States Minutes 17th November 1987

THE STATES assembled on Tuesday, 17th November, 1987 at 10.15 a.m. under the Presidency of the Bailiff ,

Sir Peter Crill, C.B.E. ____________

All members were present with the exception of –

Senator Reginald Robert Jeune – out of the Island. Senator Bernard Thomas Binnington – out of the Island.

Winter Chevalier de Gruchy, Connétable of St. Martin – ill.

Leonard Picot, Connétable of Trinity – out of the Island. Michael Adam Wavell, Deputy of St. Helier – ill.

____________

Prayers read by Deputy Greffier ____________

Subordinate legislation tabled.

The following enactment was laid before the States, namely –

Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Jersey) Order, 1987. R & O 7691.

Statistical Digest.

The Finance and Economics Committee by Act dated 6th November, 1987, presented to the States the Statistical Digest.

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

397   Price : 75p

Matter noted – land transaction.

THE STATES noted an Act of the Finance and Economics Committee dated 6th November, 1987, showing that in pursuance of Standing Orders relating to certain transactions in land, the Committee had approved, as recommended by the Education Committee, the leasing from St. Saviour 's Church Ward ens of 2.775 vergées of land known as Field 614, St. Saviour , on which were sited the school swimming pool, part of a temporary classroom and play area at St. Saviour 's School, for a period of 21 years with effect from 25th December, 1987, with the option to renew for a further period of 21 years, at an annual rent of £200 a vergée, with rent reviews every five years in line with the cost of living index.

Matters lodged.

The following subjects were lodged "au Greffe" –

1. Draft Jersey Gas Company (Jersey) Law, 198 . P.180/87.

Presented by the Finance and Economics Committee.

2. 12 Duhamel Place, St. Helier : approval of drawings. P.181/87.

Presented by the Housing Committee. The States decided to take this subject into consideration on 8th December, 1987.

3. 27 Hill Street, St. Helier : purchase of lease. P.182/87.

Presented by the Public Works Committee. The States decided to take this subject into consideration on 8th December, 1987.

4. St. Peter 's Youth and Community Centre: caretaker's flat. P.183/87.

Presented by the Island Development Committee.

5. Draft  Dentists (Registration) (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law, 198 . P.184/87.

Presented by the Public Health Committee.

6. Draft Health Insurance (Medical Benefit) (Amendment No. 31) (Jersey) Regulations, 198 . P.185/87.

Presented by the Social Security Committee. The States decided to take this subject into consideration on 8th December, 1987.

7. Strategic oil reserves. P.186/87.

Presented by the Resources Recovery Board.

8. Draft Collective Investment Funds (Jersey) Law,198 . P.187/87.

Presented by the Finance and Economics Committee. The States decided to take this subject into consideration on 8th December, 1987.

Refuge for battered wives. P.145/87.

THE STATES acceded to the request of Deputy Corrie Stein of Grouville that the Proposition regarding a refuge for battered wives (lodged on 25th August, 1987 and referred to the Elizabeth House Committee) be considered on 8th December, 1987.

New Museum – Société Jersiaise and Jersey Heritage Trust. P.174/87.

THE STATES acceded to the request of the President of the Public Works Committee that the Proposition relating to the New Museum – Société Jersiaise and Jersey Heritage Trust (lodged on 3rd November, 1987) be moved to the first item of Public Business at the present Sitting.

Territorial Army Unit. Questions and answers.

Deputy Dereck André Carter of St. Helier asked Senator Richard Joseph Shenton, President of the Defence Committee, the following questions –

"1. The Defence Committee has been charged by the

States to make recommendations as to what type of Territorial Army Unit should be set up as the Island's contribution towards United Kingdom Defence.

In view of the advertisement which appeared in last Thursday's paper calling for volunteers to form the new Jersey Squadron RE(V)' to be ... established in Jersey ... at a Jersey TA Centre.' could the President inform the House as to which body will take, or has taken, the final decision about the Jersey TA Unit – this House, his Committee – or the Royal Engineers?

2. During the debate on the TA Unit several members of the House, including the proposer made it clear they believed that the best type ofTA Unit for Jersey was an Infantry Company.

Will the President assure the House that this option has been given the same detailed consideration (including visits to this type of Unit) as has the Royal Engineers option apparently now favoured by the Ministry of Defence?

