States Assembly 12th & 13th May 2020
13th May 2020
The States Assembly held a virtual sitting on Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th May 2020.
Petitions
Deputy of St Helier, Mary Le Hegarat proposed that Deputy Geoff Southern to be elected as a member of the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel. The States Assembly agreed.
Oral Questions
Following recent reports that British Airways may close down its operations out of Gatwick Airport, the Deputy of St Peter, Rowland Huelin asked the Deputy Chief Minister, Lyndon Farnham what contingency arrangements there are to ensure continued flights for Islanders? The Deputy Chief Minister advised that there is continued work between the key stakeholders to ensure travel can resume and continue, but noted that safety is a priority.
Deputy Tadier asked the Minister for Health and Social Services, Richard Renouf if there are any plans for Jersey to have its own radiotherapy unit; if so, will the Minister set out the timeline for its introduction? The Health Minister, Richard Renouf advised that there is a plan being developed, however this has been delayed during Coronavirus and he wishes to resume this as quickly as possible.
Questions Without Notice
The Deputy of St Martin, Steve Luce asked the Chief Minister, John Le Fondré if he agrees relaxing the measures to control the spread of Coronavirus may be 'snatching defeat from the jaws of victory?' The Chief Minister said he does not agree that this is the case but there must be a focus on both physical and mental health.
Senator Kristina Moore then asked the Health and Social Services Minister, Richard Renouf what plans he has for care home residents to be allowed out of their rooms for activities and exercise? The Health Minister. Richard Renouf responded by stating that the Health Department does not have jurisdiction over care homes and that these decisions reside with the managers of each home.
Deputy Alves asked the Minister of Health and Social Services, Richard Renouf if he could confirm that the turnaround time for COVID-19 test results is still 48 hours and if this applied to bank holidays and weekends? The Health Minister stated that 24-48 hours is indeed still the case but that there may be delays over bank holidays and weekends. He also noted that there is work being carried out to digitalise results, with the aim of producing a faster turnaround.
Deputy Jess Perchard questioned the Chief Minister, John Le Fondré, asking what the justification for relaxing the stay at home guidelines is, given that Coronavirus remains highly contagious? The Chief Minister responded by stating that the justification, as always, is based on medical advice. He added that the consideration of the consequences that a long term lockdown could have on mental health and people's ability to pursue other medical treatments is also taken into account. He added that he believed the virus will spread regardless but slowing and limiting this was key.
Deputy Mary Le Hegarat asked the Minister for Economic Development, Lyndon Farnham, what financial support was being put forward to the fishing fleet of the Island? Senator Farnham advised that a plan was being produced and the paper will be presented shortly, which will include a proposal addressing the issue.
Statements
The Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture carried out a statement about the Our Hospital Project
Deputy Chief Minister, Lyndon Farnham made a statement about
the Our Hospital Project. Senator Farnham explained that announcements due
at the end of last month had been delayed but the Political Oversight Group felt it
important to update Members. Changes to the planning approach include: a full, detailed planning application is due September 2021, and a timetable for planning consent has a start date of March 2022. He added a short list of sites, and an appointed delivery partner, will be available mid-July this year.
READ THE STATEMENT HERE
The Assembly then moved onto Public Business:
The first proposition was lodged by the Minister of External Relations, Ian Gorst, and it addressed the Draft Limited Liability Companies (AMENDMENT) (JERSEY) LAW 202-
READ THE PROPOSAL HERE
The Minister for External relations, Ian Gorst proposed an amendment to the Draft Limited Liabilities Law. The amendment proposed changes to how details of the Limited Liability Companies are managed and maintained to ensure best practices are followed. There was very little debate on the Minister's proposal.
This amendment was ADOPTED
30 FOR vs 0 AGAINST
COURT PROCEEDINGS: PROVISION OF LIVE-STREAMING FOR SITTINGS NORMALLY HELD IN PUBLIC
READ THE PROPOSAL HERE
Deputy Montfort Tadier lodged an amendment to his proposal that public court hearings should be live streamed while the court's are closed during COVID-19 and that provisions are in place by May 31st 2020. The amendment also proposed that court proceedings should be either live streamed or recorded and later uploaded. The proposal also suggested that all proceedings be transcribed and available for viewing with the intention of a constant public record.
The States Assembly voted against reducing the lodging period which would allow his amendment to be debated. Following this decision, Deputy Montfort Tadier chose to withdraw his proposal.
The next item debated was the SOCIAL SECURITY FUND: REPAYMENT OF STATES CONTRIBUTION FOR 2020
READ THE AMENDMENT HERE
Deputy Kirsten Morel proposed that the States Assembly agree on a fee to be repaid to the Social Security fund following payments being deferred in 2020 due to Coronavirus. Deputy Morel proposed this be done through a structured repayment plan which is included within the 2021 Government Plan.
