Following the appointment of a liaison director to the Civil Aviation Authority, how many staff will be required to support the director and the annual overall staffing and administration costs

2.4   Deputy F.J. Hill of St. Martin of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the number of staff required to support the Director to the Civil Aviation Authority and the annual overall staffing and administration costs:

Following the appointment of a liaison director to the Civil Aviation Authority, will the Minister advise Members of the number of staff that will be required to support the director and the annual overall staffing and administration costs?

Senator W. Kinnard (The Minister for Home Affairs):

An existing States' employee previously employed at Jersey Airport has been transferred to a new post of Director of Civil Aviation in a designate capacity. Legislation is required to separate out the safety regulatory functions of the airport director's post, which will then become the responsibility of the Director of Civil Aviation, or D.C.A. The D.C.A. will remain in a designate capacity until the legislation is enacted. The current staffing level is one person. During the coming months and until the legislation is in place, work is continuing to refine the precise requirements of the safety regulator and the resources that will be required to deliver the required separation of the safety regulator, D.C.A., from the service provider, Jersey Airport.

The Deputy of St. Martin :

I had a little difficulty hearing, but I asked the question how many members and how much would the costs be? I did not hear the answer. Maybe the answer was given? I did not hear it. If it was given, could I hear it again, please?

Senator W. Kinnard:

I did not realise my voice was so quiet. One person, Sir.

The Deputy of St. Martin : The costs, please?

Senator W. Kinnard:

I did explain that there is work going on over the coming months as the law is being developed to work out exactly what the requirements will be in terms of separating the regulatory functions from the service provider functions at Jersey Airport.

1. The Deputy of St. Martin :

Could I ask the Minister what would the consequences be for the Island if indeed this appointment is not made?

Senator W. Kinnard:

The United Kingdom was audited by the Civil Aviation organisation in the year 2000 for its adherence to internationally agreed safety standards. Although, Sir, there is nothing to suggest or imply that there is any currently unsafe practice at Jersey Airport, the fact of the matter is that the U.K. was found wanting in terms of its overseas territories, which of course includes Jersey. It was found wanting in the sense that it did not have the separations, Sir, between service provider and regulator. The overseas territories have subsequently established D.C.A.s. The next audit of the U.K. is programmed for early 2009, Sir. The Isle of Man has appointed already a D.C.A. more than 12 months ago and Guernsey has advertised the vacancy a few months ago, so we are falling into line with the other overseas territories, Sir.

2. Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:

I wanted to say, could the Minister tell us at what cost it is to other jurisdictions like the Isle of Man and Guernsey for the whole function to be established?   What costs are they telling her are entailed?

Senator W. Kinnard:

I do not have that information before me. This is something that I would have to go into discussions in with Economic Development to provide the further information and I am happy to do so.

3. Deputy S.C. Ferguson:

There was talk of combining the 2 areas, Jersey and Guernsey, together and having one officer. What happened to that?

Senator W. Kinnard:

I believe the Chief Minister may have answered that last week. I think there was an attempt to do so but it failed.