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STATEMENT TO BE MADE BY THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE PRIVILEGES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY 30TH JANUARY 2018
Referendum Commission
I would like to provide members with a further update on the work of the Referendum Commission. I have received a letter from the Chairman of the Commission and am circulating it alongside this statement in order that members can see first-hand what the Commission has most recently reported to PPC.
Members will recall that I made a statement in December on the early work of the Commission and, in particular, the Commission's initial views as to the timing of the referendum on the Bailiff 's role as President of the States. I advised members at that time that they might need to prepare themselves for the fact that a referendum alongside the elections in May 2018 may not be practical.
It is apparent that this is indeed the case and that, from a practical perspective, the referendum cannot be held in May 2018; it will not now be possible to meet the requirements of the Referendum Law and of Standing Orders to allow it to happen.
Members will note, however, that the Commission has also given consideration to the principle of whether the referendum should be held at the same time as an election. The Commission's reasoning is explained in the Chairman's letter. The Commission's view is that, as a matter of principle, the referendum before us should not be held at the same time as the election – even if it were practically feasible. From the Commission's perspective, the referendum on the Bailiff 's Presidency of this Assembly is of such importance and complexity that it merits being held on a standalone basis.
The Commission itself has not suggested a date when the referendum could be held. This is a matter which the Privileges and Procedures Committee will therefore consider. I have stressed to the Commission, however, that this Assembly should be given the opportunity to debate the Referendum Act; and the Commission is working to that timetable. PPC therefore intends to lodge the Referendum Act by 13th March 2018 in order to allow for a debate at the last meeting on 10th April 2018.
It will be through the Referendum Act that the Assembly will agree both the date of the referendum and the wording of the question to be used. The Commission is working on the wording at present. As members can see from the letter, the Commission is holding focus groups to seek external views and advice. This will help the Commission to test understanding of the issues involved in the referendum question and to finalise its advice to PPC on what the wording should be. On the basis of the Commission's letter, I would expect PPC to receive the Commission's advice in early March.
As I mentioned in my last statement to the Assembly, there is other work to be done alongside that of the Commission and the lodging of the Referendum Act. Work has also started on the development of the necessary legislative changes that would be required if the Bailiff ceased to be President of the Assembly.
PPC will continue to correspond with the Referendum Commission and I undertake to update members still further as and when further information is forthcoming.
