States Minutes 7th June 1988

THE STATES assembled on Tuesday, 7th June 1988 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 John Stephen Rothwell – out of the Island.

Henri Leon Dubras, Deputy of St. Martin – out of the Island.

____________

Prayers ____________

Deputy J. Roche of St. Saviour – welcome.

The Bailiff , on behalf of Members of the States, welcomed Deputy Jack Roche of St. Saviour on his return to the States after his recent operation.

Mr. J.E. Delzoppo, M.P. and Mrs. B. Delzoppo – welcome.

The Bailiff welcomed to the House Mr. John E. Delzoppo, Member of Parliament for Victoria, Australia and his wife, Mrs. B. Delzoppo, a councillor in local government.

Subordinate legislation tabled.

The following enactment was laid before the States, namely –

French Food Festival (Jersey) Order, 1988. R & O 7758.

195   Price : 50p

Matters lodged.

The following subjects were lodged "au Greffe" –

1. Le Squez Youth Club: further development. P.67/88. Presented by the Education Committee.
2. Howard Davis Farm: further development. P.68/88. Presented by the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee.
3. Telecommunications Board: capital projects for 1989 – 1993. P.69/88.

Presented by the Telecommunications Board.

4. Public Health Committee: capital projects for 1989. P.70/88.

Presented by the Public Health Committee.

5. Housing Committee: development proposals, etc. for 1989. P.71/88.

Presented by the Housing Committee.

6. Draft Census (Jersey) Regulations 198 . P.73/88. Presented by the Etat Civil Committee.

The States decided to take the abovementioned subjects into consideration on 21st June, 1988.

7. Draft Jersey Gas Company (Jersey) Law, 198 (P.180/87): amendments. P.72/88.

Presented by the Finance and Economics Committee.

The following subject was lodged on 31st May, 1988 –

House Committee: appointment. P.66/88.

Presented by the Special Committee on the review of the machinery of government. The States decided to take this subject into consideration on 21st June, 1988.

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

THE STATES acceded to the request of the President of the Finance and Economics Committee that the draft Jersey Gas Company (Jersey) Law, 198 (lodged on 17th November, 1987) be considered on 28th June, 1988.

Wrapped bread – use of metric and imperial units. Questions and answers.

Deputy Corrie Stein of Grouville asked Deputy John Le Gallais of St. Saviour , President of the Public Works Committee, the following questions –

"1. Will the President inform the States of the date on

which the metric system was brought into general use in the Island?

2. Will the President state whether or not local retailers of bread have been informed by the Trading Standards Department that bread can only be sold in wrappers with the weight marked in imperial measure?
3. If the answer to Question 2 is in the affirmative, will the President undertake to request the Law Draftsman to prepare the necessary legislation as a matter of urgency, to ensure that bread can legally be sold in Jersey in wrappers marked in metric units."

The President of the Public Works Committee replied as follows –

"1. There is no specific date on which the metric system

was brought into general use in the Island.

2. By virtue of the Weights and Measures (Jersey) Law, 1967, bread, when in excess of ten ounces, can only be made for sale in quantities of fourteen ounces, or a multiple thereof. In practice, the bulk of loaves are either – Small' – 14 oz. or Large' – 28 oz.

In the United Kingdom, the current legislation provides for the making of bread in quantities of 400 grammes or a multiple thereof. A small' loaf of 400 grammes is some 3.1 grammes larger than a 14 oz. loaf, and a large' loaf of 800 grammes is 6.2 grammes larger than a 28 oz. loaf.

To comply with the current Jersey law, the Trading Standards Department have advised retailers that wrappers need not show a weight at all, but if they wish to indicate a weight, it should be in imperial measure.

3. The answer to Question 2 is  not in the affirmative. However, the policy of the Public Works Committee has been to give due consideration to requests from consumers or suppliers, or both, that the Island's legislation should be changed to replace imperial measure by metric measure, and this continues to be the Committee's policy. No such request has been received."

Field 1496, St. Ouen : purchase of land.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Resources Recovery Board –

1. approved the purchase by the public of the Island from Mr. Stanley John Morel of an area of land measuring 105.5 square feet being part of Field 1496 at St. Ouen , shown coloured red on the Drawing No. WS724, required for the construction of an air valve chamber to vent a rising main, for a consideration of £105.50 plus £160 compensation;

2. authorised the Greffier of the States to sign the said drawing on behalf of the States;
3. authorised the payment or discharge of the expenses to be incurred in connexion with the acquisition of the land and of all interests therein, including the commutation of any regional rights and the payment of all legal expenses out of the Vote of Credit granted to the Board under the heading "Reconstruction and replacement of sewers" – Vote No. CO418;
4. authorised the Attorney General and the Greffier of the States to pass on behalf of the public any contracts which it may be found necessary to pass in connexion with the purchase of the said land and any interest therein.

