States Minutes 6th November 2007

THE STATES assembled on Tuesday 6th November 2007, at 09.30 a.m. under the Presidency of the Bailiff ,

Sir Philip Bailhache .

His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, Lieutenant-General Andrew Peter Ridgway, C.B., C.B.E., was present

All members were present at roll call with the exception of –

S enat  or Terence John Le Main – en défaut

S enat  or Frederick Ellyer Cohen – ill

D e puty Celia Joyce Scott Warr en of St. Saviour–  ill (arrived in the Chamber at 10.57 a.m.) D e puty Geoffrey Peter Southern of St. Helier – en défaut (défaut raised at 9.39 a.m.)

Prayers

Subordinate enactments tabled

The following enactments were tabled, namely –

Road Traffic (Speed Limits) (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Order 2007. R&O.136/2007. Minister for Transport and Technical Services.

Road Traffic (St. Brelade) (Amendment No. 15) (Jersey) Order 2007. R&O.137/2007. Minister for Transport and Technical Services.

Social Security (Earnings Limit) (Jersey) Order 2007. R&O.138/2007. Minister for Social Security.

Documents presented or laid

Health Insurance Exemption cards: free bus travel and Active cards P.145/2007. (P.145/2007) – comments. Com. Presented: 6th November 2007.

Minister for Transport and Technical Services.

States of Jersey Law 2005: delegation of functions – Home Affairs – prison. R.100/2007. Presented: 25th October 2007.

Minister for Home Affairs.

States of Jersey Law 2005: delegation of functions – Health and Social Services. R.101/2007. Presented: 26th October 2007.

Minister for Health and Social Services.

Telecommunications (Jersey) Law 2002: Direction and Guidance to the JCRA R.102/2007. under Article 8.

Presented: 26th October 2007.

Minister for Economic Development.

Land Transactions under Standing Order 168(3): Field 424, St. Brelade – sale of R.103/2007. land and boundary clarification with Imhotep Limited.

Presented: 1st November 2007. Minister for Treasury and Resources.

Ministerial Responsibilities: Assistant Minister for Health and Social Services. R.104/2007. Presented: 6th November 2007.

Chief Minister.

Health Insurance Exemption cards: free bus travel and Active cards P.145/2007. (P.145/2007) – comments. Com. Presented: 6th November 2007.

Minister for Transport and Technical Services.

Notification of lodged propositions

JT Group Limited ("Jersey Telecom"): proposed sale (P.153/2007) – amendment. P.153/2007. Lodged: 26th October 2007. Amd. Senator B.E. Shenton.

Draft Income Tax (Amendment No. 29) (Jersey) Law 200- (P.156/2007): P.156/2007. amendments. Amd. Lodged: 2nd November 2007.

Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel.

Budget 2008 (P.164/2007): amendment. P.164/2007. Lodged: 6th November 2007. Amd. Deputy A. Breckon of St. Saviour.

Draft Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos – Licensing) (Jersey) Regulations P.168/2007. 200-.

Lodged: 25th October 2007.

Minister for Social Security.

Goods and Services Tax: Zero-Rating for Foodstuffs, Books, Newspapers and P.169/2007. Magazines.

Lodged: 26th October 2007.

Senator B.E. Shenton.

Draft Gambling (Remote Gambling Disaster Recovery) (Jersey) Regulations 200- P.170/2007. .

Lodged: 31st October 2007.

Minister for Economic Development.

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 –

Senator Frank Harris on Walker , Chief Minister: Vote of Censure. P.158/2007. Lodged: 10th October 2007.

Deputy A. Breckon of St. Saviour.

Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel

In accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 125(1), Deputy Patrick John Dennis Ryan of St. Helier, Chairman of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel, nominated Deputy Roy George Le Hérissier of St. Saviouras a member of that Panel.

There being no other nominations, the Bailiff declared that Deputy Roy George Le Hérissier of St. Saviour was duly elected as a member of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel.

Written Questions (see Official Report)

The Minister for Economic Development tabled an answer to a question asked by Deputy S.S.P.A. Power of St. Brelade regarding the appointment of a Liaison Director to the Civil Aviation Authority.

