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States Minutes 18th July 2007

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THE STATES assembled on Wednesday 18th July 2007, at 09.30 a.m. under

the Presidency of the Bailiff

Sir Philip Bailhache .

All members were present at roll call with the exception of

S e nator Stuart Syvret – en défaut (défaut raised at 10.24 a.m.)

S e nator Wendy Kinnard – ill

S e nator Frederick Ellyer Cohen – en défaut (défaut raised at 10.03 a.m.)

C o nnétable Kenneth Priaulx Vibert of St. Ouen – en défaut

C o nnétable Philip Francis Ozouf of St. Saviour – ill

C o nnétable Alan Simon Crowcroft of St. Helier – en défaut (défaut raised at 10.13 a.m.) C o nnétable Geoffrey William Fisher of St. Lawrence – en défaut

D e puty Geoffrey Peter Southern of St. Helier – en défaut (défaut raised at 9.39 a.m.)

Prayers

Tribute to the late Mr.  Leslie Ernest Le  Ruez, former member of the States

The Bailiff paid tribute to the late Mr.  Leslie Ernest Le  Ruez, former Deputy of St.  Mar.yThe States observed one minute's silence as a mark of respect.

HRH The Princess Royal – visit

The Bailiff advised the States that Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal would be visiting the Island on 19th and 20th September 2007, in order to open St.  Clement's School and the new Day Surgery Unit at the General Hospital, and to visit the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and St.  John's Ambulance as their respective patron and Commandant-in-Chief and to attend the Animal Health Trust's 10th Anniversary Dinner.

Subordinate enactments tabled

The following enactments were tabled, namely –

Misuse of Drugs (Substances Useful for Manufacture) (Jersey) Order 2007. R&O.91/2007 Chief Minister for and on behalf of the Minister for Health and Social Services.

Terrorism (Proscribed Organizations) (Amendment No. 3) (Jersey) Order 2007. R&O.92/2007 Minister for Home Affairs.

Documents presented or laid

States of Jersey Law 2005: delegation of functions – Health and Social Services – R.72/2007. medicines.

Presented: 18th July 2007.

Minister for Health and Social Services.

States of Jersey Law 2005: delegation of functions – Health and Social Services R.73/2007. pharmacies.

Presented: 18th July 2007.

Minister for Health and Social Services.

Land Transactions under Standing Order 168(3) Assisted House Purchase R.74/2007. Scheme sale of La Douzieme, Kimberley Lane, La  Rue de  la Ville es Renauds,

Grouville .

Presented: 18th July 2007.

Minister for Treasury and Resources.

Notification of lodged propositions

Draft Public Elections (Amendment No.  2) (Jersey) Law 200-. P.94/2007. Lodged: 18th July 2007.

Privileges and Procedures Committee.

Withdrawal of lodged propositions

THE STATES noted that, in accordance with Standing Order 34(1), the proposer of the following proposition lodged "au Greffe" had informed the Greffier of the States that it had been withdrawn

Code of Practice for Scrutiny Panels and the Public Accounts Committee. P.77/2007. Lodged: 5th June 2007.

Chairmen's Committee.

Adjournment

THE  STATES  rejected  a  proposition  of  Senator  Frank   Harris on   Walker  that  the  meeting  be  adjourned  at 11.05  a.m. until 2  p.m., in order to enable members to attend the funeral of former Deputy Leslie Ernest Le  Ruez

Members present voted as follows

POUR: 21 CONTRE: 25 ABSTAIN:

Senator L. Norman

Senator F.H. Walker

Senator T.A. Le  Sueur

Senator P.F.C. Ozouf

Senator T.J. Le  Main

Senator F.E. Cohen

Connétable of St. Mary Connétable of St. Peter Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of Trinity Connétable of St. Martin Deputy A. Breckon (S)

Deputy C.J. Scott   Warr en (S)

Deputy of  St.  Peter

Deputy G.W.J. de  Faye (H) Deputy J.A.N. Le  Fondré (L)

Deputy D.W. Mezbourian


Senator S. Syvret

Senator M.E. Vibert Senator B.E. Shenton Senator J.L. Perchard Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of St. John Deputy R.C. Duhamel (S) Deputy J.J. Huet (H) Deputy of St.  Martin Deputy G.C.L. Baudains (C) Deputy P.N. Troy (B) Deputy R.G. Le  Hérissier (S)

Deputy J.B. Fox (H) Deputy J.A. Martin (H)

(L) Deputy G.P. Southern (H) Deputy S. Pitman (H) Deputy S.C. Ferguson (B) Deputy K.C. Lewis (S) Deputy P.J.D. Ryan (H) Deputy I.J. Gorst (C) Deputy of Grouville Deputy of St.  Mary Deputy J.A. Hilton (H)

Deputy P.V.F. Le  Claire (H) Deputy S.S.P.A. Power (B) Deputy A.J.D. Maclean (H) Deputy of  St.  John

Composition of the States: revised structure and referendum P.75/2007

THE STATES resumed consideration of a proposition of the Privileges and Procedures Committee concerning proposed revisions to the structure and composition of the States and rejected an amendment of Deputy Gerard Clifford Lemmens Baudains of St.  Clement that –

  1. F o r sub-paragraph (a)(ii) there should be substituted the following sub-paragraph – "( i i) 3 6 Deputies electedas at present on a Parish or constituency basis;".
  2. F o r sub-paragraph (d)(i) thereshouldbesubstituted the following sub-paragraph –

" (i ) " p roposals on the distribution of the 36 Deputies' seats to ensure an allocation of seats across the 12 Parishes that is as equitable as possible;".

