Order Paper 9th November 2004

STATES OF JERSEY ORDER PAPER

Tuesday 9th November and Wednesday 10th November 2004

1. COMMUNICATIONS BYTHE BAILIFF
2. TABLING OF SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION
3. MATTERS RELATING TO COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Nomination of Deputy A. Breckon of St. Saviour as a member of the Overseas Aid Committee.

4. PRESENTATION OF PAPERS

1. Papers for information

Matters presented under Standing Order 6A(1)(a)

Draft States of Jersey Law 200- (P.124/2004): amendments P.124/2004. (P.124/2004  Amd.) – comments. Amd.Com. Privileges and Procedures Committee.

Draft States of Jersey Law 200- (P.124/2004): second amendments P.124/2004. (P.124/2004  Amd.(2)) – comments. Amd.(2)Com. Privileges and Procedures Committee.

Draft States of Jersey Law 200- (P.124/2004): third amendments P.124/2004. (P.124/2004  Amd.(3)) – comments. Amd.(3)Com. Privileges and Procedures Committee.

Matters presented under Standing Order 6A(1)(b)

2. Notification of Standing Order decisions
3. Notification of acceptance of tenders
4. Papers to be lodged "au Greffe" under Standing Order 17A(1)(a)

Speed Limits: revised policy (P.1/2004) – amendment. P.1/2004. Amd. Connétable of St. Helier.

5. Notification of Papers lodged "au Greffe" under Standing Order 17A(1)(b)
6. Papers for consideration by the States in Committee under Standing Order 38A

5. STATEMENTS  AND  PROPOSITIONS  RELATING  TO THE ARRANGEMENT  OF  PUBLIC  BUSINESS  AT  THIS  OR  ANY SUBSEQUENT MEETING

THE  STATES  are  asked  to  agree  that  the  following  matters  lodged "au  Greffe" be considered at their next meeting on 23rd November 2004 -

Machinery of Government Reform: composition and election of the P.151/2004. States Assembly.

Lodged: 14th September 2004.

Special Committee on the Composition and Election of the States

Assembly.

Machinery of Government Reform: composition and election of the P.151/2004. States Assembly (P.151/2004) – comments. Com. Presented: 26th October 2004. (re-issue) Policy and Resources Committee.

Machinery of Government Reform: composition and election of the P.151/2004. States Assembly (P.151/2004) – amendments. Amd. Lodged: 28th September 2004.

Deputy of St. Martin.

Machinery of Government Reform: composition and election of the P.151/2004. States Assembly (P.151/2004) – amendments (P.151/2004  Amd.) – Amd.Amd. amendments.

Lodged: 12th October 2004.

Deputy M.F. Dubras of St. Lawrence.

Machinery of Government Reform: composition and election of the P.151/2004. States Assembly (P.151/2004) – second amendments. Amd.(2) Lodged: 12th October 2004.

Deputy M.F. Dubras of St. Lawrence.

Machinery of Government Reform: composition and election of the P.151/2004. States Assembly (P.151/2004) – third amendments. Amd.(3) Lodged: 26th October 2004

Deputy of St. Ouen.

Child Care Scheme for low income families: amendments. P.173/2004. Lodged: 12th October 2004.

Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier.

Jersey Airport: Fireground Remediation – Deed of Settlement. P.176/2004. Lodged: 19th October 2004.

Harbours and Airport Committee.

Draft  Restriction  on  Smoking  (Sales  of  Cigarettes  to  Children) P.177/2004. (Amendment) (Jersey) Regulations 200-.

Lodged: 19th October 2004.

Health and Social Services Committee.

6. PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS

7. QUESTIONS

1. Written Questions

The President of the Harbours and Airport Committee will table an answer to a question asked by Deputy G.C. L Baudains of St. Clement regarding the tanker berth forward gangway.

The President of the Health and Social Services Committee will table an answer to a question asked by the Deputy of St. John regarding waiting times.

