there are 12 complaints against Children's Services for 2020.

3. The Customer Feedback Policy gives clear timescales for when complaints should be handled. It is acknowledged that during 2020 most complaints are responded to outside the timeframe specified. Children's social care complaints in Children, Young People and Education can be significantly more complex requiring a more specialist level of investigation at stage 2 or 3 and therefore take longer to conclude. In these cases, the service user must be kept informed of any extended timescales and progress throughout.

The average time for a complaint to be heard is unable to be determined due to the multi- faceted approach that forms the complaint process these include interviews, independent inspection of files and multi-agency inputs.

4. The service currently aims to respond to all complaints within 25 working days. If the complaint is likely to be overdue, then timely liaison with the complainant is encouraged. Currently complaints come in via CFMS go to the Principal Social Worker and are allocated to the appropriate Team Manager for investigation in consultation with their Head of Service, Director of Safeguarding and Care, and depending on the complexity, the Director General of CYPES.

Complaint responses are quality assured by the Head of Service prior to being sent out.

Children's Social Care have recently appointed a Quality Assurance Manager who will oversee all feedback with her team, including the development of a quarterly report to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) on findings and lessons to be learned from complaints.

5. There are no inspection reports on the running of the complaints-handling process followed by the Service.

30. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier of the Minister for Children and Housing in relation to investigation and reports for Childrens Service: (WQ.312/2020).

Question

In order that a comparison can be made and to assess the progress achieved in Children's Services, will the Minister provide a summary of all the investigations that have been carried out into the Service over the last 5 years (in the order that they reported and including the key findings and recommendations from any resultant report), including internet links to any published reports and details of any reports that have not been published?

Answer

I  regret  that  I  am  not  able  to  provide  the  information  the   Deputy  has  requested  in  the limited timeframe available, due to circumstances beyond my control.

I offer the Deputy my apologies and undertake to provide the information to all States members as soon as possible.

31. Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier of the Minister of the Environment in relation to enforcement actions: (WQ.313/2020).

Question

Will the Minister –

1. state the number of enforcement actions which have been carried out by his department over the last two years, together with details of what those actions were and the outcome;
2. explain what measures are in place to ensure his department acts consistently and impartially in issuing enforcement notices or stop notices; and
3. explain whether it is his assessment that the enforcement actions undertaken by his department, and the processes followed, are satisfactory?

Answer

In answering this question it has been assumed that the Deputy is referring to the planning enforcement team, and not another part of the Minister's regulatory department.

1. The formal enforcement actions served by the planning team are held in a register on the government website https://www.gov.je/PlanningBuilding/AppealsComplaints/Pages/UnauthorisedWorkCompla int.aspx#anchor-0
2. Enforcement notices and Stop Notices are only issued following an investigation by officers of the department. In accordance with the department's published enforcement policy landowners are frequently (but not always) given an opportunity to correct any breaches prior to the service of a Notice. In accordance with article 40 of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law, a Notice is only served if it is considered "expedient" to do so. This requires the careful exercise of judgement and all cases are brought before a senior officer for checking. In the absence of a dedicated manager for the team, the Director (Development Control) has performed this function since the beginning of 2020.
3. The Minister is satisfied that the actions and processes of the department are satisfactory. It has been previously stated that the Minister would prefer additional resource to be applied in this area of work, so that response times can be shortened. Currently, the team is being temporarily supplemented with an additional planning officer. The longer term resourcing action sits with the acting Director-General, who is addressing this as part of the department's target operating model.