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PPC Minutes 6th February 2008

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IC/JD46  277

PRIVILEGES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE (68th Meeting)

(Business conducted by electronic mail)

6th February 2008

PART A

All members were present, with the exception of Connétable K.A. Le Brun of St. Mary .

Connétable D.F. Gray of St. Clement - Chairman Senator M.E. Vibert

Deputy G.C.L. Baudains

Deputy S.C. Ferguson

Deputy J. Gallichan

Deputy I.J. Gorst

In attendance -

I. Clarkson, Clerk to the Privileges and Procedures Committee

Note: The Minutes of this meeting comprise Part A only.

Draft  Political A1.  The Committee, with reference to its Minute No. B3 of 12th December 2007, Parties considered the draft Political Parties (Registration) (Jersey) Law 200-.

(Registration)

(Jersey)  Law It was reported that legal advice from H.M. Attorney General concerning the draft 200-. Law had been received by the Law Draftsman on 11th January 2008, following 465/4(3) which the draft had been amended. The Committee recalled that Article 12 had 741(1) previously read as follows

(2)  A person who uses the name, or any abbreviation of the name, or any emblem of, a registered political party

  1. o therwise than with theconsentof a registered officeholder of the party; and
  2. for  purposes or in circumstances which the person intends to mislead other persons
  1. a boutthe objectives, activities, officeholders ormembersof the party,or
  2. a bout whether anypersonis or isnot a candidate endorsed by  the  party for election as a  Senator,   Deputy  or Connétable ,

s h a ll be guilty of an offence and liable to [a fine of level 4 on the

standard scale].

Having considered the legal advice forwarded by H.M. Attorney General, the Committee concluded that it would not be appropriate for the conduct referred to in the draft Article 12 to be classified as criminal activity; accordingly it endorsed the decision to remove the offence from the draft Law.

It was clarified that H.M. Attorney General had also advised on the question of human rights issues arising from the draft Law.

The Committee approved the draft Political Parties (Registration) (Jersey) Law 200-, together with the accompanying report, and agreed that the Chairman should sign a Statement of Compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights. In turn the Greffier of the States was requested to lodge the report and proposition au Greffe' with a view to securing a debate on 1st April 2008.

It was further agreed that, subject to the adoption of the draft Law by the States, H.M. Attorney General should be requested to ensure that the Law would receive swift passage through the Privy Council so that it could be brought in force for the elections in the autumn of 2008.