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2020.05.12
16 Deputy K.F. Morel of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding an agreement to
disinfect the public realm (OQ.115/2020)
Prior to entering into an agreement for the deep cleaning of St Helier's public realm, were environmental impact assessments undertaken by the Minister's Department and, if so, will the Minister share the findings of any such assessments with the Assembly?
Deputy K.C. Lewis (The Minister for Infrastructure):
I can confirm that we have no agreement with the Parish of St. Helier for deep cleaning of the public realm. I have always believed in reducing duplication. We were approached many years ago now by the Constable of St. Helier who suggested that the Parish would clean everything within the Ring Road and T.T.S.(Transport and Technical Services), as was, now Infrastructure, would clean outside of the Ring Road and, apart from a few exceptions such as the market we still clean and one or 2 other areas, that has worked extremely well.
- Deputy K.F. Morel :
The Minister failed to respond to both Deputy Tadier and myself in respect of an environmental impact assessment so I will put it another way. With regard to the cleaning regime that has been questioned twice in this Assembly today, will the Minister confirm whether environmental impact assessments were carried out in advance of any cleaning, whether it is of public toilets or public car parks or anywhere else, will the Minister confirm whether environmental impact assessments were carried out and, if so, will he share those impact assessments, the results, with the Assembly?
Deputy K.C. Lewis :
That was not quite the question but I can confirm that, yes, impact assessments have been done and the staff have been fully trained. They are using a very, very diluted bleach, which is 0.1 per cent, and the staff have been fully trained on how to use the equipment.
- Deputy M. Tadier :
Can I ask the Minister why there is not a deep cleaning taking place of the public realm given the fact that we have a pandemic outbreak and would he also provide a list of all the places in Jersey that will be cleaned with this equipment, whether by his department or by the municipalities?
Deputy K.C. Lewis :
Yes, I can provide a list of the areas that will be cleaned by our own teams or contractors. I am not sure what the Parish of St. Helier cleaning regime is for their particular properties but I will endeavour to find out.
- Deputy K.F. Morel :
Would the Minister provide the Assembly with the evidence to show that the cleaning regimes he is talking about will in any way be effective against COVID-19 because there has been no evidence provided so far?
Deputy K.C. Lewis :
It is just general cleanliness; that is what we do. It is wash your hands, clean your equipment, and places where the public have access to will be cleaned by my team or contractors, which is public toilets, handrails of multi-storey car parks, anywhere that the public would touch with their hands will be cleaned, all the buttons, et cetera, on the lifts, anywhere where the public will touch will be cleaned with this very diluted bleach.