Development of a draft migration policy

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QUESTION TO BE ASKED OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY 16th MARCH 2004, BY SENATOR P.V.F LE CLAIRE

Question 1

Would the President –

( a ) inform members of the progress on developing the Migration Policy?

( b ) inform members who is now responsible for this work for the Committee?

( c ) give details of the proposals being developed at present?

( d ) inform members when the Committee will be briefing States members and the public on this matter? Answer

1. FollowingtheStatesdebateonP.102/2003,asamended,on7th October 2003, the Policy and Resources Committee established a SteeringGroupinordertodevelopproposalsfor a draftmigration policy. The membershipof the Group is drawn from a rangeofStates' Committees, and the membersare:SenatorL. Norman,SenatorM.E. Vibert , the Deputy of Trinity , the Deputy of St. Ouen, Deputy G.P. Southern , Deputy P.N. Troy , Deputy J.B. Fox, Deputy M.A. Taylor and, until recently, Deputy S.C. Ferguson whohas now been replacedbySenatorP.F. Routier.

T h e Steering Group is supported by an officer Working Group, chaired by Mr. Bill Ogley and consisting of

senior  officers  representing  the  following  States  departments:  Housing,  Economic  Development,  Home Affairs, Policy and Resources, Employment and Social Security, and Education, Sport and Culture.

T  he Steering Group has been making good progress in developing outline proposals for a draft migration

policy, within the terms set out in P.102/2003, as amended, and will shortly be reporting back to the Policy and Resources Committee.

2. The SteeringGroup is chaired by Senator P.F.C. Ozouf and, although he is nolonger a memberof the Policy and ResourcesCommittee, I am pleased to say that he hasagreedto continue tochair this importantgroup.
3. The proposalsbeingdevelopedare innovative andcould have far-reachingimplications for the waywe manage migration. Theyfocusondeveloping a comprehensivepopulation database, establishing a more integrated approachwhichbringstogether the current systems of housingandemploymentcontrols,and reducing bureaucracy for businesses and individuals living in Jersey.
4. The WorkingGroup has prepared a draft report, which is to be considered bytheCommitteeon 8th April 2004, and will be submittedto the States beforethe end of April. The purposeofthe report, to bepublished as an R.C.' rather than as a proposition, will be to outline the principles of a migration policy and to enable a wider discussion on the approach being considered.

G  iven the important and wide-ranging implications of a migration policy, there is still a considerable amount

of work to complete before a final report and proposition can be lodged, hopefully within the next few months.

Question 2

Would the President inform the Assembly what timetable is being proposed for the Migration Policy and how will this affect the Island's position with people currently in Jersey once 1st May 2004 deadline has passed?

Answer

In view of the answer I have given previously, it would be unreasonable for anyone to expect a new migration policy to be brought into effect before 1st May 2004.

But the date of 1st May is not a deadline' in any way. On that day, nationals of the ten new Member States of the European Union will be entitled to enter the Island without work permits, but they will still be subject to the same migration controls that apply to all E.U. nationals in the Island, i.e. the Housing Regulations and Regulation of Undertakings and Developments Law, together with the residence criteria for entitlement to Social Security Benefits. In this regard, nothing will change.

Question 3

Would the President inform members how changes to the Treaty of Rome that have been made, or are planned to be made, will affect the Island?

Answer

The expression Treaty of Rome' refers to the United Kingdom's Act of Accession to the Common Market, as it was in 1972. As members are aware, the proposed new European Constitution would consolidate the existing Accession Treaties into one document, and also remove any obsolete or transitional provisions in the original Treaties.

In negotiating the proposed changes to Protocol 3, which defines the relationship of the Channel Islands and Isle of Man with the European Union, the primary objective was to ensure our existing relationship was preserved unchanged.  I have already informed members of the successful outcome of our negotiations, and I have every expectation that if the new Constitution is agreed by the EU member states, Jersey's position will be preserved and fully protected by European law.