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Economic Affairs - Telecoms Privatisation - Sub-Panel Minutes - 28 November 2007

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Economic Affairs Scrutiny Sub-Panel (Telecoms Privatisation)

PUBLIC MEETING Record of Meeting

Date: 28th November 2007 Meeting Number: 17

 

Present

Deputy G. P. Southern , Chairman Deputy J.G. Reed

Deputy J. A. Martin

Apologies

Deputy G.C.L. Baudains

Absent

 

In attendance

Mrs. E. Kingston-Walsh, Scrutiny Officer

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1.

Minutes

th

The  Sub  Panel  approved  the  minutes  of  the  meeting  dated  14 November 2007.

 

2.

Matters arising

The Sub-Panel recalled a paper by Professor Massimo Florio entitled Telecom Italia 1997-2007: A case study in Privatisation Failures'.

The Chairman advised the Sub-Panel that the legal advisors were unable to respond before 17th December 2007.

He further advised that he had been informed by Professor Parker that the  examples  given  in  Annex  5.4  of  P.153/2007  were  not  typical examples and that it would be unwise to rely upon conclusions drawn from them.

The Chairman informed the Sub-Panel that he had been informed of the Unite' Trade Union's intention to campaign against the sale of Jersey Telecom.

The officer was directed to establish the current pension package offered by Jersey Telecom.

EKW

3.

Amendment

The Sub-Panel considered the amendment to P.153/2007 proposed by Senator B. Shenton.

The officer was directed to establish the implications of removing table two from the proposition.

EKW

4.

Advice request of Professor David Parker

The Sub-Panel considered the response from David Parker and noted that the response had been sent to the legal advisors.

The Sub-Panel approved the invoice from Professor Parker for a sum of £325. The Officer was directed to take the appropriate action.

EKW

5.

Protection of the Island's Skill Base

The Sub-Panel recalled their concern of the future of the Island's skills and training base following the privatisation of Jersey Telecom. It further recalled  that  new  mobile  operators  appeared  to  use  off-island engineering staff from the parent company when required.

The Sub-Panel agreed that it would request further information regarding the composition of Telecoms workforce from the Economic Development Minister.

The Officer was directed to take the appropriate action.

EKW

6.

Oral Questions

The Sub-Panel considered oral questions for the next States Assembly.

 

7.

Number Portability

The  Sub-Panel  recalled  that  the  number  portability  issue  was  still outstanding  and  noted  concern  regarding  the  powers  of  the  Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority (JCRA). It questioned how the JCRA would cope with a multi-national company considering the difficulties and costs faced in regulating a States owned utility.

 

 

Future Meetings

The Sub-Panel agreed that it should meet on the 12th and 19th December 2007 to consider and finalise the Sub-Panel's comment to P.153/2007.

The Officer was directed to request the legal advice by the 12th December 2007.

The Chairman agreed to arrange an informal meeting with Mr P. Funk from Newtel Solutions.

 

Signed  Date: ..  

Chairman

Economic Affairs Scrutiny Sub-Panel (Telecoms Privatisation)