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Letter - To PPC re Legislative Scrutiny - 15 February 2019

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Deputy R. Labey

Chairman, Privileges and Procedures Committee States Greffe

Jersey

15th February 2019 Dear Chairman,

Legislative Scrutiny

Thank you for your recent correspondence extending an invitation for a member of the Chairmen's Committee  to  join  your  proposed  sub-committee  examining  how  legislative  scrutiny  can  be enhanced, in respect of procedural changes and resourcing, following withdrawal of P.103/2018. Whilst current workloads mean that we are not yet able to nominate our representative, we welcome the invitation and will update you in due course.

It the meantime, it may be helpful to briefly outline our current position. We are certainly supportive of seeking to enhance the framework provided by Standing Orders for the passage of legislation through the Assembly and its Scrutiny Panels. Many aspects of P.103 can be supported, but areas that give rise to reservations which we would wish to see addressed are:

  • short timeframes allocated to Scrutiny work
  • inclusion  of  non-legislative  propositions (diluting  the focus  that  should  properly  be  on legislation, as existing procedures for policy based matters appear largely appropriate)
  • inclusion of backbench' propositions
  • impact on staff resources in the Scrutiny section of the States Greffe. Some expansion of that team may be necessary

Yours sincerely,

Senator Kristina Moore President, Chairmen's Committee

States Greffe | Morier House | St Helier | Jersey | JE1 1DD Tel: 01534 441080 | Fax: 01534 441077 | email: scrutiny@gov.je