The Minister for Treasury and Resources, Susie Pinel detailed how the money deferred from the fund had been spent during the response to Coronavirus and stated she would not be supporting Deputy Morel's proposal
This proposition was REJECTED
6 FOR vs 27 AGAINST
JERSEY GAS: INCLUSION IN PAYROLL CO-FUNDING SCHEME
READ THE PROPOSAL HERE
Deputy Geoff Southern asked the Minister for Economic Development, Lyndon Farnham to include Jersey Gas on the list of employers able to participate in the payroll co-funding scheme. Senator Lyndon Farnham spoke against this proposition,
while Deputy John Young and Senator Sam Mézec highlighted
some concerns but nonetheless,
supported the argument. Senator Ian Gorst stated that it is important to recognise
that utility companies are not eligible for the payroll scheme in phase 2 and that alternative offers of support had been made to Jersey Gas but had so far been rejected.
This proposal was REJECTED
6 FOR vs 25 AGAINST
COVID-19: QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE TO ALL MINISTERS ON THE RESPONSE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF JERSEY (P.51/2020) – RESCINDMENT OF PARAGRAPH (a)
READ THE PROPOSAL HERE
Deputy Rob Ward asked States
Members to vote on reinstating the normal procedure for Questions without
Notice during the States Assembly sittings. The proposal would mean that two selected
Ministers would take 15 minutes of Questions without Notice during each
sitting. Deputies Russell Labey and Judy Martin spoke against this
proposition, while Senator Sam Mézec and Deputies, Geoff Southern and Jess Perchard
as well as Constable Karen Stone spoke in support of the proposition. The Chief Minister,
John Le Fondre spoke against the proposition as he stated that he would prefer to
support other propositions which address the issue of Questions without Notice
which were being debated later that day.
This proposal was ADOPTED
29 FOR vs 13 AGAINST
ARRANGEMENTS FOR QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE TO ALL MINISTERS
Deputy Russell Labey proposed to allow States Assembly Members to ask Ministers questions on any subject, rather than COVID-19 related topics only during the additional Questions without Notice.
READ THE PROPOSAL HERE
This proposal was ADOPTED
20 FOR vs 12 AGAINST
The next item for public business was: ARRANGEMENTS FOR QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE TO ALL MINISTERS: AMENDMENT
READ THE PROPOSAL HERE
Deputy Maçon suggested changes to Deputy Russell Labey's proposal and asking that the Questions without Notice be for 1 hour and that 15 minutes of that time be dedicated to questioning the Chief Minister. Deputy Maçon also proposed that States Assembly Members be able to ask Ministers questions on any topic, not just on the response to Coronavirus.
Following the States Assembly approving Deputy Russell Labey's proposal, Deputy Jeremy Maçon withdrew his amendment.
PERIOD OF QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE TO THE CHIEF MINISTER AT EVERY SCHEDULED SITTING
READ THE PROPOSAL HERE
Due to Deputy Russell Labey's proposition being ADOPTED, this proposition no longer stood.
DRAFT COVID-19 (CAPACITY AND SELF-DETERMINATION) (JERSEY) REGULATIONS 202
READ THE PROPOSAL HERE
Assistant Health Minister, Senator
Steve Pallet; on behalf of the Health Minister, Richard Renouf proposed changes
to the authorisation process associated with making decisions on behalf of
individuals who are unable to make informed choices about their own wellbeing.
The proposal would also introduce safeguards to protect the rights of those
individuals. During his speech, Senator Steve Pallet stated that there is ‘no doubt’ that this
proposal is complex. Following some answers from the Attorney General Mark Temple, Deputy Mary Le Hegarat, Chair of the Health
and Social Services Scrutiny Panel stated she would support this proposal. Deputies Rob Ward and Kirsten Morel both asked the Assistant Health Minister a compilation of
questions surrounding clarification, procedures and regulations. Senator Kristina Moore stated that due to some stakeholders maintaining concerns around the
proposition, she would not be voting for the proposal.
Senator Ian Gorst spoke
of his belief in protecting and providing basic freedom through Law, he stated
that he could not support this proposal and added that he struggles to see this as a
necessary amendment. Deputy Trevor Pointon urged Members to vote for this ‘absolute
necessity at this time’, reminding Members that the legislation would expire by
the end of September this year and that it would give the care sector the ability to protect
the interests of patients, staff and the general public. Deputy Jeremy Maçon
asked Members to think about the workers in the care homes, as they themselves
are at risk of becoming vulnerable. The Deputy highlighted that there are still
many unanswered questions regarding COVID-19; with this legislation being adopted,
there is the option to utilise it if needed.
This Proposal was ADOPTED with 37 votes FOR vs 3 AGAINST - 1 ABSTENTION
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