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.
22
WQ.301/2019
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR CHILDREN AND HOUSING BY DEPUTY M.R. HIGGINS OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 2nd JULY 2019
Question
Will the Minister request details from the Children's Commissioner of any cases referred to the Commissioner that she concluded did not fall within her remit and that she was therefore unable to address directly; and of the action, if any, the Commissioner took in relation to any such cases and of any advice given by the Commissioner either to the referee(s) or to whom the cases were subsequently referred?
Answer
The Commissioner for Children and Young people is an independent role that is unique and does not resemble other parts of government. The Office is not under the direct authority of the States Assembly, legislature or judiciary. It is at arm's length from the Government. The Minister is not therefore privy to information held by the Commissioner regarding the discharge or performance of the functions of that Office.
The Commissioner will prepare an annual report on the discharge of the Commissioner's functions during the financial year. This report will include a review of issues identified, a review of the functions discharged, an overview of the work for the next financial year, accounts of the office, and recommendations made to the Government.
The Commissioner for Children and Young People (Jersey) Law Part 2 Article 5 sets out the primary and general functions of the Commissioner. Part 3 of the Law describes the formal investigations and assistance functions. The remit of the Commissioner is clearly defined in Law. Should the Commissioner be made aware of issues that are not within the remit of the Law, then the Commissioner will raise those issues with the relevant authority.