The President of the Environment and Public Services Committee will table an answer to a question asked by the Deputy of St. John regarding the Cavern and town drainage.

The President of the Environment and Public Services Committee will table an answer to a question asked by the Deputy of St. John regarding manpower and financial savings.

The President of the Environment and Public Services Committee will table an answer to a question asked by the Deputy of St. John regarding farm plastic.

The President of the Finance and Economics Committee will table answers to questions asked by the Deputy of St. John regarding Court and Case costs.

The President of the Environment and Public Services Committee will table answers to questions asked by Deputy T.J. Le Main of St. Helier regarding the creation of a proposed vodka distillery.

The President of the Employment and Social Security Committee will table answers to questions asked by Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier regarding certain allowances.

The Vice-President of the Emergencies Council will table an answer to a question asked by the Deputy of St. John regarding Parish Civil Emergency Liaison Officers.

The Chairman of the Comité des Connétable s will table an answer to a question by the Deputy of St. John regarding Parish Civil Emergency Liaison Officers.

The President of the Environment and Public Services Committee will table an answer to a question asked by the Deputy of St. John regarding the lease of The Quarry, Gorey Pier.

The President of the Economic Development Committee will table an answer to a question asked by the Deputy of St. John regarding funding of a proposed vodka distillery.

The President of the Harbours and Airport Committee will table an answer to a question asked by Deputy G.C.L. Baudains of St. Clement regarding Port Control cover.

The President of the Housing Committee will table answers to questions asked by the Deputy of St. Martin regarding certain roads and footpaths.

The President of the Finance and Economics Committee will table an answer to a question asked by the Deputy of St. John regarding the lease of The Quarry, Gorey Pier.

The President of the Health and Social Services Committee will table an answer to a question asked by Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier of St. Saviour regarding that Committee's recommendations relating to a complaint.

2. Oral Questions

8. MATTERS OF PRIVILEGE
9. PERSONAL STATEMENTS
10. COMMITTEE STATEMENTS
11. PUBLIC BUSINESS

Draft States of Jersey Law 200-. P.124/2004. Lodged: 29th June 2004. (re-issue) Privileges and Procedures Committee.

Draft States of Jersey Law 200- (P.124/2004): comments. P.124/2004. Presented: 28th September 2004. Com. Finance and Economics Committee.

Draft States of Jersey Law 200- (P.124/2004): amendments. P.124/2004. Lodged: 19th October 2004. Amd. Deputy S.C. Ferguson of St. Brelade.

Draft States of Jersey Law 200- (P.124/2004): amendments P.124/2004. (P.124/2004  Amd.) – comments. Amd.Com. Presented: 9th November 2004.

Privileges and Procedures Committee.

Draft States of Jersey Law 200- (P.124/2004): second amendments. P.124/2004. Lodged: 26th October 2004. Amd.(2). Senator E.P. Vibert .

Draft States of Jersey Law 200- (P.124/2004): second amendments P.124/2004. (P.124/2004  Amd.(2)) – comments. Amd.(2)Com. Presented:  9th November 2004.

Privileges and Procedures Committee.

Draft States of Jersey Law 200- (P.125/2004): third amendments. P.124/2004. Lodged: 26th October 2004. Amd.(3). Senator S. Syvret.

Draft States of Jersey Law 200- (P.124/2004): third amendments P.124/2004. (P.124/2004  Amd.(3)) – comments. Amd.(3)Com. Presented: 9th November 2004.

Privileges and Procedures Committee.

Modernisation of Jersey's Gambling Legislation. P.62/2004. Lodged: 20th April 2004. (re-issue) Economic Development Committee.

Modernisation of Jersey's Gambling Legislation (P.62/2004): P.62/2004. comments. Com. Presented: 11th May 2004.

Finance and Economics Committee.

Draft Transfer of Functions (Environment and Public Services P.137/2004. Committee) (No.  2) (Jersey) Act 200-.

