The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
1240/5(8005)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHIEF MINISTER
BY DEPUTY G.C.L. BAUDAINS OF ST. CLEMENT ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 2nd DECEMBER 2013
Question
Would the Chief Minister advise whether he would consider resigning himself if the States refuses to dismiss a Minister on a proposition lodged by the Chief Minister?
Would the Chief Minister agree to publish his motives for seeking to remove the Minister for Planning and Environment should he decide ultimately not to pursue the matter and, if not, why not?
Answer
I would not consider resigning if the States Assembly were to vote against dismissing a Minister on a proposition lodged by me. I would not bring forward such a proposition without either majority or unanimous support from the Council of Ministers.
Ministers are appointed by the Assembly and hold office while they command the confidence of a majority of Members. The Council of Ministers neither appoints nor dismisses Ministers.
The Privileges and Procedures Committee's Machinery of Government Sub-Committee has recommended sensible improvements to the appointment and dismissal of Ministers, which I hope Members will support when they have the opportunity to do so next year.
The issue of confidence in the Planning and Environment Minister is an important matter which needs to be handled properly. A process has begun which takes time and requires a number of meetings before it can be fully resolved. I will not be discussing the matter in public until it has been dealt with in the appropriate way.