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WQ.141/2022
WRITTEN QUESTION TO
THE CHAIR OF THE PRIVILEGES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE BY DEPUTY R. J. WARD OF ST. HELIER
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON TUESDAY 19th APRIL 2022 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 26th APRIL 2022
Question
“In relation to e-petitions, will the Chair advise –
- how many petitions have been launched since the start of the e-petitions process;
- what the estimated cost is to date of the system;
- how many debates in the Assembly have arisen from e-petitions; and
- how many propositions, if any, have subsequently been lodged and come to the Assembly?”
Answer
The States Greffe administers the E-petition system in accordance with the Assembly’s adoption of E-Petitions: introduction (P.123/2017). The system was introduced by the Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC) following the earlier adoption of an in-principle proposition from Deputy Scott Wickenden, E-petitions (P.14/2017).
The e-petition system was introduced after the election in May 2018
- As at 21 April 2022, 320 e-petitions have been made live on the e-petition system
- No staff costs – tech costs?
- It is presumed that this refers to those e-petitions that exceed 5,000 signatures and are therefore debated in the Assembly –
6 e-petitions have exceeded 5,000 signatures. Of those, 4 were debated by the Assembly;
Debated
Rental price caps law to limit rental prices to reasonable rents 5,298
Make it law to stop ‘Hit and Run’ for Cats 5,385
Higher sentences for paedophiles. 5,100
Write off income tax liability for prior year if moved to current year basis. 5,774
Not debated
Put Jersey on a lockdown during the Coronavirus outbreak. 6,048
Emergency support for self employed business affected by coronavirus epidemic. 5,876
In relation to the not debated e-petitions, the island was put into lockdown before this could be debated and a debate was therefore not necessary. Similarly emergency support was put in place for the self-employed before the e-petition could be debated.
- Of those debated, three were general debates on the subject matter at which no vote was taken.
In relation to the e-petition requesting that it be made law to stop after hitting a cat, the Assembly unanimously agreed the following proposition (brought by Deputy Jeremy Macon): P.30/2019 as amended –
to request the Ministers for Infrastructure and the Environment to consult on how cats could be given additional legal protection in the event of death or injury in a road traffic accident involving a motor vehicle, with the consultation to include consideration of the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956, the Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law 2004 and other legislation as appropriate.
This resulted in the adoption of the Draft Road Traffic (No.68) (Jersey) Regulations 2021 in April 2021
Other propositions which would appear to be linked to e-petitions [review only undertaken on those e- petitions exceeding 1,000 signatures];
Break up from school a week earlier 4,259 signatures Debated under P.163/2020 on 10th December 2020
Change the law to protect all vulnerable road users - Introduce Freddie’s Law 3,737 signatures Debated under P.5/2021 on 3th March 2021
Cease paying income tax on Social Security pensions. 2,705 signatures Discussed during QWON 05.10.21
Stop the de minimis level being reduced from £240 to £135 2,597 signatures Number of OQ and WQ
Follow Scotland and make period products free for all. 2,231 signatures Number of OQ and WQ
P.66/2022 – to be debated on 25th April 2022
Assisted Dying - allow individuals of capacity their own end of life choices 1,861 signatures Debated under P.95/2021 on 24th December 2021
Close School and colleges in Jersey during the outbreak of the COVID-19
1,781 signatures
Draft Covid-19 (Schools and Day Care of Children) (Jersey) Regulations 202- [P.30/2020] debated 27th March 2020
Ban any fireworks for sale in Jersey unless they are low noise fireworks. 1,742 signatures [Firework legislation still pending]
Reinstate Samares Ward to its full complement of 28 beds and previous services. 1,561 signatures Debated under P.115/2021 on 19th January 2022
Reopen Broad Street to traffic 1,506 signatures
[Not the same debate – as this e-petition was post covid. But Broad Street was debated under P.28/2021]
Allow companions to Ante-natal Scans. 1,455 signatures Urgent Oral question 17/12/2020
Revoke the Bay of Granville Fishing Agreement 1,231 signatures
Ongoing work ultimately led to the UK-EU Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement – Inclusion of the Bailiwick of Jersey [P.170/2020] debated on 27th December 2020
Ban all new plastic carrier bags from being given out or sold in Jersey Debated as P.64/2020 on 16th June 2020
1,213 signatures
Remove People's Park, St. Andrew's Park & Millbrook site from hospital shortlist 1,023 signatures First Tower Park – P.92/2020 - withdrawn
Millbrook – P.102/2020 - withdrawn
People’s Park – P.117/2020 - withdrawn
Stop urban sprawl - Save St Helier fields from the Island Plan Numerous amendments were made to the Bridging Island Plan
1,004 signatures