Lodged: 20th July 2004.

Environment and Public Services Committee.

Draft Transfer of Functions (Environment and Public Services P.137/2004. Committee) Com. (No. 2) (Jersey) Act 200- (P.137/2004): comments.

Presented: 17th August 2004.

Economic Development Committee.

Draft Dogs (Licence Duty) (Jersey) Regulations 200-. P.169/2004. Lodged: 12th October 2004.

Legislation Committee.

States Auditors: further extension of contract. P.178/2004. Lodged: 19th October 2004.

Finance and Economics Committee.

Meetings of the States in 2005. P.181/2004. Lodged: 26th October 2004.

Privileges and Procedures Committee.

Meetings of the States in 2005 – amendment. P.181/2004. Lodged: 26th October 2004. Amd. Deputy G.C.L. Baudains of St. Clement .

(attached)

M.N. DE LA HAYE Greffier of the States

4th November 2004

WRITTEN QUESTION PAPER (See Item G)

Senator Leonard Norman, President of the Harbours and Airport Committee, will table an answer to the following question asked by Deputy Gerard Clifford Lemmens Baudains of St. Clement -

" ( a)  With regard to the tanker berth forward gangway, would the President confirm whether –

(i ) ar ound February 1998 the tank supporting the gangway reached the end of its life;

( ii ) t he Harbours Department declined the offer of two replacement tanks costing approximately

£10,000;

( ii i) t he gas supply ships required two escape routes, one for'd and one aft, but considered a boat

alongside adequate;

(i v )  i n 1999 the Harbours Department replaced the old system with a facility consisting of six landing

stages (originally three) which tanker operators refused to use because of its design, requiring up to 64 changes of gangway per day on a 40ft. tide; and,

( v ) the six tier device costing approximately £180,000 required the supply of a safety boat on

approximately 450 occasions at a cost of £125 each time due to its failure.

( b ) In light of the above, will the President explain to what extent tanker operators were consulted with

regard to the six tier structure and, given that the original gangway forms part of the latest structure, why over half a million pounds has been expended providing an access route that could have been achieved by purchasing another tank complete with a saving of £10,000?

( c ) Would the President further confirm the existence of a loose lid, unmarked petrol storage vessel nearby

and will he confirm whether the ship discharge hoses are in a leaky condition, and, if so, whether this is deemed unsafe?"

Senator Stuart Syvret, President of the Health and Social Services Committee, will table an answer to the following question asked by the Deputy of St. John -

" W ould the President advise members –

(a ) i f delays are occurring for the scheduling of mammograms, the average length of delay and what

action has been taken to notify the patients?

(b ) o f the waiting time in other areas of medicine, i.e. orthopaedic etc.. and would he advise members

how patients are kept informed about the waiting times?

(c ) w hat plans the Department has to improve waiting times?"

Senator Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf , President of the Environment and Public Services Committee, will table an answer to the following question asked by the Deputy of St. John -

" W ould the President advise members –

(a ) h ow many occasions in 2004 to date has the Cavern not been able to cope with heavy rainfall and

has overflowed into the sea?

(b ) w hen the town drainage scheme will be completed and whether plans are still in place to separate

rainwater from the sewerage system?"

Senator Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf , President of the Environment and Public Services Committee, will table an answer to the following question asked by the Deputy of St. John –

" A s the Committee has now encompassed the former Planning and Environment Committee and part of the Agriculture and Public Services Committees over the passed 21 months, would the President advise members –

(a ) o f manpower savings that have been achieved by the rationalisation of these Committees?

(b ) t he financial savings that have been achieved, in figures, across the entire area?

(c ) o f the progress of the proposal to separate the planning function from the remaining functions of

the department, and when this is likely to occur?"

