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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHIEF MINISTER
BY DEPUTY M.R. HIGGINS OF ST. HELIER ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 10th MARCH 2015
Question
Will the Chief Minister set out for members details of all discussions that have taken place with the Jersey Care Inquiry Team from the time it was appointed regarding funding of the Inquiry, stating when these discussions took place, the individuals involved and the nature of what was discussed?
Will he further state why he chose the Minister for External Relations or a member of the External Relations Department to take part in these discussions when the Minister for External Relations may well be asked to give evidence before the Inquiry in his capacity as a Crown Officer and Bailiff during the period under investigation and his role in the Jervis-Dykes and Roger Holland affairs in particular?
Answer
The Inquiry Panel maintains an ongoing dialogue with the States Greffe regarding funding, either with the Greffier of the States, as the Accounting Officer for the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry funding, or through the States Liaison Officer to the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry, who administers the funding.
In addition, officers from the Treasury & Resources Department and the Chief Minister's Department have met the Panel from time to time to discuss funding, at the request of the Council of Ministers.
These discussions have related only to funding. Since January 2015, discussions between officers and the Inquiry Panel have included the Chief Officer for External Relations and Constitutional Affairs from the Chief Minister's Department, who has worked alongside the Treasurer of the States to ensure that the Council of Ministers has been properly informed regarding funding and the constitutional arrangements for committees of inquiry.
Ministers have not held discussions with the Inquiry Panel. Ministers have considered Inquiry funding at Council of Ministers meetings held on 30th July 2014, 28th January 2015 and 11th February 2015, leading
to the lodging of the proposition: Committee of Inquiry: Historical Child Abuse – Additional Funding (P.20/2015) in order that the States Assembly can decide upon this matter.