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2025.05.13
2.5 Deputy M.B. Andrews of St. Helier North of the Chair of the Privileges and Procedures Committee regarding States Members confirming their declarations of interest (OQ.121/2025):
Will the chair advise whether States Members who are signed off work for any reason during the annual period within which they must confirm their declaration of interests will be reported to the Commissioner for Standards for not responding within the required timeframe, and if so, why?
Connétable K. Shenton-Stone of St. Martin (Chair, Privileges and Procedures Committee):
Standing Orders require Members to notify the Greffier in writing of any change in or addition to his or her interests within 30 days of that change occurring. On or around 1st June every year, apart from an election year, the Greffier is required to send every Member a copy of their existing interests for review. Members are then required to provide a written confirmation to the Greffier within 30 days that their declaration is correct, or to make changes or additions. If an elected Member fails to provide a written response without a reasonable excuse, then Standing Order 153(5) states that the Greffier must report the matter to the Commissioner for Standards. If Members are signed off work, then that would arguably be a reasonable excuse, but they would need to have informed the Greffier that that was the case. If Members do not share this information with the Greffier and she subsequently receives no reply, despite making several attempts to get in touch with the Member concerned, then the Standing Orders are unequivocal and the matter must be referred to the commissioner. That said, the commissioner will then consider the matter and make contact with the Member. If satisfied that there are mitigating circumstances, the complaint will not be taken forward. I thank Deputy Andrews for this timely question, as it highlights that the Greffier should be made aware of any health issues which may prevent a Member from fulfilling their responsibilities, particularly in relation to their declaration of interests.
2.5.1 Deputy M.B. Andrews :
Would the chair give consideration at her meeting on Monday for circumstances such as parental leave or bereavement leave, and whether that should maybe be incorporated as well as, say, annual leave within Standing Orders, to look at possible ways of modernising Standing Orders and to also be more inclusive for family households?
[10:30]
The Connétable of St. Martin :
I am happy to discuss this with the committee. However, I would say that reasonable time is given to all Members; all Members should be aware that they need to do this on 1st June every year. If the Greffier contacts a Member, then I would say that reasonable time is given. I will discuss this, but I think that, at the moment, the Standing Order is quite fair