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Education and Home Affairs - Approved Panel Minutes - 20 March 2006

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Social Affairs Scrutiny Panel

Date: 20th March 2006

Location: Le Capelain Room, States Building

Present Deputy F.J. Hill, B.E.M., Chairman

Deputy J.A. Martin, Vice Chairman

Deputy D.W. Mezbourian (except for items 7, 8, 9 and 11) Deputy A.E. Pryke

Deputy S. Pitman

Apologies

Absent

In attendance Mr. C. Ahier , Scrutiny Officer

Mr. W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

 

1. Minutes of previous meetings

The Panel approved the minutes of the meeting of 6th March 2006 with one amendment to Item 8b: Chairman' should be deleted after

Deputy F. J. Hill, BEM'

 

[06/03/06, Item 8a]

2. Matters Arising

  1. To note Action Updates

The Officers informed Deputy S. Pitman that they had not yet received a breakdown of the 2003-2006 Youth Service Budget.

The Panel agreed to write to the Minister for Social Security and ask if he would be sending the draft Income Support Law to the Data Protection Registrar for her consideration.

The Panel agreed to hold their meeting on 18th April 2006 at Trinity Parish Hall unless meetings were subsequently arranged with

Groups or Associations with an interest in either of the reviews currently underway.

The Panel discussed the recent Public Meeting and the related adverts. It was agreed that whilst the wording of the adverts was acceptable the format was both too small and boring. The Panel further agreed that an explanation of the role of Scrutiny should be included in any future adverts.

  1. To note Chairman and Panel Updates

Deputy J. A. Martin informed the Panel about the Chairmen's Committee meeting with the Council of Ministers on Thursday 9th

March. The Panel was informed that there were ongoing problems with access to legal advice and that the Attorney General had declared that "Scrutiny was not part of government".

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The Panel discussed the recent release of the report on the inspection of La Moye Prison, Jersey by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons. The Panel agreed to write to the Minister for Home Affairs to ask what measures would be taken to address the recommendations arising from the issues covered in the report. The Panel further agreed to invite the Minister for Home Affairs to attend a Public Hearing, on a date to be agreed, following a written response to the previously mentioned letter.

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3. Youth Service

The Panel discussed the decision of the Education, Sport & Culture Department to postpone the meeting with Mrs. S. Costigan until Senator M. E. Vibert , Minister for Education, Sport & Culture, returned from Australia. It was agreed to write to Senator M. E. Vibert in order to arrange for Mrs. S. Costigan to attend on another date.

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4. Responding to Drug Use

The Panel was attended upon by Mr. S. Guy-Gibbens, Governor of H.M.P. La Moye, and Mr. I. Dyer, Director of Mental Health Services, to discuss the update on recommendation 18 of Responding to Drug Use (SR1/2004).

The Chairman welcomed Mr. S. Guy-Gibbens and Mr. I. Dyer, explained the purpose of the meeting and informed them that the meeting would be recorded. It was agreed that the nature of the discussions were not confidential and as such, would be open to the public.

The Panel were presented with a paper detailing progress made against the 32 recommendations in question. The Panel went on to discuss each of these recommendations in detail. The Panel noted that a number of the recommendations had been implemented and the remainder were in hand though subject to the corresponding funding being made available. The Panel agreed to meet with Mr. S. Guy-Gibbens and Mr. I. Dyer on a future occasion in order to monitor further progress. At the conclusion of discussions an invitation to visit the Prison was extended to the Panel members. Deputy J. A. Martin and Deputy S. Pitman agreed to accept this invitation.

Following the departure of Mr. S. Guy-Gibbens and Mr. I. Dyer the Panel agreed to produce a report detailing discussions in respect of progress against recommendation 18 of Responding to Drug Use (SR1/2004). The Panel went on to agree to establish the cost of transcribing the recording of the meeting. The Panel also agreed to establish how many prisoners resident in H.M.P. La Moye were there due to drug related crime. The Panel further agreed to establish the cost of unsubsidised prescription charges and the consequent impact upon the Prison budget. In addition, the Panel agreed to write to Mr. S. Guy-Gibbens and Mr. I. Dyer thanking them for their attendance.

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5. GP Out-of-Hours Service

The Lead Member, Deputy A. E. Pryke, updated the Panel in respect of progress concerning the GP Out-of-Hours review. The Panel agreed a request by two local General Practitioners to make an anonymous submission.

The Panel considered whether the investigation by the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority (JCRA) had any implications for the Panel's review. It was agreed to consider this in more detail after meeting with the JCRA on Tuesday 21st March.

 

 

6. Income Support

The Panel discussed concerns about e-mail correspondence from Senator P. F. Routier, Minister for Social Security concerning the Terms of Reference in respect of the Income support review. It was agreed to discuss the correspondence at the forthcoming Income Support Sub-Panel meeting.

 

 

7. Housing Trading Organisation

The Panel noted the letter received from Senator T. J. Le Main, the Minister for Housing regarding the proposed Housing Trading Organisation.

 

 

8. Code of Practice on Public Access to Official Information

The Panel noted the Code of Practice on Public Access to Official Information.

 

 

9. Topic Proposals

a). Legitimacy Law - The Panel agreed to establish whether or not the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel were dealing with this proposal and if so to keep the Social Affairs Scrutiny Panel updated on progress.

The Panel agreed to defer consideration of the remaining Topic Proposal Forms until their next meeting.

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10. Forthcoming Propositions within the Social Affairs Remit

  1. The Panel noted the advice received from the Greffier of the States relating to the Draft Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law 200-.
  1. The Panel considered P.196/2005 – Draft Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law 200- and agreed to write to the Minister for Home

Affairs asking for a formal response to their letter of 27th February

2006 to be received by Friday 24th March 2006. The Panel further agreed to write to the Chief Minister if a formal response from the

Minister for Home Affairs was not forthcoming by the appointed

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date.

  1. Questions to Ministers

The Panel noted that the Minister for Home Affairs would be receiving questions without notice in the States sitting of Tuesday 28th March

  1. Future Meetings

The Panel noted that their next meeting was scheduled for Monday 3rd April 2006. The Panel further noted that the Income Support

Sub-Panel was scheduled to at 9:30am on Tuesday 21st March 2006.

Signed Date ..

Chairman, Social Affairs Panel