States Minutes 23rd November 1982

THE STATES assembled on Tuesday, 23rd  November,  1982  at  10.15 a.m. under  the  Presidency  of  the   Bailiff , Sir Frank Ereaut.

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His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, General Sir Peter Whiteley, G.C.B., O.B.E., was present. _____

All members were present with the exception of –

Senator Jane Patricia Sandeman – ill.

Senator John Stephen Rothwell – out of the Island.

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Prayers. _____

Subordinate legislation tabled.

The following enactment was laid before the States, namely –

Pilotage (Dues) (Amendment No. 6) (Jersey) Order, 1982. R. & O. 7119.

Statistical Digest.

The Finance and Economics Committee by Act dated 17th November, 1982, presented to the States a Statistical Digest.

THE STATES ordered that the said Digest be printed and distributed.

Overseas  Trade  Promotions  by  Local  Industry:  financial assistance. R.C.19/82.

The Finance and Economics Committee by Act dated 17th November,  1982,  presented  to  the  States  a  report  on  Overseas Trade Promotions by Local Industry: financial assistance.

313  [ Price : 50p.]

THE STATES ordered that the said Report be printed and distributed.

Matters noted – land transactions.

THE STATES noted an Act of the Finance and Economics Committee dated 17th November, 1982 showing that in pursuance of Standing Orders relating to certain transactions in land, the Committee had approved –

1. as recommended by the Defence Committee, the leasing to the Muzzle Loader Association of Great Britain (Jersey) Branch of approximately
   88. vergées of land at Field 116, Crabbé, St. Mary , required as a Muzzle Loader Firing Range, for a period of 8 years, with effect from 25th December, 1982, at an annual rent of £50, with rent reviews at the end of the third and sixth years of the lease, and also to grant the right of access over the track leading to Field 116;
2. as recommended by the Housing Committee, with the support of the Island Development Committee, the purchase from Mr. Leslie Arthur Gray of approximately 800 square feet of land at the rear of 37 Poonah Road, St. Helier , shown coloured Red on Drawing No. 2547/001F, for a total consideration of £1,200 (representing a rate of £1.50 a square foot), required to facilitate the development of both 33/35 Poonah Road and, in due course, Clare Cottages, Clare Street, St. Helier , and subject to the Committee's being responsible for the payment of the vendor's scale legal fees, the reinstatement where necessary of any damage caused during the demolition of the boundary wall presently separating 37 Poonah Road from the property under the Committee's administration and the construction of a block wall, cement rendered, to a height of not less than six feet, measured from the normal surface of the garden of 37 Poonah Road;
3. as recommended by the Public Works Committee, the lease from the undermentioned owners of land required in connexion with the extension of the public cliff path from La Saline Quarry to Bonne Nuit, in each case for a period of nine years with effect from 1st January, 1983, in consideration of a once only payment of £10, namely –

1. La Saline Quarry Limited, a small strip of land for the construction of a public cliff path near La Saline, St. John ;
2. Mr. John Charles Bailhache and Mrs. Laura Maud Le Ruez, née Bailhache , his sister, a strip of land for the construction of a public cliff path near La Saline, St. John ;
3. Mr. Vernon Amy Tomes, a strip of land for the construction of a public cliff path near Wolf's Caves, St. John ;
4. Bonne Nuit Chalet Hotel Limited, a strip of land for the construction of a public cliff path at Frémont, Bonne Nuit, St. John .

Matter noted – financial transaction.

THE STATES noted an Act of the Finance and Economics Committee dated 17th November, 1982, showing that in pursuance of Rule 5 of the Public Finances (General) (Jersey) Rules, 1967, as amended, the Committee had noted that the Fort Regent Development Committee had accepted the lowest of eight tenders, namely that submitted by Charles Le Quesne (1956) Limited in the sum of £92,628 in a contract period of 18 weeks for the extension to the Fort Regent Main Reception building.

Matters lodged.

