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WQ.397/2023
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHAIR OF THE PRIVILEGES AND PROCEDURES
COMMITTEE
BY DEPUTY R.J. WARD OF ST. HELIER CENTRAL
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 16TH OCTOBER 2023
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 23RD OCTOBER 2023
Question
"Will the Chair state the total cost since May 2022 of investigations undertaken by the Commissioner for Standards that have reached a conclusion?"
Answer
The former Commissioner for Standards, Paul Kernaghan was in office from September 2017 – February 2023. From May 2022 to February 2023 the total cost for the work undertaken by the Commissioner was £2,000. The costs relate to 4 caseloads only - none of the caseloads led to formal investigations during the May 2022 – February 2023 timeframe.
The current Commissioner for Standards, Dr Melissa McCullough was appointed in February 2023. Since February 2023, there have been 14 caseloads in total. Of the 14 caseloads (5 of which have closed) there have been 3 concluded investigations:
• R.107/2023 - Investigation of Complaint of Breach of the Code of Conduct for Elected Members by Deputy K.F Morel and Deputy K.L. Moore
• R.129/2023 - Investigation of Complaint of Breach of the Code of Conduct for Elected Members by M.R Scott
• R.130/2023 – Investigation of Complaint of Breach of the Code of Conduct for Elected Members by M.B Andrews (which combined 2 caseloads)
The total cost of caseloads and initial setting up costs from this period is £29,750 (62 days in total). In relation to the investigations above, approximately 18 days in total were spent on investigative work and report writing totalling £9,000. This work spanned from March 2023 to the submission of the Commissioner's final reports (June 2023 for R.107/2023 and August 2023 for R.129/2023 and R130/2023).
The total cost for Commissioner for Standards work since May 2022 is £31,150.