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Personal Statement by the Connétable of St. John following resignation from Hospital Sub-Panel

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PERSONAL STATEMENT BY THE CONNETABLE OF ST. JOHN

ON 16TH NOVEMBER 2016

I wish to inform the Assembly that I have resigned from the Hospital Relocation Sub-Panel.

The reason is very simple. The proposition was lodged late and the very short period in which the Scrutiny Panel had to examine in detail such an enormous and vast project has meant that the Panel has been unable to produce their report in ample time. As a result, I brought a private  back- bencher's' amendment to this proposition because the Panel has not had a chance to debate it in full and to go through the normal process.

It is wrong for me to remain on the Panel while making such an amendment and, therefore, to save any embarrassment and to make a clean sweep I decided it was best in all interests to stand down from this office, but the blame must lie quite fair and square on the failure to provide information on time in a due process to Scrutiny.

Scrutiny cannot work in a fortnight. This has been going on for a long time and Scrutiny must have sufficient time to produce their reports so back-benchers' can read the Scrutiny Reports, make up their own minds and make orderly progress and make amendments as and when and if necessary.

I should also add I would like to thank the Scrutiny Officers and the Chairman for their enormous support. I know it is wrong to name an individual Officer so I shall not, but the Officer who was working with the Scrutiny Panel went way beyond what I would define as normal duties and I would like to thank them and have that on the record.