The following subjects were lodged "au Greffe" –

1. Draft Hire Cars (Jersey) Regulations, 198 . P.160/82.

Presented by the Defence Committee. The States decided to take this subject into consideration on 7th December, 1982.

2. Health Insurance Scheme: Report and Proposition. P.161/82.

Presented by the Social Security Committee.

The following subjects were lodged "au Greffe" on 16th November, 1982 –

1. Aircraft Noise Zones. P.155/82.

Presented by the Island Development Committee. The States decided to take this subject into consideration on 7th December, 1982.

2. Rezoning of land at Field 524, St. Lawrence . P.156/82.

Presented by the Island Development Committee.

3. Draft States of Jersey (Amendment No. ) Law, 198 . P.157/82.

Presented by Deputy Terence John Le Main of St. Helier . The States decided to refer the draft Law to the Legislation Committee.

4. Draft Parish Rate (Administration) (Amendment No. 4) (Jersey) Law, 198 . P.158/82.

Presented by the Supervisory Committee. The States decided to take this subject into consideration on 7th December, 1982.

5. Draft Parish Rate (Jersey) Law, 198 . P.159/82. Presented by the Supervisory Committee. The States decided to take this subject into consideration on 7th December, 1982.

Draft Milk (Sale to Special Classes) (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Regulations, 198 . P.154/82.

THE STATES acceded to the request of the President of the Social Security Committee that the draft Milk (Sale to Special Classes) (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Regulations, 198 be considered immediately after the draft Social Security (Amendment No. 3) (Jersey) Law, 198 (P.151/82) at the present Sitting.

Health Insurance Scheme: Report and Proposition. P.161/82.

THE STATES rejected the request of the President of the Social Security Committee that the Health Insurance Scheme: Report and Proposition (P.161/82 – lodged on 23rd November, 1982) be considered on 7th December, 1982.

Draft Children (Amendment No. 4) (Jersey) Law, 198 . P.152/82.

THE STATES acceded to the request of the President of the Education Committee that consideration of the draft Children (Amendment No. 4) (Jersey) Law, 198 (lodged on 9th November, 1982) be deferred from the present Sitting.

Age limit for sale of alcohol. Question and answer.

Deputy Sir Martin Le Quesne of St. Saviour asked Deputy Alfred Durell Le Brocq of St. John , Vice-President of the Tourism Committee, the following question –

"Can the Vice-President confirm that a Sub-Committee of the Committee has been in discussion with the Chamber of Commerce on the possibility of reducing the age limit for the sale of alcohol to 17 years?"

The Vice-President of the Tourism Committee replied as follows –

"In the absence of the President on States business I am happy, as Vice-President and Chairman of the Sub-Committee appointed to review the Licensing Law, to have the opportunity of putting the record right, particularly in view of the misleading impression which appears to have been given to the public by statements made by the media and, in particular, to the possible reduction in the age limit for the sale of alcohol.

One such statement was made in a report on the findings of the Guernsey Committee which has been studying possible changes in the Law in that Island, comparing the recommendations in that Report and, I quote, to the sweeping changes advocated in Jersey'. I repeat, to the sweeping changes advocated in Jersey'.

I don't know what crystal ball the announcer of this item of misinformation had been studying but the fact is that the Sub-Committee is not advocating anything! We are still considering the many opinions and views which we have and are receiving.

It is generally accepted that anomalies exist in the present Law, which was adopted in 1974, which should be rectified and various views having been expressed the Sub-Committee felt that it would be appropriate to review the Law in detail in the light of the circumstances and requirements of the 1980s.

Accordingly, through the press, Associations, Societies and, in fact, anyone, having views or opinions, were invited to submit their suggestions to the Sub-Committee and were also invited, if they so wished, to meet the Sub-Committee.

As a result the Committee met representatives of the following bodies –

Centeniers Association

Jersey Restaurateurs Association Wholesale Wine and Spirit Merchants Jersey Hotel and Guest House Association Connétable s of St. Helier and St. Saviour Jersey Licensed Victuallers Association States Police

Jersey Chamber of Commerce.