Weighbridge area and Albert Pier reclamation site: first phase. P.37/88. Continuation of debate.

THE STATES continued discussion of paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) of the Proposition of the Island Development Committee regarding the first phase of development of the Weighbridge area and Albert Pier reclamation site and rejected an amendment of Senator Betty Brooke that in paragraph (c) the words "a new Postal Administration and Sorting Office," be deleted.

Members present voted as follows –

"Pour" (23)

Senators

Jeune , Binnington, Horsfall, Baal, Le Main, Brooke, Le Maistre.

Connétable s

Grouville , St. Peter , St. Clement , St. Lawrence , St. Mary , St. Brelade , St. Martin .

Deputies

Mourant(H), Morel (S), Le Quesne(S), Trinity , Wavell(H), Blampied(H), Buesnel(H), Horne(H), Rabet(H).

"Contre" (24)

Senators

Ellis, Carter.

Connétable s

St. John , St. Helier , St. Ouen , Trinity .

Deputies

de la Haye(H), Le Gallais(S), Roche(S), Vandervliet(L), Grouville , Beadle(B), Billot(S), Norman(C), St. John , St. Peter , Baudains(C), Le Sueur (H), St. Ouen , Coutanche(L), Huelin(B), Jordan(B), St. Mary , Bailhache (H).

THE STATES, adopting paragraphs (c), (d) and (e), and having previously adopted paragraphs (a) and (b) –

1. approved the layout of roads in the Weighbridge area and on the northernmost part of the reclamation site to the west of the Albert Pier;
2. approved the siting of an underground multi-decked car park for up to 1,500 vehicles on the reclamation site;
3. approved the siting of a new Postal Administration and Sorting Office, States loan or rental housing and Hospital staff accommodation above the car park;
4. approved the siting of a new bus and coach station on the Weighbridge "island" site;
5. approved the siting of new Magistrates' Courts adjoining the Weighbridge "island" site, as shown on Drawing No. 2-87-01.

Fire Service: replacement radiocommunication system. P.54/88

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Defence Committee, approved in principle the provision of a new radiocommunication system for the Fire Service.

Summer Time (Amendment) (Jersey) Act, 1988. P.57/88.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Legislation Committee, approved the Summer Time (Amendment) (Jersey) Act, 1988.

Housing: price control and Building Loans Scheme. P.59/88.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of Senator Richard Joseph Shenton, requested the Housing Committee to review, in the light of present-day circumstances –

1. the necessity to maintain price control on the sale of properties;
2. the operation of the Building Loans scheme, with particular reference to the resale of properties purchased with the aid of a building loan.

Prison: heating and hot water supplies. P.60/88.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Prison Board, approved in principle the refurbishment of the heating and hot water supplies at her Majesty's Prison.

Police Headquarters: installation of lift. P.61/88.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Defence Committee, approved in principle the installation of a lift to service the Police Headquarters building.

Police Headquarters: additional garage and office space. P.62/88.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Defence Committee, approved in principle the extension of the existing police vehicle garage to provide additional garage space and the building of an additional floor of office accommodation above.

Airport runway: reprofiling and resurfacing. P.63/88.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Harbours and Airport Committee, approved in principle the reprofiling and resurfacing of the Airport runway.

Resources Recovery Board: capital estimates for 1989. P.64/88.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Resources Recovery Board, approved in principle –

1. the continuation of the repair, relining and reconstruction of defective or inadequate sewers in accordance with priorities;
2. the extension of the system of foul sewers to areas which have been identified as being in greatest need;
3. the construction of surface water drainage improvements under the heading "Surface Water Drainage – Miscellaneous Improvements";

4. the acquisition of equipment and the undertaking of improvements to plant performance in the area of solid waste treatment;
5. the undertaking of feasibility studies to optimise the Board's waste treatment capacity;
6. the replacement of items of transport and plant which have reached the end of their economic working life;
7. the rationalisation of old buildings and offices;
8. the replacement of outdated radio telephone equipment.

Establishment Committee – appointment of members.

THE STATES, on the Proposition of Senator Richard Joseph Shenton, President of the Establishment Committee, appointed the following as members, namely –

Senator John William Ellis Deputy Jack Roche of St. Saviour Deputy Corrie Stein of Grouville .

THE STATES rose at 5. 30 p.m.

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