States Minutes 11th May 1994

STATES MINUTES 1 1 t h M  a y 1 994

 T HE STATES assembled on Wednesday, 1 1th May 1994 at 9.30 a.m. under

t h e Presidency of the Bailiff ,

S i r P eter Crill, C.B.E.

_ _ _ _ _ _ ______

All Members were present with the exception of -

M ichael Adam Wavell, Deputy of St. S aviour - out of the Island.

M argaret Anne Le Geyt, Deputy of St. S aviour - out of the Island.

F rank Harris on Walker , Deputy of St. H elier - out of the Island.

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 P rayers were read by the President _ _ _ _ _ _ ______

Abortion Law reform (P.30/94): second amendments. P.57/94 - withdrawn

THE STATES acceded to the request of Deputy Imogen Stephanie Nicholls of Grouville that her second amendments to the Abortion Law Reform proposition (P.57/94 - lodged au Greffe'' on 26th April 1994) be withdrawn.

Abortion Law reform - P.30/94

THE STATES continued discussion of the proposition of the Public Health Committee on the reform of the Abortion Law and adopted paragraph (1)(b).

Paragraph (1)(c) was adopted.

Members present voted on paragraph (1)(c) as follows -

P o u r'' (36) Senators

S henton, Jeune , Rothwell, Le Main, Le M aistre, Stein, Quérée, Chinn, Bailhache , S yvret, Tomes.

Connétable s

S t. John, St. Lawrence, St. Mary, St. P eter, St. Helier , St. Saviour , Trinity , S t. Martin, St. Ouen.

Deputies

N orman(C), St. John, H.Baudains(C), St.

O uen, Coutanche(L), Huelin(B), St. Mary, Le F ondré(L), Trinity , Johns(H), Matthews(B), D orey(H), Breckon(S), Grouville , Huet(H),

S t. Martin.

C o n tre'' (14) Senator

 H orsfall.

Connétable s

 S t. Clement, St. Brelade, Grouville . Deputies

R umboll(H), St. Peter , Le Sueur(H), S .Baudains(H), Crespel(H), Pullin(S), C arter(H), Duhamel(S), Routier(H), L ayzell(B).

THE STATES, having accepted an amendment of the Public Health Committee, adopted a new paragraph (1)(d).

Members present voted on paragraph (1)(d), as amended,as follows -

P o u r'' (26) Senators

R othwell, Le Main, Stein, Quérée, Syvret, T omes.

Connétable s

S t. John, St. Lawrence, St. Helier, St. Saviour, Trinity .

Deputies

N orman(C), St. John, St. Ouen,

C outanche(L), Huelin(B), St.

M ary, Le Fondré(L), Trinity , Johns(H), M atthews(B), Dorey(H), Breckon(S), G rouville, Huet(H), St. Martin.

C o n tre'' (24) Senators

S henton, Jeune , Horsfall, Le M aistre, Chinn, Bailhache .

Connétable s

S t. Clement, St. Mary, St. Brelade , St. P eter, Grouville , St. Martin, St. Ouen .

Deputies

R umboll(H), St. Peter , H.Baudains(C), Le S ueur(H), S.Baudains(H), Crespel(H),

P ullin(S), Carter(H), Duhamel(S),

R outier(H), Layzell(B).

Paragraph (1)(e) and (f) and paragraph (2) were adopted.

THE STATES, adopting the proposition, as amended -

 ( 1) agreed, in principle, to enact a Law

o n Abortion which would -

( a ) clarify and amend the existing c u stomary law on abortion to

p er m  it the termination of

p re g n a ncy within statutorily

d ef i n e d circumstances by

re g i st e red medical practitioners;

( b ) legalise the termination of

p re g n a ncy without limit of time

w h e n t wo approved registered

m e d i ca l practitioners are of the

o p in i o n, formed in good faith,

th a t t h e termination is

im  m e d iately necessary to save the li fe , o r to prevent grave

p er m  a nent injury to the physical

o r m e n tal health, of the pregnant

w o m  an ;

