States report for 4 November 2010

Three days is a long time to be in the States. It requires attention, brain power, and a superhuman ability to stay alert. In fact, members drifted away to other meetings, or the coffee room, or what they call "comfort breaks" so often that the number of politicians in their seats fell below its legal minimum, and they had to stop the debate as the Deputy Bailiff called them back like a tolerant sheepdog. It infuriated some members for the States to go in-quorate (as it's officially called) during what they considered some very important debates. Deputy Bob Hill was irritated that the Chamber was particularly empty when they were debating his proposition to give children both a guardian and a lawyer acting for them in some court cases. Human rights of children It's a sensitive issue, and one which Deputy Hill said Jersey was obliged to introduce, to protect the basic human rights of children. Not in every case, but in those where there's a chance children might have to be removed from their parents, he said, the court should provide two qualified professionals to represent their interests. The States weren't always in-quorate But others argued this wasn't really needed. The Solicitor General Howard Sharp was asked about Deputy Hill's claim that it was necessary under the human rights law. He replied that the law doesn't automatically mean that a lawyer had to be appointed, and said there was nothing in the law now that was against human rights. Ministers said that the system works well, and that it didn't need to be changed, just to slavishly follow what they do in the UK - when there's no evidence that method protects children any better. It was defeated, but quite narrowly, with 21 in favour, 25 against. Postal debate Not rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor political ambivalence can keep a postal debate from its appointed rounds. And there were two going around the houses in the States. A backbench favourite, Jersey Post and its possible reduction in service because of a loss in business took a prominent spot. Deputy Judy Martin presented a petition signed by 2,646 people asking for a guarantee that they won't drop deliveries to three days per week, a promise not to allow any competition into the market until Jersey Post has finished all its efficiency savings, and finally for the States to make sure the post office can maintain current services even if it loses money through competition - by paying the difference. Many of the supporters focused on the social element - that for some elderly islanders the postman can be the only person they see all day. States members discussed a number of issues But they also described what a mess competition can be for utilities, and compared the island's handling of Jersey Post unfavourably to Guernsey! But the minister for Economic Development promised that any changes to the universal service obligation (which is the agreement that decides how often deliveries are made, and what kind of service islanders get) would be brought to the States before it was changed. Probably the biggest objections from the other side were surrounding the suggestion that the States would pay for any shortfalls in service because of competition. That, predictably, was the one part of the proposition that failed, but the States did agree that they should ask Jersey Post to ensure their deliveries didn't drop to three a week. That led smoothly on to the next debate, when Deputy Geoff Southern asked that the States Assembly should be given the right to instruct the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority on postal issues - rather than the Economic Development Minister who's currently the only one who can. But there was concern about the States interfering with an independent body (surely some mistake?) and it was rejected with 12 members in favour, 30 against, and one abstaining. So spare a thought for States members sitting through three days of debate. The latecomers after lunch were named and shamed when there weren't quite enough of them to start business. They call the roll when the Bailiff asks members to come into the chamber and there still aren't enough there. The senators always complain it's unfairly stacked against them, as they're named first while late deputies have time to slip in a few minutes later. The States clock was moving a few minutes fast - but perhaps not fast enough for some.