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19-21 Broad Street | St Helier Jersey | JE2 4WE
Senator Kristina Moore
Chair, Scrutiny Liaison Committee
BY EMAIL
19January 2021
Publication of Minutes
Dear Chair,
Thank you for your letter dated 18January 2021.
I have asked officials to review the status on the various minutes noted, but as I am sure you will appreciate, not all government minutes are published, notably Part B minutes. This is common with governments around the world, enabling Ministers to debate policy options before publishing our position. As you will be aware as a former Minister, this has long been the case in Jersey.
Nevertheless, as a government I believe we provide more information to Scrutiny Panels than any previous government. We also do it more quickly – copying papers after each meeting into shared folders which panel members can review.
In this way, since March 2020 we provided over 576 papers from 78 meetings of the Council of Ministers, Competent Authority Ministers, and Emergencies Council. This is a very considerable volume of information on which Panels can undertake work and publicise their findings and views, and as Chief Minister I do feel that the contribution of Scrutiny is strongest when it applies this evidence. I am sure you would agree.
We have also provided at least 17 States Members briefings – bringing together technical, statistical and policy information, with supporting expert officials on hand. We have provided many private briefings for Panels, as well as attending public hearings. Finally, we have held numerous press conferences (as well as publishing a huge volume of data) to support public understanding.
Where you require further information to undertake your work, you should ask, as outlined in the "engagement code" between Panels and the Executive, as approved by the last Assembly.
I would also add that the STAC minutes until the 22 December 2020 are now published, and I will continue to press for these minutes to be available more quickly, as scientific and technical information naturally has significant importance for Members.
Overall, I am proud of this work, and the unprecedented levels of engagement that have taken place.
Yours sincerely,
Senator John Le Fondré Chief Minister
D +44 (0)1534 440636