3. If no visit has been made to an Infantry Unit, will the President undertake to do so and to give this option full consideration before making his report and recommendations to the States?
4. If the final decision as to the form of the Jersey TA Unit' is to be taken by the States, what course of action does the President advise for those members of the public who are considering joining it – should they Join the Royal Engineers TA' as advertised or wait until they know what type of Unit is approved?"

The President of the Defence Committee replied as follows –

"Once the House had decided in principle that the Island should raise a Territorial Army Unit the type of Unit to be raised was a matter for agreement with the Ministry of Defence and the Committee, based on what was required by the Ministry to fill the British Army Order of Battle, and what was viable for the Island.

Advice was taken from the Director of Reservists and Cadets (Brigadier K. Prosser) and the Deputy Commander South-West District (Brigadier M.J. Evans ADC) both of whom visited the Island in May this year.

Because an Infantry Unit had originally been proposed the possibility of forming an Infantry Company was discussed with them. They commented as follows –

1. There were no suitable training areas of sufficient size to train an Infantry Unit in the Island.
2. There are no independent Infantry Companies in the Army and the Unit would form part of a TA Battalion which trains with other Arms and Services, Armour and Artillery for example.
3. Because of the need to carry out Battalion and all Arms training out of the Island virtually all training would have to be done in the United Kingdom.

Since it was apparent that the setting up of an Infantry Unit was not viable, at this early stage no visit was made to a TA Infantry Unit in the United Kingdom nor is any visit planned.

The Ministry of Defence have a shortage of TA Medical Units and Engineer Units. Both of these were studied but there was a total lack of interest by Doctors in the Island for a Medical Unit so that option was ruled out. This left the remaining Engineer option. As a result of the visit of the RE Mobile Display Team to the Island in August any doubt that there would be sufficient volunteers for such a Unit was dispelled.

The Engineer Squadron option which the Defence Committee and the Ministry of Defence favour has the following advantages –

1. There are already a number ofTA Engineers in the Island on which to build a local Unit.
2. The training areas required are more limited than an Infantry Unit, and hands on' training could be carried out locally.
3. When formed they would operate as an independent Unit, not as part of another Unit or with other Arms and Services.
4. An Engineer Unit could beof considerable value to the Island in the conditions we have just experienced. Here I would wish to pay thanks to the men of 135 Survey Squadron Royal Engineers Territorial Army for work they performed in the Island after the storm.

The final decision whether or not to go ahead with a Jersey based Squadron rests with the States. I plan to bring our recommendation to the House when detailed costings are known.

In answer to question 4 it is apparent that if the States are to follow up their decision in principle already taken, the Unit to be established here will be an Engineer Field Squadron, under whatever title it is to be known by. The object of the present recruiting is to encourage recruits to join the Volunteer Regiment based at Minley Manor as individuals, as are the 23 TA Engineer personnel in the Island who are already serving. Only when and if the House approves the plan for the local Unit will these people be transferred to the local Unit."

STATES MINUTES

Housing Committee drawings. Statement.

17th November, 1987

The President of the Housing Committee made a statement in the following terms –

"The Housing Committee and I are extremely concerned that last week the States, when discussing proposals for the Jardin de la Chappelle housing development, found that the appropriate stamped drawings were not in the Chamber. My Department had ensured that the relevant drawings were with the States Greffe in good time.

I have now received an unqualified apology from the Greffier of the States, and an assurance from him that procedures have now been put into effect to ensure that this will not happen again."

New Museum – Société Jersiaise and Jersey Heritage Trust. P.174/87.

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

1. noted the Report of the Public Works Committee on the proposed construction of a new museum extension by the Jersey Heritage Trust;
2. agreed to accept the surrender, by the Société Jersiaise of –

1. the usufruct of the property No. 9, Pier Road, the building known as the Barreau Gallery and the yard and the building being No. 11 Pier Road to which it has right in virtue of a deed of gift, cession and transfer dated the 22nd day of April, 1893, from the late Josué George Falle;

2. the  usufruct  of 748 square  feet of land to the south of No. 13 Pier Road to which it has right by deed of gift dated 5th day of January, 1963, from the public of this Island;

3. agreed to transfer to the Jersey Heritage Trust –

1. the property No. 9 Pier Road, the building known as the Barreau Gallery and the yard and building being No. 11 Pier Road;
2. the 748 square feet of land referred to in 2(b) above;
3. No. 1 Caledonia Cottages;
4. the warehouse and house and dependencies thereof known respectively as La Longue Caserne and No. 17 Pier Road;

