States Minutes 24th February 2010

THE STATES assembled on Wednesday 24th February 2010, at 09.30 a.m. under the Presidency of the Bailiff ,

Michael Cameron St. John Birt Esquire. __________________

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

Senator Stuart Syvret – en défaut

Senator Frederick Ellyer Cohen – en défaut (défaut raised at 9.44 a.m.)

Senator James Leslie Perchard – en défaut

Deputy Geoffrey Peter Southern of St. Helier – en défaut (défaut raised at 9.36 a.m.) Deputy John Alexander Nicholas Le Fondré of St. Lawrence – ill

Deputy Anne Enid Pryke of Trinity – absent on States business

Deputy Sean Seamus Patrick Augustine Power of St. Brelade – en défaut

Deputy Shona Pitman of St. Helier – ill

__________________

Prayers __________________

Committee of Inquiry: suspension of the Chief Officer of the States of Jersey Police P.9/2010 THE STATES commenced consideration of a proposition of the Deputy of St. Martin –

1. to agree that a Committee of Inquiry should be established in accordance with Standing Order 146 to inquire into a definite matter of public importance, namely the manner in which the Chief Officer of the States of Jersey Police was suspended from his duties on 12th November 2008 with particular regard to the procedures and documentation used in the suspension, the grounds relied on by the then Minister in taking his decision and his role and the role of other parties who were involved;
2. to appoint the following persons as members of the Committee of Inquiry –
   1. Mr. Derek J.C. Bernard, Chairman;
   2. Mr. Gerard C.L. Baudains;
   3. Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Allan;
   4. Advocate Timothy Hanson;
   5. Mrs. Margaret Holland Prior, J.P.
3. to agree, in accordance with Standing Order 146(5)(b) and (c) –

1. that Advocate Timothy Hanson should, if required, preside in the absence of the Chairman, and
2. that the quorum of the Committee shall be 3.

79   Price code: B

The Bailiff , in accordance with the provisions of Article 9(4) of the Police Force (Jersey) Law 1974 and Standing Order 82, ordered all strangers to withdraw from the precincts of the States and the doors of the Chamber to be closed.

THE STATES, having concluded the debate  in camera, proceeded to vote in public assembly and rejected paragraph (a) of the proposition of the Deputy of St. Martin that a Committee of Inquiry should be established in accordance with Standing Order 146 to inquire into a definite matter of public importance, namely the manner in which the Chief Officer of the States of Jersey Police was suspended from his duties on 12th November 2008 with particular regard to the procedures and documentation used in the suspension, the grounds relied on by the then Minister in taking his decision and his role and the role of other parties who were involved.

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 21 CONTRE: 26 ABSTAIN: 0

Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Martin Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of St. Lawrence Deputy R.C. Duhamel (S) Deputy of St. Martin

Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier (S) Deputy J.A. Martin (H) Deputy G.P. Southern (H) Deputy of Grouville

Deputy of St. Peter

Deputy P.V.F. Le Claire (H) Deputy D.J. De Sousa (H) Deputy K.C. Lewis (S) Deputy M. Tadier (B) Deputy of St. Mary

Deputy T.M. Pitman (H) Deputy T.A. Vallois (S) Deputy M.R. Higgins (H) Deputy J.M. Maçon (S)

Senator T.A. Le Sueur

Senator P.F. Routier

Senator P.F.C. Ozouf

Senator T.J. Le Main

Senator B.E. Shenton

Senator F.E. Cohen

Senator A. Breckon

Senator S.C. Ferguson

Senator A.J.D. Maclean

Senator B.I. Le Marquand Connétable of St. Ouen

Connétable of Trinity

Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of St. John

Connétable of St. Saviour Connétable of St. Peter

Connétable of St. Mary

Deputy J.B. Fox (H)

Deputy of St. Ouen

Deputy J.A. Hilton (H)

Deputy I.J. Gorst (C)

Deputy of St. John

Deputy A.E. Jeune (B)

Deputy A.T. Dupré (C)

Deputy E.J. Noel (L)

Deputy A.K.F. Green (H)

Following the rejection of paragraph (a), the Presiding Officer informed the Assembly that paragraphs (b) and (c) of the proposition were deemed to have been withdrawn.

