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Social Affairs Scrutiny Panel
Meeting 19
Date: 2nd August 2006
Location: Le Capelain Room, States Building
Present Deputy F.J. Hill, B.E.M., Chairman
Deputy D.W. Mezbourian
Deputy A.E. Pryke
Deputy S. Pitman
Apologies
Absent Deputy J.A. Martin, Vice Chairman In attendance Mr. W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer
Ref Back | Agenda matter | Action |
[24/07/06, Item 1] [24/07/06, Item 1a] 24/07/06, Item 1a] | 1. Centenier in the Magistrate's Court
The Panel noted that a Royal Commission on Criminal Procedure had been established in 1978 under Sir Cyril Philips and had produced its report in 1981. The three main criticisms made in this report were as follows:
the police were allowing too many weak cases to come to court. This led to a high percentage of judge-directed acquittals. The Panel noted that it would be beneficial to obtain a copy of the report. The Panel noted that a letter would be sent to the Isle of Man's H.M. Attorney General with a request for information on the creation of a Manx public prosecution service. It was advised that such a service for the Isle of Man had been considered for some time and that its implementation was therefore unlikely to be due to Human Rights issues. The Panel recalled advice it had previously received that a Manx public prosecution service would be created in order to separate the investigation and prosecution processes. The Panel subsequently considered whether Centeniers were involved in the investigation process in Jersey.
The Panel was advised that the Chairman had been in correspondence with the Crown Prosecution Service with a view to undertaking a visit to London. It was further advised that he had not received a response to his initial enquiry. It was noted that the | WM |
Panel could potentially undertake a visit to the Crown Prosecution Service in Southampton.
c) Public Hearings
It was agreed that the following dates would be set aside for Public Hearings:
- Thursday 21st September 2006
- Friday 29th September 2006
The Panel considered whom it would wish to invite as witnesses to its Public Hearings.
[24/07/06, 2. Draft Business Plan
Item 8] The Panel held five meetings to consider Annual Business Plan
2007 (P.92/2006) in relation to the five Departments within its remit. The meetings were held in the following order:
- Department of Housing: The Panel met the Minister, SenatorT.J. Le Main, accompanied by Mr. I. Gallichan, ChiefExecutive Officer.
- Department of Health and Social Services: The Panel metthe Minister, Senator S. Syvret, accompanied by theAssistant Minister, Deputy C.J. Scott Warr en, the ChiefExecutive Officer, Mr. M. Pollard, and Mr. A. Bannister,Projects Officer.
- Department of Education, Sport and Culture: The Panel metthe Minister, Senator M.E. VIbert.
- Department of Social Security: The Panel met the Minister,Senator P.F. Routier, accompanied by the Controller, Mr. R.Bell.
- Department of Home Affairs: The Panel met the AssistantMinister, Deputy A.D. Lewis , accompanied by the ChiefExecutive Officer, Mr. S. Austin-Vautier.
[24/07/06, 3. Overdale Sub-Panel
Item 4] The Panel agreed to form a sub-panel to undertake a review of this
topic. It noted that it would be beneficial for the Chairman of the sub-panel to be a member of the Social Affairs Panel although the sub-panel was able to choose its own Chairman. It was noted that Deputies D.W. Mezbourian and A.E. Pryke were interested in sitting on the sub-panel. It was further noted that other Members had expressed an interest: it was agreed the Chairman would write BH to these members to inform them of the Panel's decision. It was agreed that the Chairman would also inform the Chairmen's Committee.
The Panel noted it had informed Senator S. Syvret, Minister for Health and Social Services, of the impending review during the discussions on the draft Business Plan.
[24/07/06, 4. GP Out-of-Hours
Item 7] The Panel noted that a request had been made to the Jersey
Competition Regulatory Authority (JCRA) for an indication of when the JCRA investigation would be completed. It further noted correspondence (dated 31st July 2006) indicating that the JCRA's hoped to be in a position to complete its investigation within ten days of that date.
The Panel agreed to set aside the following date for Public
[30/05/06, Item 7] | Hearings to be held: 19th September 2006 The Panel recalled its previous agreement that the following parties would be invited to attend a Hearing:
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[10/07/06, Item 11] | 5. Income Support Sub-Panel The Panel was advised that the Income Support Sub-Panel would next meet on 7th August 2006. It was further advised that the Sub- Panel would meet the Minister for Social Security on 11th August 2006. The Panel noted that Dr. M. Evans had been appointed as external advisor for the review and had undertaken one visit to Jersey and attended some of the Hearings held on 25th July 2006. It was advised that Dr. Evans would return to Jersey on 10th and 11th August 2006. The Panel was advised that the Sub-Panel would consider its approach to the review following advice from the Department of Social Security that exact figures for the component rates of Income Support would not be available before 2007. It was further advised that the Sub-Panel had begun to consider producing an interim report. |
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[24/07/06, Item 6] | 6. Youth Service The Panel noted advice it had been given by the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture (during the discussion on the Business Plan) that the new draft strategy for the Youth Service would be given to the Panel as soon as the Minister had received it. It was noted that this would possibly occur in mid-September 2006. The Panel agreed that Deputy S. Pitman would undertake work on the draft strategy once it had been received. It further agreed that the Panel would be able to devote proper resources to the review in November 2006, once others reviews had been completed. It was noted that the new strategy was due to be implemented in January 2007. |
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[24/07/06, Item 5] | 7. Early Years The Panel noted advice received from the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture (during discussions on the Business Plan) that the Department's review of Foundation Education would be broadened to include an examination of general provision of care and education to 0 to 5 year olds. Subsequent to this advice, the Panel agreed to defer its review of this topic. It further agreed to request the Department to provide a time-line of the work that would be undertaken in order that the Panel could therefore ascertain when it would be able to commence the review. | WM |
| 8. Minutes The Panel agreed to defer consideration of its closed minutes of 10th July 2006 and of its minutes of 24th July 2006. |
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| 9. Matters Arising |
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The Panel noted receipt of the update of the Chairmen's Committee meeting of 28th July 2006.
The Panel was advised that Deputy A.E. Pryke had agreed to sit on a sub-panel for the Dairy Review.
The Panel was advised by Deputy D.W. Mezbourian of the work undertaken by the Public Engagement Group (PEG) of which she was a member.
[24/07/06, 10. Criminal Justice Policy
Item 3a] The Panel agreed to defer consideration of this matter to its next
meeting.
[24/07/06, 11. Sexual Health Strategy
Item 3a] The Panel agreed to defer consideration of this matter to its next
meeting.
- Forthcoming Propositions
The Panel agreed it would not seek to have the following review referred to it for scrutiny:
Policing commercial and profit-making events – new user pays' charges (P.94/2006)
- Evaluation of Reviews
The Panel agreed to defer consideration of this matter to its next meeting.
- Future Meetings
The Panel agreed to cancel its meeting on 7th August 2006. It noted that its next meeting would therefore occur at 9:30am on 21st August 2006. Deputies D.W. Mezbourian and S. Pitman gave their apologies for this meeting.
Signed Date ..
Chairman, Social Affairs Panel