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23.02.07
7 Deputy G.P. Southern of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding
contractual requirements for evening and weekend work for hospital staff (OQ.11/2023)
Does the Minister accept recommendation 5 of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report dated 24th January 2023, which recommends that Government implements contractual requirements to work evening and weekends for all staff involved in the delivery of services in the hospital; and, if so, when will she deliver on this objective?
Deputy K. Wilson (The Minister for Health and Social Services):
As outlined in the code of practice for engagement between Scrutiny Panels and the Public Accounts Committee and the Executive, it is for the relevant chief officer, not the Minister, to respond to the recommendations of the Comptroller and Auditor General. Furthermore, I would note that the report the Deputy refers to, which is our point 7/2023, has only been available for 10 working days and contains 21 recommendations.
[10:30]
The code of practice is clear that it allows a period not exceeding 6 weeks for the Executive to respond to the Public Accounts Committee. In light of this, I would not want to pre-empt a response which is to be presented to the States Assembly in due course, especially if doing so would override any well-established process.
4.7.1 Deputy G.P. Southern :
I can almost feel the officer while he wrote that response, and I congratulate him for it, and to the Minister for using it. However, the reference is to a previous C. and A.G.’s (Comptroller and Auditor General) report some time back that said this is the way forward. On the current report it says very clearly on page 29: “Not implemented.” Could the Minister say why it has not been implemented in quite a significant length of time?
Deputy K. Wilson :
My reference in the question is the report dated 24th January and, as I have stated, the report has only been available for 10 working days. I would prefer to have some sufficient time to advise and receive the advice of officers to come to an informed position. I would suggest the Deputy waits for that presentation, which will be no later than Tuesday, 7th March.