Senator Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf , President of the Environment and Public Services Committee, will table an answer to the following question asked by the Deputy of St. John –

" W aste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 1997 (No. 315 of 1997) came into operation on 1st August 1997 in the European Union, imposing an obligation on importers and manufacturers of farm plastic to arrange for their collection and recovery. Companies or persons placing farm plastic on the market have a choice of how to discharge the obligation imposed; they can do so individually or by directly undertaking the requirements of the Regulation or collectively by joining a body approved on the basis that it will pursue agreed waste recovery objectives.

W  ould the President advise members –

( a ) how farm potato plastic is recovered in Jersey including bale wrap and bale bags for si l ag e ?

(b ) w hat percentage is recovered annually?

( c ) i n Jersey, does the onus fall on the importers or manufacturers to arrange for collection and

recovery, as in the EU, and if so, how do they discharge this obligation? If not, is this undertaken by the Committee and do the importers or manufacturers reimburse the Committee for this work?"

Senator Terence Augustine Le Sueur, President of the Finance and Economics Committee, will table an answer to the following question asked by the Deputy of St. John –

" 1 . In the Court and Case Cost Final Report dated December 2003 the deficit against budget totalled £3.97 million with a total expenditure of £6.9 million for 2002. Will the President explain what measures exist so as to approve a realistically set budget within this area, and if none exists, give reasons why?

2 . A working party/steering group has been established relating to expenditure incurred by the States of Jersey on Court and Case costs. Would the President advise members whether any of the members who

make up this group are party in any way to law firms or accountancy practices which have carried out works for the Courts over this period. If so, could members be told who these members are, which

practice they represent and how much the particular practice received?"

Senator Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf , President of the Environment and Public Services Committee, will table an answer to the following question asked by Deputy Terence John Le Main of St. Helier –

" 1 . Would the President confirm that £105,000 has been spent by the States supporting a proposal by the Jersey Potato Export Marketing Board to create a Vodka Distillery on a preferred site, namely a 9 vergée field in the middle of the countryside in St. Lawrence, and can he confirm that this proposal could include Bars, Restaurant and visitor facilities?

2 .  I f the answer is in the affirmative, would the President also confirm that this preferred site is currently

precluded from non agricultural development under the following Island Plan Policies -

C 1 S u s ta i n a b il ity and Stewardship of the Countryside

C 2 C o u n t r y si d e character

C 3 B i o d iv e r s it y

C 6 C o u n t r y si d e Zone

I C 9 P r o p o s a ls f or New Industrial Buildings

I C 1 2 N e w I ndustrial developments in the Countryside?

3 . W ill the President therefore confirm that although the proponents of this factory will or could receive

unsold and unsuitable potatoes for no more than 6 weeks in any one year, this could not be considered as an exception to the above policies and classed as an Agricultural undertaking?

4 . W ill the President confirm that his departmental officers are currently undertaking an Environmental

Impact Assessment of this proposal, and advise how many man hours have so far been spent carrying out this assessment and the financial cost?

5 . W ill the President confirm that there are officers of his department visiting and contacting cattle farmers,

riding schools and horse owners to see if there is a local market for by-products of this proposed Vodka Distillery, if so how many officer hours have been spent and what is the financial cost?

6 . W ill the President confirm that in their business plan, the proponents of this Distillery will need to use -

1 0 ,2 00 tonnes of imported wheat per year

p o ta toes for only 80 days a year

5 1 ,4 28 bottles to be imported daily

9 0 0 cu b ic metres of water per day

1 3 , 2 0 0 l itres of oil per day

7 0 t rucks / lorries a day moving goods to and from the site and the harbour.

7 .  I n view of the extreme concern of Islanders, and particularly residents of St. Lawrence and St. John, will

the President give an assurance that no decisions or otherwise will be made if an application is forthcoming either on this preferred site or any other site in Jersey until that public meetings can be held to seek Islanders' views?"