4. agreed to transfer to the Société Jersiaise the reversion of the property No. 7 Pier Road together with all such dependent rights as may be necessary for its enjoyment in the form that it is now absolutely and in perpetuity;
5. agreed to grant to the Société Jersiaise the right to the unimpeded use and enjoyment in common with the Jersey Heritage Trust of the courtyard and steps in front of No. 9 Pier Road and the exclusive use and enjoyment of the old library in No. 9 Pier Road and access thereto by the main entrance hall for its members;
6. authorised the Attorney General and the Greffier to pass the necessary contracts in the matter;
7. approved, in principle, the currently estimated expenditure involved with the construction and furnishing of the new museum;

8. noted the intention of the Public Works Committee to apply for funds to carry through the project in the Budget for 1989.

Public toilets at Rozel Harbour: approval of drawings.

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

1. approved Drawings Nos. 2786/10-B/11-B/12-C showing the construction of public toilets at Rozel Harbour;
2. authorised the Greffier of the States to sign the said Drawings on behalf of the States.

Social  Security  (Reciprocal  Agreement with Austria) (Jersey) Act, 1987.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Social Security Committee, approved the Social Security (Reciprocal Agreement with Austria) (Jersey) Act, 1987.

Act with regard to the provision of a minimum income for elected Members of the States. P.151/87.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Special Committee appointed to examine the scheme for the provision of a minimum income for elected States Members –

1. approved an Act with regard to the provision of a minimum income for elected Members of the States;
2. agreed that, as from 1st January, 1989, the "States Allowance", and the "Single" and "Married Members Allowances" should be increased annually by the percentage figure half-way between the percentage rise in the Jersey Cost of Living Index and the Jersey Wages Index for the appropriate period, and instructed the Legislation Committee to take the necessary steps to give effect thereto.

Dairy Industry: financial assistance. P.160/87.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee, noted the Report of that Committee dated 2nd July, 1987, regarding financial assistance to the dairy industry, and agreed –

1. to provide an additional subsidy of40p per gallon for milk produced surplus to liquid milk requirements in the months of December, January and February, subject to a maximum quantity of 100,000 gallons qualifying and to reintroduce the subsidy payable in respect of milk surplus to liquid requirements up to a maximum quantity of750,000 gallons;
2. to reintroduce the existing calving index scheme with some modification to encourage further winter milk production;
3. to reintroduce the subsidy for grassland improvement and to increase the rate of payment for grassland reseeding from £19.75 to £25.00 per vergée;
4. (a) to continue to finance the promotion of cattle exports;

(b)  to permit the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee to finance a producer-controlled marketing organisation to co-ordinate the export of cattle;

5. (a) to reintroduce the planned mating scheme and to include commercial embryo transplants/transfers in it;

2. to encourage breeders to undertake embryo transplant/transfer work and to provide them with a conditional subsidy of50 per cent of the veterinary and specialist costs involved;
3. to increase from £70 to £80 the sum paid in respect of lactations of daughters out of a bull under assessment;
4. to increase to £500 the price of bull calves purchased by the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee for inclusion in the scheme;
5. to increase from 20p to 50p per straw the price of semen purchased under the scheme.

Advisory Training Council: development of training in Jersey – proposals. P.167/87.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Education Committee –

1. authorised the Education Committee to proceed with the preparation of legislation to enable the States to raise the age of compulsory education from 15 to 16; and
2. agreed in principle to the establishment of a central training fund comprising contributions from both the States and industry.

Milk (Sale to Special Classes) (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Regulations, 1987. P.171/87.

THE STATES, by virtue and in exercise of the powers conferred upon 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, 1987.

Census of population in 1989. P.172/87.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Etat Civil Committee –

1. agreed that a census of the population should be taken in the Island on Sunday, 12th March, 1989;
2. charged the Etat Civil Committee to take the necessary steps to carry out the said census.

Draft Amendment (No. 9) to the Tariff of Harbour and Light Dues. P.173/87.

THE STATES, in pursuance of the Harbour and Light Dues (Jersey) Law, 1947, as amended, approved the draft Amendment (No. 9) to the Tariff of Harbour and Light Dues.

THE STATES rose at 4.45 p.m.

R.S. GRAY, Deputy Greffier of the States.