What steps is the Chief Minister taking to ensure that responses to consultations conducted by all ministerial departments are made available to Scrutiny Panels

2.4   Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier of the Chief Minister regarding availability to Scrutiny of responses to consultation undertaken by ministerial departments:

What steps, if any, is the Chief Minister taking to ensure that responses to consultations conducted by all ministerial departments, through whatever bodies, are made available to Scrutiny Panels?

Senator F.H. Walker (The Chief Minister):

I believe that is important that Scrutiny Panels should be able to take an active part in consultations organised by ministerial departments and that, indeed, has been agreed. Guidelines on public consultation were published in October 2005 and these state that Scrutiny should be notified of a decision deadline for consultation has been expired, the ministerial department concerned will prepare a report outlining responses and a copy will be sent to Scrutiny as well as being placed on the States of Jersey website. In addition, the code of practice states that copies of individual responses should be made available to anyone who asks for them subject to requests from respondents for confidentiality.

1. Deputy G.P. Southern :

Is the Chief Minister aware that consultations which have taken place, conducted by the Employment Forum, and on which we are about to make a decision (i.e. the minimum wage) have not been made available, certainly to this Chairman of the Scrutiny Panel?

Senator F.H. Walker :

I am not but I will establish the facts behind the Deputy 's suggestion.

2. Deputy G.P. Southern :

Would the Chief Minister consider the simple act, on any consultation document that leaves his government to anybody whatsoever, of putting the notice somewhere on that form that responses may be available to Scrutiny and to other branches of the government?

Senator F.H. Walker : Yes, Sir, absolutely.