Skip to main content

Economic Affairs - Approved Panel Minutes - 4 May 2016

This content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost. Let us know if you find any major problems.

Text in this format is not official and should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments. Please see the PDF for the official version of the document.

Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel

Record of Meeting

4th May 2016

 

Present

Deputy S.M. Brée, Chairman Deputy D. Johnson , Vice-Chairman

Apologies

Connétable J.E. Le Maistre Connétable M.J. Paddock

Absent

 

In attendance

Mr. M. Orbell, Scrutiny Officer

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

 

1.  Records of meeting

The Minutes of the meeting held on 20th April 2016 were approved and signed.

MO

Item 3 20.04.16

515/36

2.  Harmful Telecommunications

The Panel discussed its approach to the review. Given the need to present comments before the resumption of the debate on 14th June it was agreed to focus on whether the draft legislation was fit for purpose, including any potential impact it might have on freedom of speech. Some consideration of relevant legal terminology might be required, for example the concept of mens rea (guilty mind'), but the review would concentrate on the draft legislation rather than the nature of the crimes it was designed to address.

The Panel would meet with selected witnesses informally, and would aim  to  hold  a  public  hearing  with  the  Minister  before  finalising comments on the proposition at its scheduled meeting on 8th June.

MO

 Item 4 20.04.16

515/37

3.  Dormant Bank Accounts

The Panel noted that having called the proposition in for scrutiny on 26th April, the debate would resume on 28th June. The aim would be to finalise Panel comments by 22nd June.

The Panel agreed possible dates to offer for a public hearing with the Assistant  Chief  Minister,  and  identified  other  potential  witnesses. Depending on timing it was agreed that written submissions could be requested in the first instance.

MO

MO

Item 5 20.04.16

4.  Medium Term Financial Plan Addition

The Panel considered generic draft scoping documents and terms of reference produced by the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel for use by other Panels. It was agreed that some points in the draft terms of reference were not appropriate to the Panel's needs and would not be used.

It was agreed that letters should be sent to the Minister for Economic

MO

 

 

Development,  Tourism,  Sport  and  Culture  and  the  Assistant  Chief Minister with responsibility for Financial Services, Digital, Competition and Innovation requesting early information and private briefings on the MTFP Addition within the areas of their remit, although realistically it was not expected that much detail would be made available prior to the planned lodging date for the MTFP Addition of 30th June 2016. It was noted that the transfer of functions might complicate comparisons with previous funding arrangements.

It  was  further  agreed  that  a  meeting  should  be  arranged  with  the adviser to the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel to discuss possibilities for his providing assistance to the Panel. The Scrutiny Officer was asked to enquire about possible arrangements and report back to the Panel.

MO

MO

Item 6 20.04.16

5.  Rural Economy Strategy (RES)

The Scrutiny Officer confirmed that an officer briefing offered by the department  had  been  postponed  until  the  following  week.  The Chairman of the Environment, Health and Technical Services Panel reiterated an earlier request that any information obtained also be made available  to  members  of  that  Panel,  subject  to  the  department's agreement.

MO

Item 7 20.04.16

6.  Draft  Protocol for  Engagement  between  Scrutiny  Panels and the Executive

It  was  noted  that  agreement  had  been  reached  at  Chairmen's Committee to reduce the number of draft protocols from 4 to 2. The Panel agreed to defer discussion of this item until the relevant new drafts were finalised.

MO

 

7.  Regulation of Virtual Currency

Members expressed some concerns about the Draft Proceeds of Crime (Miscellaneous  Amendments)  (Jersey)  Regulations  201-  (P.44/2016) lodged that morning by the Chief Minister. It was agreed that an early briefing should be sought from the Assistant Chief Minister.  

MO

 

8.  Forthcoming meetings

It was agreed to hold an additional Panel meeting between 12.00pm and 2.00pm on Thursday 12th May (States permitting) to discuss the Panel's review of Harmful Telecommunications.

Next scheduled Panel meeting: 9.30am on 18th May 2016, Blampied Room, States Building.

MO