Senator Paul Francis Routier, President of the Employment and Social Security Committee, will table an answer to the following question asked by Deputy Geoffrey Peter Southern of St. Helier –

" 1 . Would the President –

( a )  c o nfirm that a new (married) applicant for short term incapacity (sickness) allowance will

henceforth receive only the single allowance of £145.53 a week in place of the previous allowance for couples of £241.57 a week?

(b )  p ro vide an estimate of how many couples this will affect over the coming year?

(c )  in f orm members what advice will be available from within the Department to couples adversely

affected by this policy on short term benefits?

2 . W ould the President –

(a )  e x plain why the Committee has reduced the benefit payable to a couple on long term incapacity

to £145.53, which is below the "minimum essential budget standard" for couples without children, set at £196.03 a week by the Committee's advisers in the Centre for Research in Social Policy (Loughborough University)("CRSP") Report in 2000?

(b ) e x plain how the "minimum essential budget standard" is calculated, and whether it has changed

in the years since 2000?

(c )  g iv e an estimate of how many couples the reduction affect?

(d )  in f orm members what advice will be available from within the Department to couples adversely

affected by this policy and who will have to cope on this reduced sum over a long period?

3 . W ould the President –

(a )  co n firm that, under the rules adopted by the Committee on 1st October 2004, in the transfer from

short-term to long-term incapacity allowance, a reduction in the benefit payable from the full benefit to a lower figure (say, 60% of the full amount) can occur?

( b ) e x plain the reasoning behind the application of this percentile rule to illness, as well as in j u ry ?

(c )  g iv e an estimate of how many applicants will be affected by this ruling over the coming year, and

by how much does the Committee expect the overall bill for those who were formerly invalidity claimants to be reduced?

(d )  c o nfirm whether the Committee has considered the possibility that the effect of the changes will

be either -

 (i )  t o tr a n sf er the  cost  of incapacity allowance from  the  Committee to the Parish  where

applicants seek welfare in cases of hardship? or

( ii ) t o f o r ce s ome sick people to return to work due to hardship?

4 . W  ould the President advise on the steps taken to explain the impact of this measure to the general public

and to States members; if so, when did the Committee do this; if not, will he do so now?

5 .  H as the Committee considered whether –

(a )  li m iting Home Responsibility Protection to a maximum of 10 years for the care of under fives

will effectively bring an end to either parent choosing to be the home-maker for school-age children, and may damage traditional family life, and

    ( b ) fe m ale pensioner poverty may continue under his scheme as significant numbers of women will

continue to stay at home beyond the prescribed period,

an d i f so, what measures will the Committee put in place to prevent this?

Senator Frank Harris on Walker , Vice-President of the Emergencies Counci, will table an answer to the following question asked by the Deputy of St. John –

"I note in response to written questions put to the Vice-President of the Emergencies Council on 26th October 2004, his reply to (a)(ii) does not appear to fully answer the question "what alternative arrangements have been put in place to cover this role (Parish Civil Emergency Liaison Officer, P.C.E.L.O.)" as his reply stated that "the Comité des Connétable s is currently giving consideration as to who should have responsibility for this function in the future".

G  iven that the P.C.E.L.O's. have been disbanded, would the Vice-President advise members which persons,

if any, currently undertake this work in an emergency and what training they have already received, the date of training and where it has taken place?"

The Connétable of St. Martin , Chairman of the Comité des Connétable s, will table an answer to the following question asked by the Deputy of St. John –

" ( a ) In response to my written questions on 26th October 2004, the Chairman stated that the decision had been taken in May 2004, to disband the P.C.E.L.O.'s and that all Parishes had now disbanded the rôle. Would the Chairman advise members when the various Parishes notified their P.C.E.L.O's. that they were disbanded and give the date this was this done?

( b ) As the Parish of St. Helier retains a P.C.E.L.O. group, would the President inform members who will

replace the P.C.E.L.O.'s in other Parishes?