( c ) legalise the termination of

p re g n a ncy before the end of the

2 4 th w eek of gestation when in the

o p in i o n of two approved registered m e d i ca l practitioners there

ex i s ts , at the time of diagnosis,

a s u b s tantial risk that the foetus

w i ll s u ffer from a grave

ab n o r m ality;

( d ) legalise the termination of

p re g n a ncy before the end of the

1 0 th w eek of gestation when, in

th e s ole opinion of the pregnant

w o m  an , her condition causes her

d is tr e s s and she is ordinarily

re s id e n t in the Island or has been

co n t i n uously resident in the

Is l an d for a minimum period of

th r e e c alendar months immediately p re c e d ing the date of termination

o f th e pregnancy;

( e ) make statutory provision for any p er s o n to refuse to participate in

tr e a tm  ent authorised by either or

b o th o f sub-paragraphs (c) and (d) if t h a t person has a conscientious

o b je c ti on thereto;

( f) make statutory provision for su b o r d inate legislation to be en a c t e d to provide for -

(i ) c o n trol to be exercised over re g i st e r e d medical

p ra c t it io n ers approved for the p u rp o s e o f offering treatment fo r t h e t e rmination of

p r e g n a n cy;

(i i) th e licensing of counsellors;

(i ii ) t h e licensing of premises wh er e tr e atment for the termination

o f p re g nancy may be carried out;

(i v ) c o ntrol of any charges which m a y b e authorised at or by public

o r li c e nsed private establishments

o r a p p roved registered medical

p ra c t it ioners for the provision of tr e a tm  ent for the termination of

p r e g n ancy;

(v ) t h e formal notification of all

p re g n a n c y terminations without

id e n t if ic a tion of the woman;

 ( 2) requested the Policy and Resources

C o m mittee to authorise the preparation

o f t he necessary legislation in

a c c ordance with the priority ranking in t h e States Law Drafting Programme

1 9 9 4/95.

Changes in Presidency

During consideration of the proposition regarding reform of the Abortion Law, the Bailiff retired from the Chamber. The debate continued under the Presidency of the Greffier of the States, Geoffrey Henry Charles Coppock, Esquire.

At 12.15 p.m. the Greffier retired from the Chamber and the debate continued under the Presidency of the Bailiff , Sir Peter Crill, C.B.E.

THE STATES adjourned for lunch and reassembled at 2.30 p.m. under the Presidency of the Deputy Bailiff , Philip Martin Bailhache , Esquire, Q.C.

Jersey Kart and Motor Club: 1994 racing programme at Belle Vue, St. Brelade - P.48/94

THE STATES, adopting a proposition of the Sport, Leisure and Recreation Committee -

 ( a) approved the use of the Belle Vue r a ci ng circuit, St. Brelade, by the

J e rs ey Kart and Motor Club, for its 1 9 9 4 racing programme;

 ( b) charged the Sport, Leisure and

R e c reation Committee, in consultation w  it h officials of the Kart Club, the

P a r ish of St. Brelade and the Don Farm R e s idents Association, to approve the

d a te s and times of the races and

p r a ctice sessions;

 ( c) charged the Island Development

C o m mittee to take whatever steps are n e c essary to facilitate the programme.

Members present voted as follows -

P o u r'' (23) Senators

 R othwell, Le Main, Le Maistre, Tomes. Connétable s

S t. John, St. Peter , Grouville , St. Helier , S t. Saviour, Trinity , St. Martin, St. Ouen.

Deputies

N orman(C), Le Sueur(H), St. Ouen, S . Baudains(H), Pullin(S), Trinity , Carter(H), Routier(H), Dorey(H), B reckon(S), St. Martin.

C o n tre'' (13) Senators

 S tein, Syvret. Connétable s

 S t. Clement, St. Brelade. Deputies

S t. John, H. Baudains(C), Coutanche(L),

H uelin(B), St. Mary, Johns(H), Matthews(B), L ayzell(B), Huet(H).

THE STATES rose at 6.45 p.m.

  C .M  . N  E W  C O M BE D e p u ty Greffier of the States.