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1240/5(1830)
QUESTION TO BE ASKED OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY, 1st APRIL 2003, BY DEPUTY T.J. LE MAIN OF ST. HELIER
Question
In January 2001, several members of the States attended a presentation by De La Rue as consultants commissioned by the Policy and Resources Committee to explore a smart card' system for Jersey. As a result of this consultation, it was agreed that the Committee would begin work immediately on more detailed proposals in preparation for the matter to be taken to the States. Would the President inform members -
(a ) t he reasons for the delay in recommendations coming to the States? and,
(b ) w hen the matter is likely to be brought before the States for consideration in the form of a report and
proposition?
Answer
- I w ill answer the Deputy 'squestion (a) in the same manner I responded to him by letter on 26th February this year.
T h e issue of smartcards was included as part of the previous Committee's proposals contained in
P.101/2002 for a new resident's database' system which would underpin the proposed combined licence' regime. In effect, should those proposals have been approved, all residents would eventually be on the system and would be in possession of a card, which could also perhaps be used – subject to explicit public agreement and the necessary human rights and data protection issues having been addressed, for accessing public services such as primary health care, benefits, etc. However, P.101 was not adopted due to a tied vote in the States and thus the licensing system proposed was not approved.
A lt h ough the outgoing Committee did come back to the States in November with a revised set of
proposals in its Population Policy Report', P.205/2002, which retained the idea of the new licensing scheme, that proposition has, of course, yet to be debated.
- T h e Policy and Resources Committee will beconsidering its position in relation to population' again this week andintends,subjectofcourse to agreementbeingreached,tolodge a newreportandproposition,to replace P.205later this month.
S h o u ld the Committee's proposals be approved, which do currently retain the proposal for a residents'
licensing scheme, the next step will be for the Housing and the Economic Development Committee's to work with the Policy and Resources Committee to develop and bring forward proposals on how this scheme might work in practice. I would hope that given a commitment from all parties to move forward quickly, a scheme could be devised and brought forward before the end of this year.