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1240/5(3315)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PRIVILEGES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE BY DEPUTY P.V.F. LE CLAIRE OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 15th MAY 200
Question
- Has the Committee considered the positionof the unelected membersof the States as part of the reform proposals and, ifso,onhowmanyoccasions?
- Whatpossibleproposals for change, if any, have been discussedby the Committee?
- Have any backgroundpapersrelatingtothepositionoftheun-electedmembersof the States been prepared and if so when will thesepapersbe circulated tomembers for consultation?
Answer
- The present Privileges and ProceduresCommittee has only considered the position ofthe unelected members of the States ononeoccasionsinceit was appointed in December2005.On that occasion the Committee agreed that the position of the unelectedmemberswas a matter that the Committee did not wish to address at the present timeas the Committee's priority isto try to find an acceptable solutiononthereformofthe composition and election oftheStatesin relation totheelectedmembers.
T h e Committee's view is that any attempt to consider the position of the unelected members during the on-
going process of seeking to reform the overall composition of the Assembly would merely complicate an already difficult issue when there is no evidence of any significant public or political pressure to change the current rôle of these members. The Committee is therefore concentrating its efforts on the position of the elected members and, notwithstanding the outcome of the debates at the last meeting, will be publishing a further report on that matter in the near future.
A ny investigation into the position of the unelected members, namely the Bailiff , His Excellency the
Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, the Solicitor General and the Dean, would raise very fundamental issues relating to the Island's constitution and relationship with the Crown. All of these offices have a long historical significance for Jersey and even small changes to part of the rôle of these members could have wide ramifications. Although PPC has not ruled out the possible need for a review in due course any such review would need to be undertaken with great care and could not be undertaken by the Committee alone. It is probable that the most appropriate way to undertake a review would be establish some form of independent review body with appropriately qualified members.
- and (c)
A s stated above there are no current proposals relating to the unelected members and, as a result, no papers
have been prepared.