The Minister for Economic Development tabled an answer to a question asked by Deputy A. Breckon of St. Saviour regarding the addition of Value Added Tax on goods from the U.K.

The Minister for Economic Development tabled an answer to a question asked by Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier of St. Saviour regarding the rental of office accommodation for Economic Development staff.

The Chief Minister tabled an answer to a question asked by Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier of St. Saviour regarding cost-cutting measures.

The Minister for Transport and Technical Services tabled an answer to a question by Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier of St. Saviour regarding the cost of the new bus arrival texting system.

The Minister for Planning and Environment tabled an answer to a question by Deputy I.J. Gorst of St. Clement regarding the location of an animal carcass storage facility at Howard Davis Farm.

The Minister for Transport and Technical Services tabled an answer to a question by Deputy I.J. Gorst of St. Clement regarding the location of an animal carcass storage facility at Howard Davis Farm.

The Minister for Education, Sport and Culture tabled an answer to a question by Senator J.L. Perchard regarding the National Gallery Steering Group.

Oral Questions (see Official Report)

The Deputy of St. Martin asked a question of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the introduction of screening for prostate cancer.

Deputy S.C. Ferguson of St. Brelade asked a question of the Chief Minister regardingthe annual report of States Employees' Remuneration for 2006.

Senator S. Syvret asked a question of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the transportation of children in custodial care to Court.

Deputy K.C. Lewis of St. Saviour asked a question of the Assistant Minister for Economic Development regarding British Airways' decision not to allow surfboards and kayaks on board its passenger aircraft.

Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier asked a question of the Assistant Minister for Housing regardingthe sums of rent involved in the 600 "zero tolerance" letters sent to tenants.

Senator S. Syvret asked a question of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the transportation of children in custodial care to Court.

Deputy S.S.P.A. Power of St Brelade asked a question of the Assistant Minister for Economic Development regarding the number of Service Level Agreements in force at the Airport.

Deputy S.S.P.A. Power of St Brelade asked a question of the Assistant Minister for Economic Development

regarding the grounds under which the Port of St. Helier could refuse a commercial vessel.

Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier asked a question of the Minister for Housing regarding how thethreat to withdraw heating or hot water from tenants, contained in Housing Department "zero tolerance" letters constitutes a "firm but fair policy" under Audit Commission good practice guidance.

Deputy S. Pitman of St. Helier asked a question of the Chief Minister regarding the Minister for Housing.

Deputy G.C.L. Baudains of St. Clement asked a question of the Minister for Treasury and Resources regarding the compliance of the 0/10 proposals with the European Code.

Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier of St. Saviour asked a question of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding a programme for dealing with a possible flu pandemic.

The Connétable of St. Helier asked a question of the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture regarding the recent food poisoning outbreak at 2 local schools.

Deputy K.C. Lewis of St. Saviour asked a question of the Assistant Minister for Economic Development regarding the safety of Q400/Dash 8 aircraft flying into Jersey on a daily basis.

The Connétable of St. Helier asked a question of the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture regarding the allocation of places at the new States provided nursery at St. Peter's school.

The Deputy of St. Martin asked a question of the President of the Chairmen's Committee regarding the lodging of the revised Draft Code of Practice for Scrutiny Panels and the Public Accounts Committee.

Deputy S. Pitman of St. Helier asked a question of the Chief Minister regardingthe role of the Corporate Management Board.

Oral Questions without notice (see Official Report)

The Minister for Health and Social Services answered questions without notice from members. The Chief Minister answered questions without notice from members.

Goods and Services Tax: petition – P.125/2007

THE STATES commenced consideration of a proposition of the Connétable of St. Helier entitledGoods and Services Tax: petition – P.125/2007'.

Change of Presidency

The Bailiff retired from the Chair during consideration of the Goods and Services Tax: petition (P.125/2007) and the meeting continued under the Presidency of Mr. Michael Nelson de la Haye, Greffier of the States.

Adjournment

THE STATES adjourned, having agreed to reconvene on Wednesday 7th November 2007 to continue consideration of the Goods and Services Tax: petition (P.125/2007) and the outstanding items of public business.

THE STATES rose at 5.33 p.m.

A.H. HARRIS Deputy Greffier of the States