In addition, the views of the Licensing Assembly were sought and are being considered together with matters raised in letters which have been received from Associations, Societies and individuals not asking to meet the Sub- Committee.

In total the number of points raised was over 70 although, of course, many of the suggestions were similar.

The Sub-Committee is in the process of considering all the points submitted and will, in due course, be submitting a Report to the Full Committee. It will then be a matter for that Committee to decide what recommendations for amending the Law it will present to the States.

The  Sub-Committee  is  grateful  for  the  response to its request and for the variety of suggestions submitted.

But I would emphasize once again it is totally wrong to say at this preliminary stage of our considerations that we are advocating sweeping changes'.

It will be for the Tourism Committee to decide what changes it will recommend to the States, and of course, the adoption or rejection of any recommendations which might be made is the ultimate decision of this House."

St. John 's Village Development Scheme Phase II – Loan to Parish.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Finance and Economics Committee, granted to the Parish of St. John a loan required in connexion with the development of Phase II of the St. John 's Village Development Scheme, in an amount not exceeding £470,000, for a maximum period of 45 weeks, at a rate of interest equivalent to 10 per cent a year.

First Tower School Extensions.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Education Committee –

1. approved Drawings Nos. 2717/5A, 2717/6B, 2717/7A, 2717/8A, 2717/19A, 2717/20 and 2717/22 showing the proposed extensions to First Tower School;
2. authorised the Greffier of the States to sign the said Drawings on behalf of the States.

St. Clement 's School Alterations.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Education Committee –

1. approved Drawings Nos. 2487/9A, 2487/10A, 2487/WD/32, 2487/WD/33, 2487/WD/34 and 2487/WD/37 showing the proposed alterations to St. Clement 's School;
2. authorised the Greffier of the States to sign the said Drawings on behalf of the States.

St. Mark's School Alterations.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Education Committee –

1. approved Drawings Nos. 2172/45, 2172/46 and 2172/47 showing the proposed alterations to St. Mark's School;
2. authorised the Greffier of the States to sign the said Drawings on behalf of the States.

Psycho-Geriatric Unit at St. Saviour 's Hospital – plans.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Public Health Committee –

1. approved Drawings Nos. 2661/5 to 2661/10 showing the construction of a Psycho-Geriatric Unit at St. Saviour 's Hospital, comprising two 30-bed units and a day care centre;
2. authorised the Greffier of the States to sign the said Drawings on behalf of the Committee.

Public Lotteries Board – appointment of member.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Gambling Control Committee appointed Mr. Derek Arthur Wallis as a member of the Public Lotteries Board, in pursuance of Regulation 3 of the Gambling (Channel Islands Lottery) (Jersey) Regulations, 1975.

Draft Amendment (No. 4) to the Tariff of Harbour and Light Dues.

THE STATES, in pursuance of Article 6 of the Harbour and Light Dues (Jersey) Law, 1947, as amended, approved the draft Amendment (No. 4) to the Tariff of Harbour and Light Dues.

Social Security (Amendment No. 3) (Jersey) Law, 1982.

THE STATES, subject to the sanction of Her Most Excellent Majesty in Council, adopted a Law entitled the Social Security (Amendment No. 3) (Jersey) Law, 1982.

Milk (Sale to Special Classes) (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Regulations, 1982.

THE STATES, by virtue and in exercise of the powers conferred on them by the Order in Council of the fourteenth day of April, 1884, made Regulations entitled the Milk (Sale to Special Classes) (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Regulations, 1982.

Parish Assemblies: Deputies' right to speak.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of Deputy Terence John Le Main of St. Helier , charged the Legislation Committee to present to the States the necessary legislation to extend to Deputies the right to speak in the Parish Assemblies in the respective Parishes in which they are elected to the States.

THE STATES rose at 11.35 a.m.

E.J.M. POTTER, Greffier of the States.