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PERSONAL STATEMENT TO BE MADE BY DEPUTY G.C.L. BAUDAINS OF ST. CLEMENT ON TUESDAY 21ST FEBRUARY 2012
Having previously served on the Privileges and Procedures Committee, I am well aware of the difficulty of finding options for improvements to our Machinery of Government that are acceptable to this Assembly.
During the three years I was on that committee we wrestled with a wide range of possible solutions and endured hours of debate – all to no avail.
Mindful of those deliberations I believe I have a fair knowledge of both the problems and which solutions are likely to find favour with members – as well as those that are not.
It was also my feeling that it was more likely to get meaningful changes through this Assembly at an early stage rather than once members have become comfortable in whatever work they are doing.
It was the latter which drove me to lodge P.187 in 2011, a proposition which sought to establish an in-principle position which the present PPC could aim for.
Members will recall they were persuaded to defer debate of this Proposition in order to let the Committee look at issues in the round'.
My fear is that by following essentially the same path as previous incarnations of PPC, the present Committee will fare no better than its predecessors.
Having said that, and being committed to rectifying the shortcomings of our present system, I am delighted to be accepted onto the sub-committee looking into Machinery of Government issues - where I hope my previous experience will be useful.
Clearly, as events have now overtaken my proposition there seems little point in having it recurring on the Order Paper simply to comply with procedures.
I therefore seek to withdraw it, but reserve the right to bring it back in amended form should the new search for changes to our Machinery of Government be found to be going nowhere.