The Connétable of St. Helier , Deputy of St. Peter and the Deputy of St. John , in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 106(c), declared an interest but remained in the Chamber for the duration of the debate.

Change in Presidency

THE STATES re-assembled after the lunch adjournment under the Presidency of Mr. Michael Nelson De La Haye, Greffier of the States.

Minimum Wage: revised hourly rate from 1st April 2010 P.14/2010

THE STATES commenced consideration of a proposition of Deputy Geoffrey Peter Southern of St. Helier concerning a revision of the minimum wage hourly rate and rejected an amendment of Deputy Trevor Mark Pitman of St. Helier that for the figure of "£6.28" there should be substituted the figure "£6.36".

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 9 CONTRE: 36 ABSTAIN: 0

Senator A. Breckon

Deputy J.A. Martin (H) Deputy G.P. Southern (H) Deputy P.V.F. Le Claire (H) Deputy M. Tadier (B) Deputy of St. Mary

Deputy T.M. Pitman (H) Deputy M.R. Higgins (H) Deputy D.J. De Sousa (H)

Senator T.A. Le Sueur

Senator P.F. Routier

Senator P.F.C. Ozouf

Senator T.J. Le Main

Senator B.E. Shenton

Senator S.C. Ferguson

Senator A.J.D. Maclean

Senator B.I. Le Marquand

Connétable of St. Ouen

Connétable of St. Helier

Connétable of Trinity

Connétable of Grouville

Connétable of St. Brelade

Connétable of St. Martin

Connétable of St. John

Connétable of St. Saviour

Connétable of St. Peter

Connétable of St. Lawrence Connétable of St. Mary

Deputy R.C. Duhamel (S)

Deputy of St. Martin

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

Deputy of St. Ouen

Deputy of Grouville

Deputy of St. Peter

Deputy J.A. Hilton (H)

Deputy K.C. Lewis (S)

Deputy I.J. Gorst (C)

Deputy of St. John

Deputy A.E. Jeune (B)

Deputy A.T. Dupré (C)

Deputy E.J. Noel (L)

Deputy T.A. Vallois (S)

Deputy A.K.F. Green (H)

Deputy J.M. Maçon (S)

Change in Presidency

The Greffier of the States retired from the Chair during the consideration of the proposition of Deputy Geoffrey Peter Southern of St. Helier concerning a revision of the minimum wage hourly rate and the meeting continued under the Presidency of the Deputy Bailiff .

Arrangement of public business for the present meeting

THE STATES rejected a proposition of Senator Paul Francis Routier that the Assembly should continue beyond 5.30 pm in order to conclude the debate on the proposition of Deputy Geoffrey Peter Southern of St. Helier concerning a revision of the minimum wage hourly rate.

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 8 CONTRE: 36 ABSTAIN: 0

Senator P.F. Routier Senator A. Breckon Connétable of St. John Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy J.A. Martin (H) Deputy I.J. Gorst (C) Deputy of St. John Deputy E.J. Noel (L)

Senator T.A. Le Sueur

Senator P.F.C. Ozouf

Senator T.J. Le Main

Senator B.E. Shenton

Senator S.C. Ferguson

Senator A.J.D. Maclean

Senator B.I. Le Marquand

Connétable of St. Ouen

Connétable of St. Helier

Connétable of Trinity

Connétable of Grouville

Connétable of St. Brelade

Connétable of St. Martin

Connétable of St. Peter

Connétable of St. Lawrence Connétable of St. Mary

Deputy R.C. Duhamel (S)

Deputy of St. Martin

Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier (S) 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 K.C. Lewis (S)

Deputy M. Tadier (B)

Deputy A.E. Jeune (B)

Deputy of St. Mary

Deputy T.M. Pitman (H)

Deputy A.T. Dupré (C)

Deputy T.A. Vallois (S)

Deputy M.R. Higgins (H)

Deputy A.K.F. Green (H)

Deputy D.J. De Sousa (H)

Deputy J.M. Maçon (S)

Adjournment

THE STATES adjourned, having agreed to reconvene on Thursday 25th February 2010 to continue consideration of the proposition of Deputy Geoffrey Peter Southern of St. Helier entitled Minimum Wage: revised hourly rate from 1st April 2010' (P.14/2010) and the outstanding items of public business.

THE STATES rose at 5.37 p.m.

M.N. DE LA HAYE Greffier of the States