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3.15 Deputy M.R. Higgins of the Minister for Economic Development regarding restructuring plans for the Air Traffic Control and Meteorology Sections at Jersey Airport:
Would the Minister advise the Assembly of the restructuring plans for the air traffic control and meteorological sections at Jersey Airport and explain what restructuring is taking place, the rationale behind it and the impact on employment at the airport?
Senator P.F. Routier (Assistant Minister for Economic Development -
rapporteur):
In preparation for the forthcoming relocation of air traffic services into the new purpose-built air traffic control building and tower, Jersey Airport is currently undergoing a review process within that department. This includes evaluating the future technical systems requirements and determining the future level of support and services required in this important new operational setting. This will identify future working practices consistent with modern standards across the industry. I can confirm at this stage of the review process that officers have not briefed, as yet, Jersey Met who are like many other companies located at Jersey Airport who are the service providers to the airport. The review process has yet to be completed therefore it is not appropriate to speculate on its outcome, however once the review is completed I will be fully briefed.
The Bailiff :
That concludes the time allowed for oral questions with notice.
The Deputy of St. John :
May we lift Standing Orders so we may just finish this particular question? The Bailiff :
Standing Orders ought not to be treated trivially, Deputy . If you wish to make a proposition of that kind, it is open to you to make a proposition.
The Deputy of St. John :
Yes, Sir, I would propose that we lift Standing Orders so we may finish this particular question, Sir.
The Bailiff :
Is the proposition of the Deputy of St. John seconded? [Seconded]. I put the proposition on to an appel. Deputy , there is a Standing Order which limits the amount of questions in Oral Questions to 90 minutes and I assume that is Standing Order 63(1), which says that up to 90 minutes shall be allowed during a meeting for questions of which notice has been given to be asked and answered. You are moving that the Standing Order 63(1) be lifted to allow questions without limited time on this question of Deputy Higgins?
The Deputy of St. John :
Correct, Sir.
The Bailiff :
That is seconded by Deputy Tadier and we now proceed to a vote. The Connétable of St. Mary :
Could I ask a question, procedurally? I had understood that it was not possible to lift part of the Standing Order, Sir and that the Standing Orders were lifted in their entirety, in which case would we not also be lifting the part which allows for supplementary questions to be asked?
The Bailiff :
That is a very good question, but I understood it was under consideration by your Committee. It certainly, on the face of it, is the case that a Standing Order rather than a part of a Standing Order can be lifted under Standing Order 80 but the difficulty is that the practice has been, in the past, to allow a part of a Standing Order to be lifted and I understood that your Committee was considering whether or not to make that clearer.
The Connétable of St. Mary :
Yes, Sir, indeed we are but I am dealing with the Standing Orders as they are tabled today, Sir.
The Bailiff :
Are you asking the Chair to enforce the Standing Orders as they are written? The Connétable of St. Mary :
I just raised the point, Sir, because I think, as you have already indicated, Standing Orders are not to be treated trivially, in which case we really ought to understand what we are doing when we try to lift them.
The Deputy of St. Mary :
May I clarify by mentioning Standing Order 80 and the actual wording of Standing Order 80?
The Bailiff :
Yes, Standing Order 80, if I am asked to rule on this, I will rule; Standing Order 80 provides that a Member of the States may propose, without notice, that one or more Standing Orders be suspended for a specified purpose. It is open, I suppose, the question that was put to me by the Connétable of St. Mary as to whether it is possible, under the Standing Orders as they stand at the moment, to lift a part of a Standing Order, a literal and lateral reading of Standing Order 80 does not permit part of a Standing Order to be lifted. It is open to you, Deputy , to propose the lifting of the whole of Standing Order 63, which deals with the questions with notice to be answered orally but, as the Constable has said, that would have a rather deleterious effect upon your purpose, I think.
The Deputy of St. John :
I think you are right, Sir, but historically ... well, since I am back in the Chamber, when we have lifted Standing Order 63, we go on to answer supplementaries and finish the business on the questions and this is the last question, Sir, this morning, so I am asking that the House allow us to lift Standing Order 63 in its entirety and allow supplementary questions of the required period of time.
The Bailiff :
You cannot have your cake and eat it, Deputy . I think you are really asking for
Standing Order 63(1) to be lifted and, driven into a corner, as I am, by the Connétable of St. Mary, I rule that the proposition is out of order. Now we proceed to questions without notice.