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2.1 Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier of the Minister for Economic Development regarding protection of the Island's skills and training base following the privatisation of Jersey Telecom:
With respect to the telecommunications industry, could the Minister inform Members whether he will use the provisions of the Regulations of Undertakings Law to protect the Island's skills and training base following the privatisation of Jersey Telecom?
Senator P.F.C. Ozouf (The Minister for Economic Development):
Ensuring local people have jobs and receive training is always a key consideration when applying the Regulations of Undertakings Law whether in respect of Jersey Telecom, any other telecommunications company or, indeed, any other business. This was clearly set out in the report and proposition lodged by the Treasury and Resources Minister in respect of the sale of Jersey Telecom.
- Deputy G.P. Southern :
Could the Minister explain to Members how he proposes to use R.U.D.L. (Regulations of Undertakings Law)?
Senator P.F.C. Ozouf :
I can explain how we currently use R.U.D.L. in respect of all businesses in the Island. As the Deputy will know, when considering staff applications and staff changes, numbers and dealing with 3-year job licences, one is always looking for employers to show that they are training their staff, that they are minimising the applications for incoming new workers. Jersey Telecom will be dealt with in no different circumstances than any other industry or any other businesses applying to the department.
- Deputy G.P. Southern :
So any company making a bid for Jersey Telecom, following privatisation, would be aware that there would be these conditions attached, that they must maintain the skills base and the apprenticeship schemes that they already run for technical operatives?
Senator P.F.C. Ozouf :
Jersey Telecom will not be, and is currently not, treated any different to any other organisation. The new telco companies were treated in exactly the same way in respect of the requirements of employing local people and we demand, and indeed are, raising the bar in terms of skills. At the launch yesterday of the Skills Executive with my colleagues, the Minister for Education and Social Security, clearly indicates that we are looking for all companies in Jersey and Jersey Telecom to train their staff to maintain a high skilled, productive based work force.
- Deputy J.A. Martin of St. Helier :
Could the Minister inform the House how many staff under the Regulations of Undertakings Law the other 2 operators with telecoms have; broken down into front office staff and skilled telecommunications staff?
Senator P.F.C. Ozouf :
The Deputy will be aware that I never discuss, by matter of convention and indeed for confidentiality reasons, the Regulation of Undertakings licences of other entities. I am happy to be scrutinised by the panel in private session but I am afraid I am not prepared to reveal the individual job licences for any organisation in the Island including Jersey Telecom.
- Deputy P.V.F. Le Claire of St. Helier :
I noted this week that there was some suggestion that the tourism employees might have to reapply for their jobs when that transfers over into a different structure. Is that going to have any bearing on the way that Jersey Telecom will also operate in the future?
Senator P.F.C. Ozouf :
With respect, I do not think that has anything to do with the issue of Jersey Telecom at all. In respect of Jersey Tourism let me, for the avoidance of doubt, say that I think the Jersey Tourism staff do an absolutely great job and we are going to be working with those staff and the industry to find a better way to deal with the marketing of Jersey. This has nothing to do with Jersey Telecom.