Community involvement initiatives and matters relating to the draft Strategic Plan 2006-2011

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WRITTEN QUESTIONS TO THE CHIEF MINISTER BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 28th MARCH 2006

Question 1

1. W o uld the Chief Minister inform members what involvement, if any, Scrutiny Officershad in the meeting of 35 senior and front line civil servantsto discuss communityinvolvement initiatives in January 2006 referred to underA1.of the Council ofMinistersMinutesof 28th February 2006?
2. F o llowingthe adoption by the States ofP.16/2006(Establishmentof a Citizens' Panel: Approval by States Assembly), will the Chief Minister indicate whether he still intends to establish an "Oversight Panel" or use expertwitnesses to surveytheopinionsof Islanders and, if so, how will the appointments process operate independentlyand without duplication ofthe legitimate aims of scrutiny?

Answer

1. The minutesof 28th February 2006, relate to thehalf-dayworkshopon 11th January 2006, that wasattended by officers from a rangeof States departments. Letters of invitation were sent to all Chief Officers, with a request for nominationsof officers with an active involvementincommunityengagement.Nonominations were received in respect of the Scrutiny Officers, but they would be welcome to participate in future events.
2. The Council of Ministersis indeed still considering the establishment of a Citizens' Panel, as noted in its comments on P.16/2006. Deputy Southern may recall that this subject was discussedon 9th March 2006, at a joint meetingoftheCouncilofMinistersandthe Scrutiny Chairmens' Committee,when it was agreed to explore the notion of a Citizens' Panel serving both the executiveandscrutiny functions. Asagreed at that meeting, this issomethingonwhich the Councilof Ministers and Scrutiny Chairmens' Committee will need to worktogether,and I look forward to further discussions on this point. Thesediscussionswill, I amsure, address jointly the issue ofhow appointments would bemade to the panel.

Question 2

Will the Chief Minister state whether the actions outlined in paragraph 5.2.8 of the draft Strategic Plan 2006- 2011, namely "to meet, where possible, international standards set through the extension of international treaties and  conventions" extends  to  include  the  International  Labour  Organisation  conventions  87  (on  freedom  of association and protection of the right to organise) and 98 (on right to organise and to bargain collectively)?

Answer

The actions described in the draft Strategic Plan "to meet, where possible, international standards set through the extension of international treaties and conventions" includes all the international agreements and conventions which currently apply to Jersey or may be extended to the Island in future.

The Island Authorities have reported to the International Labour Organisation on conventions 87 (on freedom of association and protection of the right to organise) and 98 (on right to organise and to bargain collectively) as recently as August 2004, outlining the measures that have been taken to fulfil as fully as possible their obligations under these conventions.  The report was copied to the TGWU and the Chamber of Commerce, and information on the report was also included in the periodic report on international conventions and agreements laid before the States on 21st December 2004.

Further information on these Conventions has also been presented to the States on 21st March 2006, by the Minister for Social Security (Employment Legislation: Petition – comments', P.214/2006)

Question 3

What measures does the Chief Minister envisage to correct "the deficiency in the Teachers' Pension scheme" as noted on page 11 of the draft Strategic Plan 2006-2011?

Answer

Following on from the Strategic Plan, the States will be asked in the Business Plan later this year to agree that additional funding should be made available to reduce the deficiency in the Teachers' Pension Scheme. This additional funding would consist of an increase of £1.3 million a year in the employer's contribution to the Pension scheme over the period 2007 to 2011, and would be added to the budget for Education, Sport and Culture.

In addition, a review of the teachers' pension scheme is currently under way, and this review will identify whether any further measures are needed. The States will, of course, be kept informed as to the outcome of that review.

Question 4

Based on the target for 2% economic growth over the 5 year period of the draft strategic Plan 2006-2011, how much revenue does the Chief Minister estimate being placed in the "Stabilisation Fund" proposed on page 11 of the Plan?

Answer

As noted in the Strategic Plan, it is envisaged that budget surpluses will be paid into the Stabilisation Fund at times of economic growth and that withdrawals will be made from the Fund at times of recession. The actual amounts to be paid into the Fund will, therefore, depend on the performance of the economy.

The Treasury and Resources Minister is currently working on more detailed proposals for the establishment of the Stabilisation Fund. This work will address such issues as when the fund should be established, what the size of the fund should be, how it should be financed initially, and what rules should apply in relation to contributions and  withdrawals.