(c ) Would the Chairman confirm that it has been proposed by the Comité des Connétable s that the

Territorial Army stationed in Jersey would be well placed to undertake the monitoring work formerly carried out by the P.C.E.L.O.s? Would he also advise whether discussions with the Home Affairs Committee have taken place on this matter and when and what was that Committee's response? If the answer is in the negative, will the Chairman explain who is currently carrying out any monitoring work in the event of an accident or emergency?"

Senator Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf , President of the Environment and Public Services Committee, will table an answer to the following question asked by the Deputy of St. John –

"(a) In the Notification of Standing Order Decisions for 14th October 2004, it was stated that an assignment

of a lease for a 99 year period was entered into with Premier Services Marine Engineering Limited for The Quarry, Gorey Pier, Gorey Pier Road. Would the President advise members of the chronology of events and correspondence between the years 2001 to October 2004, between the Property Services Department and Premier Services Marine Engineering Limited, giving reasons for the delays in corresponding with the Company, if any? and,

( b ) Would the President advise members of the annual rental, in actual figures, proposed for the site and

how the figures have been arrived at?"

Deputy Francis Gerald Voisin of St. Lawrence, President of the Economic Development Committee will table an answer to the following question asked by the Deputy of St. John –

"Would the President inform members of the full breakdown of money given to the Jersey Potato Export Marketing Board by way of subsidies/grants to move forward on any Vodka Distillery, and provide full details of how this money was spent, including wages paid to any staff and visits abroad to vodka distilleries?"

Senator Leonard Norman, President of the Harbours and Airport Committee will table an answer to the following question asked by Deputy Gerard Clifford Baudains of St. Clement –

" ( a) Following the closure of the Corbière radio station and proposal to reduce Port Control cover so that between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. only one operator will be on station, will the President inform members how these changes meet MCA guidelines, which require a minimum of three persons manning a coastguard station at all times?

( b ) Would the President confirm that the sole operator will

 ( i) h ave virtually no visual contact with operations;

 ( ii ) at times have to handle VHF and telephone calls simultaneously;  ( ii i)  n ot be available when getting a snack or going to the toilet; and,

( iv )  b e unable to call out the lifeboat in an emergency, but have to telephone the Duty Officer to do so?

( c ) How do the changes equate to the "significant increased levels of safety" and follow "UK guidelines as

best practise", as the President recently described in answers to my previous question?"

Deputy Terence John Le Main, President of the Housing Committee, will table answers to the following questions asked by the Deputy of St. Martin –

" 1 . On 29th July 1980, the States approved the Housing Committee's proposition "Maufant Village, St. Martin/ St. Saviour : transfer of ownership of roads and footpaths (P.97/1980)" in order to transfer the ownership of certain roads and footpaths in Maufant Village to the Parishes of St. Martin and St. Saviour .

W o u l d the President –

(a ) e xplain why the transfer did not take effect? (b ) e xplain who was responsible for the failure?

(c ) a dvise members whether he will be issuing an apology to the Maufant residents?

2 . G iven that the Housing Committee still has ownership of the roads and footpaths but the residents

remain responsible for the cost of any maintenance carried out, would the President –

 ( a )  i nform members whether the Housing Committee has ever established a system to collect an annual

sum of money from each of the 151 Village households to pay for any repairs that may need to be carried out?

(b ) g ive an explanation for the failure if a system was not established;

( c ) explain why the Housing Committee has failed to maintain the roads and footpaths in good

condition?

3 . T he Housing Committee has recently put the reinstatement of the roads and footpaths out to tender.

Would the President advise members –

(a ) o f the number of tenders received?

(b ) t he details of the work to be carried for which the residents are responsible?

(c ) t he details of the highest tender and details of the lowest tender? (d ) w hen the work will commence?

(e ) i f the Committee will be seeking payment from the many residents who have occupied property

and contributed to the wear and tear of the roads and footpaths in the Village since 1980 but no longer live there?

