Economic Affairs - Approved Panel Minutes - 8 March 2018

Present

Deputy S.M. Brée, Chairman Deputy D. Johnson , Vice-Chairman Connétable J.E. Le Maistre

Apologies

Connétable M.J. Paddock

Absent

In attendance

Mr M. Orbell, Scrutiny Officer

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

Item 1 28.02.18

515/35

1. Licensing Law

The Panel met without agenda to consider matters for inclusion in a report on its review, following the surprise withdrawal of the Proposition by the Assistant Minister for EDTSC. Individual members raised a number of key points. It was noted that the review spanned an extended period, with an unusual number of late positional changes by the department/SALPG.

It was agreed that the Scrutiny Officer would begin work on a new draft, where possible adapting material from the reports already prepared to accompany the Panel's draft Amendments, with a view to circulating an outline to members before the next Panel meeting on 14th March.

It was further agreed that for clarity, the report should also address matters raised in the complaint made by the Assistant Minister to the Chairmen's Committee, and his subsequent Statement to the States Assembly  announcing  the  withdrawal  of  the  draft  Law,  in  which  he attempted to put the blame for this on the Panel. Members considered that much of the Assistant Minister's Statement was aimed at deflecting responsibility for his failure to bring the draft Law to debate. The Panel had had its Amendment ready, and was confident in the arguments that it would have put had the debate gone ahead; any suggestion to the contrary was incorrect, and the report should aim to put the record straight on these matters.

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