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2.4 Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade of the Vice-Chairman of Comité des Connétable s regarding the continuation of the unpaid role of Constable if no longer ex officio' members of the States in future:
I hope the Comité has had a chance to at least prepare this answer in their busy schedules. Can the Vice-Chairman confirm that as the role of the Constable is an honorary position, with Constables only being paid for their membership of the States, the position would remain unpaid if they were to lose their ex officio States role?
Connétable D.J. Murphy of Grouville (Vice-Chairman, Comité des Connétable s):
On 19th October 2010, the answer to a written question was tabled advising that the Constables do not receive any pay from their Parishes for the duties they perform on behalf of their Parish. The Constables are eligible for remuneration in their capacity as elected Members of the States of Jersey in accordance with Articles 1 and 44 of the States of Jersey Law 2005 and this entitlement to remuneration is wholly dependent on their remaining elected Members of the States Assembly.
2.4.1 Deputy M. Tadier :
Thank you, that was a very clear answer. The reason I asked that is, of course, that there is one campaign group who is called Option B which is going around telling the public that if the Constables are removed, then the Parishioners will have to pay for the Constables via their rates and we will end up with 42 States Members and 12 extra politicians who will be paid for, therefore more politicians. Could the Vice-Chairman confirm that, as it currently stands, there are no plans, certainly from his side of the Comité, to ask for remuneration in the eventuality that Connétable s lose their automatic seats in the States Assembly?
The Connétable of Grouville :
No, we do not have any plans for anything like that at all. The whole of this situation would depend on the parochial assemblies and I might remind the Deputy that the role of the Parish Assembly is different to a Parish meeting. The Parish Assembly does not extend to matters beyond those specifically relating to the administration of the Parish. On occasions, meetings are held in Parish Hall s to debate matters of local interest. Those are informal proceedings and must not be confused with the formal business of the Parish Assembly, which is what it would need in order to change the situation of the Constable within the Parish.