Under the proposals, lodged by Chief Minister Ian Gorst and due to be debated in the States this week, collective responsibility – the doctrine by which all ministers must vote en bloc – would be scrapped and more power and responsibility for the overseeing of the civil service would be placed in the hands of the States chief executive, currently Charlie Parker. However, a Scrutiny panel has once again called for the debate to be postponed to a later States sitting, as they feel the timing of the debate has been ‘rushed’ and such a significant changes to the make-up of ministerial government should be properly reviewed.
Instead, panel chairman Deputy Simon Brée has suggested that any overhaul of ministerial government should be held off until a new States Assembly is in place after the May elections.
Senator Gorst has said the debate on the principles of his proposals should go ahead this week as planned, prompting panel chairman Deputy Simon Brée to urge Members to reject the proposition.
Deputy Brée said: ‘The panel and I have grave concerns about both the content of the proposition and the rushed timing of the debate.
‘While we understand that changes to the civil service are required, we feel that it is not for this Assembly to agree on any changes which will impact only on the new Assembly. We feel that it is fundamentally wrong to make changes which affect the political balance between the Chief Minister, his ministers and the Assembly just before an election.’
The panel also raised concerns about the powers placed in the States chief executive’s hands to review the finances of any companies that receive government funding – even those that receive nominal fees.
Deputy Brée added: ‘Despite not having enough time to properly scrutinise the proposition before the debate of the principles, we have already identified serious concerns which we have laid out in our comments paper, published today.
With the refusal of the Chief Minister to grant us sufficient time to perform full, comprehensive scrutiny, especially given the importance of the changes being discussed, the Assembly is in effect being forced to vote blind on a draft law, the full impact and reach of which is not known.’
Deputy Brée is joined on the panel by St John Constable Chris Taylor and Deputies John Le Fondré and David Johnson.