Senator Terence Augustine Le Sueur, President of the Finance and Economics Committee, will table an answer to the following question asked by the Deputy of St. John –

" In th e Notification of Standing Order Decisions for 14th October 2004, it was stated that an assignment of a lease for a 99 year period was entered into with Premier Services Marine Engineering Limited for The Quarry, Gorey Pier, Gorey Pier Road. Would the President advise members of the basis of the Finance and Economics Committee's support of the proposed lease if no figures were shown?"

Senator Stuart Syvret, President of the Health and Social Services Committee, will table an answer to the following question asked by Deputy Roy George Le Hérissier –

"Would the President inform members what recommendations for change the Committee intends making, if any, and to whom, in respect of a complaint by the father in a case involving child custody, and explain why no such recommendations have been made despite the 14 month time lapse that has transpired and the repeated approaches made by the complainant?"

MEETINGS OF THE STATES IN 2005 (P.181/2004): AMENDMENT

In paragraph (a), for the dates in Columns 2 and 3, substitute the dates shown in the table below –

DEPUTY G.C.L. BAUDAINS OF ST. CLEMENT.

Report

I agree wholeheartedly with the Committee that a degree of certainty is required.

I also agree with their analysis that extra sittings will be required towards the end of our three-year cycle. The reasons for this are understandable, although I often wonder why committees can't be better organised and produce a more even flow of work.

However, having studied Privileges and Procedures' table of proposed sittings for 2005 and the Report accompanying it, I was amazed to see that the system we have been following for the last year, and which I believe is recognised by most members as being the most workable of the alternatives, is to be set aside and a completely different format proposed.

My main concern is about the efficient use of Members time.

We have often heard members complain about the massive inconvenience caused when we decide to arrange a sitting at short notice. The Committee's proposition creates a similar problem, only in reverse. At present, when we run out of time we sit again the following Tuesday and I believe this has worked better than other previously tried options. However, if the Committee's proposals are adopted, next year we will, when business can't be completed on a particular sitting, return the following day (Wednesday).

This may seem meritorious until one contemplates those sittings that don't run over. What happens then? It's too short a notice to arrange committee or other meetings, so a day will be wasted. I'm fully aware that we always have paperwork to catch up on, but what about Departmental officers? They will not know whether they have to be available to assist their Presidents or otherwise until close of business on Tuesday – possibly long after they've finished work.

In essence, the Committee's proposals appear to be geared towards those occasions when our business runs over, thereby creating problems when it does not, which should be the majority.

My amendment seeks to retain the status quo, where unfinished business is carried over to the following Tuesday. That gives the degree of certainty required whilst, at the same time, allowing time for useful work to be arranged when those dates are not needed.

By the Committee's own admission it is unlikely that all the dates in column 2 will be needed and even less likely in column 3.

In seeking to retain the status quo, I have left the first column unaltered and provided the following Tuesday in the 2nd column wherever possible. However, there are times when that has not been achievable.

For example, there is a CPA regional conference in the Island starting Monday June 13th. meaning Tuesday 14th June is not available as some members will wish to attend. I believe in any case it is hoped to use the States Chamber for this event. Later on, three days in a row are set down for late July. This is not unusual – it happened this year and 2003 as well – and is to allow business to be finished before the summer recess and allow those who book holidays to be able to do so with some certainty. Finally, the last three entries follow the pre-summer recess format and are similar to the Committee's proposals. This is due entirely to member's wishes not to sit immediately prior to elections (the Senatorial elections are on Oct. 19th and the Deputies' on November 23rd.). I would prefer not to have such bunched up sittings towards the end of the year, but that is unavoidable if members wish to have a two to three week gap at election time.

In conclusion, my amendment seeks, as far as is possible, to retain the present system of sitting the following Tuesday whenever business runs over from a scheduled sitting.  Also, it must not be forgotten that these proposals can only be recommendations and that the States can decide to sit at whatever time it chooses according to the prevailing need.

There are no financial and manpower implications arising out of this amendment.