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WRITTEN QUESTION TO CHIEF MINISTER
BY DEPUTY M.R. HIGGINS OF ST. HELIER ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 20th NOVEMBER 2012
Question
In relation to Historic Child Abuse allegations will the Chief Minister:
- explain whether he will be extending the abuse redress scheme to cover visitors to Haut de la Garenne and other children's homes and also to those children in foster care and, if so, when;
- explain whether or not he was aware of allegations that staff allowed people to stay in accommodation at Haut de la Garenne who were neither employed by the States of Jersey nor children referred to the home and under the protection of the States of Jersey and, if so, will he consider extending the redress scheme to cover these people should they be accused of child abuse?
Answer
(a) & (b)
A report from the Historical Abuse Redress Scheme lawyers is due to be considered by the Council of Ministers. The report is in relation to a number of claims for financial compensation that may not strictly fall to be dealt with under the terms of the Scheme currently in place. Those claims include allegations of abuse that took place away from the residential care home and/or where the alleged abuser was neither an employee nor a child-resident in the care home.
The Council of Ministers is meeting on 29 November 2012 to discuss the report.
The Council of Ministers will be reviewing whether the Scheme should be extended to abuse suffered when in foster care. The Council of Ministers is advised that different legal tests and considerations apply to foster care when compared to full-time residential care.