Members present voted as follows

POUR: 15 CONTRE: 27 ABSTAIN: 0

Senator L. Norman

Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of St. Martin Connétable of St. John

Deputy R.C. Duhamel (S) Deputy A. Breckon (S)

Deputy J.J. Huet (H)

Deputy G.C.L. Baudains (C) Deputy C.J. Scott   Warr en (S) Deputy S.C. Ferguson (B) Deputy of St.  Ouen

Deputy P.V.F. Le  Claire (H) Deputy J.A.N. Le  Fondré (L) Deputy D.W. Mezbourian

(L)

Deputy I.J. Gorst (C)


Senator S. Syvret

Senator T.A. Le  Sueur Senator P.F. Routier Senator M.E. Vibert Senator P.F.C. Ozouf Senator T.J. Le  Main Senator B.E. Shenton Senator F.E. Cohen Senator J.L. Perchard Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of Grouville Deputy of St.  Martin

Deputy P.N. Troy (B) Deputy R.G. Le  Hérissier (S)

Deputy J.B. Fox (H) Deputy J.A. Martin (H) Deputy G.P. Southern (H) Deputy P.J.D. Ryan (H) Deputy of Grouville Deputy J.A. Hilton (H) Deputy G.W.J. de  Faye (H) Deputy S.S.P.A. Power (B) Deputy S. Pitman (H)

Deputy A.J.D. Maclean (H) Deputy K.C. Lewis (S) Deputy of  St.  John

THE STATES, adopting an amendment of Deputy Geoffrey Peter Southern of St.  Helier, agreed that after paragraph  (b) there should be inserted the following new paragraph and the remainder renumbered accordingly–

" ( c ) t o  charge  the  Privileges  and  Procedures  Committee,  in  conjunction  with  the  Comité  des Connétable s, to conduct a thorough review of the electoral register and the voter registration process and to report to the States with recommendations to ensure the accuracy of the register by 2010 at the latest;".

Members present voted as follows

POUR: 35 CONTRE: 1 ABSTAIN: 0 Senator S. Syvret Deputy K.C. Lewis (S)

Senator L. Norman

Senator P.F. Routier

Senator M.E. Vibert

Senator P.F.C. Ozouf

Senator B.E. Shenton

Senator J.L. Perchard

Connétable of St. Clement

Connétable of St. Helier

Connétable of Grouville

Connétable of St. Brelade

Connétable of St. John

Deputy R.C. Duhamel (S)

Deputy A. Breckon (S)

Deputy J.J. Huet (H)

Deputy of St.  Martin

Deputy G.C.L. Baudains (C)

Deputy C.J. Scott   Warr en (S)

Deputy R.G. Le  Hérissier (S)

Deputy J.B. Fox (H)

Deputy G.P. Southern (H)

Deputy S.C. Ferguson (B)

Deputy of St.  Ouen

Deputy P.J.D. Ryan (H)

Deputy of Grouville

Deputy J.A. Hilton (H)

Deputy G.W.J. de  Faye (H)

Deputy P.V.F. Le  Claire (H)

Deputy J.A.N. Le  Fondré (L)

Deputy D.W. Mezbourian (L)

Deputy S.S.P.A. Power (B)

Deputy S. Pitman (H)

Deputy A.J.D. Maclean (H)

Deputy of  St.  John

Deputy I.J. Gorst (C)

THE STATES rejected an amendment of Deputy John Alexander Nicholas Le  Fondré of St. Lawrence concerning proposed revisions to the structure and composition of the States, and rejected the proposal that in paragraph  (c),

for the word "voting" there be substituted the words "eligible to vote".

Members present voted as follows

POUR: 10 CONTRE: 35 ABSTAIN: 0

Senator P.F.C. Ozouf Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of St. John

Deputy J.J. Huet (H)

Deputy S.C. Ferguson (B) Deputy P.J.D. Ryan (H) Deputy G.W.J. de Faye (H) Deputy J.A.N. Le Fondré (L) Deputy of St. John

Deputy I.J. Gorst (C)


Senator S. Syvret

Senator L. Norman

Senator F.H. Walker

Senator T.A. Le  Sueur

Senator P.F. Routier

Senator M.E. Vibert

Senator B.E. Shenton

Senator J.L. Perchard Connétable of St. Mary Connétable of St. Peter Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Martin Deputy R.C. Duhamel (S) Deputy A. Breckon (S)

Deputy of St.  Martin

Deputy G.C.L. Baudains (C) Deputy C.J. Scott Warr en (S) Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier (S) Deputy J.B. Fox (H)

Deputy J.A. Martin (H)

Deputy G.P. Southern (H) Deputy of St.  Ouen

Deputy of Grouville

Deputy of  St.  Peter

Deputy J.A. Hilton (H)

Deputy P.V.F. Le  Claire (H) Deputy D.W. Mezbourian

(L)

Deputy of Trinity

Deputy S.S.P.A. Power (B) Deputy S. Pitman (H)

Deputy A.J.D. Maclean (H) Deputy K.C. Lewis (S)

Deputy of St.  Mary

THE STATES, adopting an amendment of Deputy Geoffrey Peter Southern of St. Helier, agreed that in paragraph (e) for the words"consult as appropriate with Ministers and" there should be substituted the words "consult as appropriate with all members and".

