Next Week's States Meeting - Tuesday 06 February

Following the appointment of a new Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, it is necessary to appoint new Chairs for several Scrutiny panels and the Public Accounts Committee. The process for appointing the Chairs is similar to that last week for Ministers, except that all nominations will be made on the floor of the Assembly during the meeting, with no advance notice required. Every candidate is expected to make a speech for up to 10 minutes, and then answer a maximum of 20 minutes of questions. If there is more than one nomination, the other candidates must withdraw from the Chamber during the other nominees’ speech and question time. 

A recorded vote will be held until one candidate receives an overall majority of the votes cast. The electronic voting system will be used in any instance where there are no more than two candidates; an open ballot will take place in instances where there are more than two candidates. 

Appointments: 

Chair of the Public Accounts Committee. The PAC determines whether public funds have been used efficiently, effectively, and economically in order to deliver value for money for Islanders. Ministers and Assistant Ministers are not eligible for appointment to this position, although they are able to ask questions. 

Chair of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel. The CSSP reviews the policy and legislation arising from the work of the Chief Minister and the Minister for Treasury and Resources (excluding Financial Services). The Chief Minister and Minister for Treasury and Resources are prevented from nominating or voting for candidates, although they are able to ask questions.  

Chair of the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel. The EHISP reviews matters relating to the policies and legislation put forward by Ministers in these three areas of government work. The Ministers for the Environment, Housing and Communities, and Infrastructure, are all therefore prevented from nominating or voting for candidates, but are able to ask questions. 

Chair of the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel. The HSSSP reviews matters relating to the policies and legislation put forward by the Ministers for Health and Social Services and Social Security. The Ministers for these two departments are therefore prevented from nominating or voting for candidates but are able to ask questions.  

Oral Questions 

States Members will question Ministers for up to 2 hours and 20 minutes. These oral questions will have been issued to them in advance (i.e. ‘with notice’). Details of this week’s oral questions with notice can be found on page 4 of the Order Paper. 

The following Ministers will then answer oral questions which they have not been given in advance of the meeting (i.e., ‘without notice’) for 15 minutes each: 

Public Business 

The States Assembly will then begin debating the following topics: