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3.10 Deputy S. Power of St. Brelade of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the future use of the Overdale site:
Page 179 of the annex to the 2008 Business Plan, not 2007, refers to the Overdale Hospital Westmount St. Helier , and it refers to consideration of the partial release of the land to take account of Health and Social Services requirements. Would the Minister advise Members whether he considers that the whole of the Overdale site should be retained for Health and Social Services and should not be partially released or broken up? Thank you, Sir.
Senator S. Syvret (The Minister for Health and Social Services)
The whole of the Overdale site should be retained in Health and Social Services control and usage. I would point out that the part of the Business Plan in question that the Deputy refers to unfortunately was prepared and lodged without it being discussed first with the officers of my department, nor with myself. I can give the Deputy and the Assembly a categorical assurance that as far as I am concerned, and as far as the officers working on the strategic plans for the future of the Island's health service are concerned, there is absolutely no wish, desire, intention whatsoever to see any portion of this site sold off. We have, in fact, made this point many times in the course of the last 18 months perhaps, but for some reason we appear to be receding away from joined-up government and the Property Services Department never takes any notice.
3.10.1 Deputy S. Power:
Could I ask the Minister to further clarify, then, the phraseology that is used on page 179 of the annex, which refers to the partial release of the land, my interpretation of that is that it refers to the partial release of the land, having taken account of Health and Social Services requirements. Can the Minister confirm that none of that phraseology came from within his department?
Senator S. Syvret:
Yes, Sir, I certainly can. That phraseology has been used by those who have drawn up the plan and in particular that section which deals with property will largely have been driven by the Property Services Department. There is no prospect or need, or any advantage, in releasing land from that
site. For a variety of reasons it remains a very strategically important location for Health and Social
Services, and maybe if we carry on saying this for a few more years Property Services might get the idea.