Privileges and Procedures Committee 24th February 2020

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PRIVILEGES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE (58th Meeting)

24th February 2020

PART A (Non-Exempt)

All members were present, with the exception of Connétable C. H. Taylor of St. John , Deputy J.M. Maçon of St. Saviour and Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat of St. Helier , from whom apologies had been received.

Deputy R. Labey of St. Helier , Chairman Connétable A.S. Crowcroft of St. Helier Deputy C.S. Alves of St. Helier

Deputy J.H. Perchard of St. Saviour

In attendance -

Dr. M. Egan, Greffier of the States

L.M. Hart , Deputy Greffier of the States

L. Marsh-Smith , Principal Legislative Drafter (in attendance for items B1-B3 only) K.L. Slack, Principal Committee and Panel Officer

Note: The Minutes of this meeting comprise Part A and Part B.

Minutes. A1. The Minutes of the meetings held on 23rd December 2019 (Part A only), 6th

January 2020 (Part A only), 14th January 2020 (Part A only), 16th January 2020 (Part A only) and 20th January 2020 (Part A and Part B), having previously been circulated, were taken as read and were confirmed.

Forthcoming A2. The Committee received a list of forthcoming business for debate by the States business for Assembly at its meetings to be held on 25th February, 10th March and 24th March debate by the 2020.

States

Assembly. The Committee discussed, at some length, its Proposition, entitled Electoral Reform 465/1(210) 2020' (P.126/2019) and that of Senator I.J. Gorst , namely Reform of the Composition

of the States Assembly' (P.7/2020), both of which related to the same subject and were due to be debated on 10th March 2020. It was noted that P.126/2019 was currently scheduled to be taken as the 3rd item of public business and that Propositions by the Ministers for Infrastructure and the Environment were then due to be debated, ahead of P.7/2020. The Committee decided that the Chair should approach the aforementioned Ministers to request that they permit P.7/2020 to be taken immediately after P.126/2019. It was also noted that the amount of business scheduled to be dealt with at the meeting of 10th March was significant and it was agreed that there would be merit in suggesting to Members that the meeting should, in fact, commence on the afternoon of 9th March, when questions would be dealt with. The Committee requested the Greffier to circulate an electronic mail message to all States Members to canvass their views on this proposal.

The Committee noted that the Scrutiny Liaison Committee had lodged two Amendments to Standing Orders, P.12/2020 and P.13/2020, which were due to be

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considered on 24th March 2020 and which related to Scrutiny Panels. It was noted that these were minor amendments and the Committee decided that it did not wish to formally comment thereon, or on any other Proposition that was due to be debated on that date.

Guernsey  A3.  The  Committee  discussed  the   Island-wide  General  Election  of  People's Election: June  Deputies, which was due to be held in Guernsey on 13th, 14th, 16th and 17th June 2020. 2020.  Advance voting would be taking place at the super polling station at Beau Sejour on FILE  13th and 14th June and the Parish polling stations would be open on 16th and 17th June.

The Committee noted that each voter would be able to select up to 38 candidates, which would result in a lengthy ballot paper and electronic machines would be used to count the votes. It was further noted that one political party had so far registered and that the electorate was being encouraged to submit postal votes, noting that there was no requirement for an Islander to be away from Guernsey to vote by post.

On  the  basis  that  Election  Observers  from  the  Commonwealth  Parliamentary Association were due to observe the Guernsey election, it was suggested that their ensuing report could be added to a future agenda for the Committee to consider.