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5.8 Deputy F.J. Hill of St. Martin of the Chief Minister regarding Jersey Human Rights training:
Further to responses given on 2nd February 2010, will the Chief Minister inform Members of the advice and training now given to the newly appointed States employees on the Jersey Human Rights Law, what refresher training is given to existing staff and whether a human rights working group has been re-established to raise awareness of the Jersey Human Rights Law?
Senator T.A. Le Sueur (The Chief Minister):
No specific training is given to newly appointed staff under Jersey Human Rights Law. When people are appointed to posts that carry responsibility or enacting the principles enshrined in that law, their competence and suitability to carry out that responsibility and behave in an appropriate way will be tested during the recruitment process. For existing employees, the application of the civil servant competency framework ensures the staff are aware of the need to act with integrity and to treat colleagues, users of the services and members of the public fairly, equally and with respect as part of their normal career development plan. Before establishing a working party to look at any issue, including staff awareness, there would need to be a compelling reason to do so. I am not aware of any significant human rights issues in Jersey that require such action at the present time.
- The Deputy of St. Martin :
It is very much the answer I did expect and have had the similar answer for the past 2 years. Could I just ask the Chief Minister, he says there are no concerns. How does he measure that? In what way can he make that statement: "No concerns about any human rights or lack of human rights awareness"?
Senator T.A. Le Sueur :
I can merely say that no such concerns have been brought to my attention or, as far as I know, the attention of the department concerned.
- The Deputy of St. Martin :
Last year we were informed that a booklet and video, that had been produced as a training aid, for ongoing management training is provided, but today we have heard that there is no training being provided today. Can the Chief Minister reconcile the answers from last year to the answer from this year, why no training is being given?
Senator T.A. Le Sueur :
I said that, for existing employees, the competency framework and the normal career development plans, which will include a variety of things, are maintained. I said there was no specific training under human rights aspects because there has been no evidence of any compelling reason to focus on that particular section.
- The Deputy of St. Martin :
Yes. Again, last year the Deputy Chief Minister gave an assurance to the House that he would be meeting and discussing the possibility of setting up a working party to organise training, et cetera. Can the Chief Minister inform Members when that meeting took place for them to make this decision that it was not necessary to re- establish a working group?
Senator T.A. Le Sueur :
As I said in my original answer, before setting up any working party, there would need to be some compelling reason to do so. Neither I nor the Deputy Chief Minister have seen or been presented with any compelling reason to do so, so far.