THE STATES rejected the proposition of the Privileges and Procedures Committee, as amended, that –

( a ) the current composition of the States should be amended and that, from 2011, the elected membership of

the States should be

(i )  th e 12 Parish Connétable s;

(i i) 3 6 other members, to be known as Deputies, elected in 6 new large electoral districts;

( b ) from 2011 all 48 members of the States should be elected on a single general election day and for a

common term of office of 4  years;

( c ) the Privileges and Procedures Committee , in conjunction with the Comité des Connétable s, should be

charged to conduct a thorough review of the electoral register and the voter registration process and to report to the States with recommendations to ensure the accuracy of the register by 2010 at the latest;

( d ) the reform proposals set out in paragraphs (a) and (b) above should be submitted to the electorate in a

referendum to be held as soon as practicable and that they should not be pursued unless supported by a majority of those voting in the referendum;

( e ) the Privileges and Procedures Committee should be charged to bring forward for approval by the States

(i )  pr oposals regarding the precise boundaries and size of the proposed 6 large electoral districts; and

( ii ) l egislation to give effect to the changes with appropriate transitional arrangements including, in

particular, reducing the term of office of the 6 Senators to be elected in 2008 from 6  years to 3  years and ensuring that the terms of office of all Parish Connétable s are managed to conclude on the single general election day in 2011.

( f)  the Privileges and Procedures Committee should be charged to consult as appropriate with all members

and report to the States with recommendations on the feasibility of holding elections for the States in the Spring or early Summer;

( g ) the Privileges and Procedures Committee should be charged to undertake research on the merits of

alternative methods of voting to replace the current first past the post' system and to report to the States with recommendations.

Members present voted as follows

POUR: 21 CONTRE: 26 ABSTAIN: 0

Senator L. Norman

Senator F.H. Walker

Senator T.A. Le  Sueur

Senator P.F. Routier

Senator M.E. Vibert Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of St. Helier Deputy A. Breckon (S)

Deputy P.N. Troy (B)

Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier (S) Deputy J.B. Fox (H)

Deputy J.A. Martin (H)

Deputy G.P. Southern (H) Deputy S.C. Ferguson (B) Deputy of St.  Ouen

Deputy J.A. Hilton (H)

Deputy P.V.F. Le  Claire (H) Deputy S.S.P.A. Power (B) Deputy S. Pitman (H)

Deputy of  St.  John

Deputy of St.  Mary


Senator S. Syvret

Senator P.F.C. Ozouf

Senator B.E. Shenton

Senator F.E. Cohen

Senator J.L. Perchard Connétable of St. Mary Connétable of St. Peter Connétable of Trinity Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of St. Martin Connétable of St. John

Deputy R.C. Duhamel (S) Deputy J.J. Huet (H)

Deputy of St.  Martin

Deputy G.C.L. Baudains (C) Deputy P.J.D. Ryan (H) Deputy of Grouville

Deputy of  St.  Peter

Deputy G.W.J. de Faye (H) Deputy J.A.N. Le Fondré (L)

Deputy D.W. Mezbourian (L)

Deputy of Trinity

Deputy A.J.D. Maclean (H) Deputy K.C. Lewis (S) Deputy I.J. Gorst (C)

Change of Presidency

The Bailiff retired from the Chair during the consideration of the amendment of Deputy Gerard Clifford Baudains of St. Clement to the proposition of the Privileges and Procedures Committee concerning the Composition of the States: revised structure and referendum – (P.75/2007) and the meeting continued under the Presidency of Mr. Michael Nelson de la Haye, Greffier of the States.The Bailiff took the Chair following the lunchtime adjournment.

Sir Henry Brookewelcome

The Bailiff , on behalf of all members, welcomed Sir Henry Brooke, Executive Vice-President of the Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges' Association and a retired judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, who was present in the public gallery.

Composition of the States: referendum – P.86/2007

THE STATES commenced consideration of paragraphs (a) to (e) of a proposition of Senator James Leslie Perchard concerning the holding of a referendum to determine the future composition of the States, paragraph (f) having been withdrawn as a consequence of the decision of the States to reject the proposition of the Privileges and Procedures Committee concerning the Composition and Election of the States: revised structure and referendum (P.75/2007).

Adjournment

THE STATES adjourned, and agreed to reconvene on Thursday 19th July 2007 to continue consideration of the Composition of the States: referendum (P.86/2007) and the outstanding items of public business.

THE STATES rose at 5.32 p.m.

A.H. HARRIS Deputy Greffier of the States