Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministers and Assistant Ministers

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

Ministers are individually accountable to the States Assembly, including for the actions of the departments and agencies which discharge their responsibilities.

The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made 18 April 2013:

Decision Reference: MD-C-2013-0031
Decision Summary Title :	Report to outline the responsibilities of Ministers and Assistant Ministers		Date of Decision Summary:	18th April 2013
Decision Summary Author:	Project & Research Officer		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministers and Assistant Ministers		Date of Written Report:	18th April 2013
Written Report Author:	Chief Minister’s Department		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: Report to outline the responsibilities of Ministers and Assistant Ministers
Decision(s): The Chief Minister requested that the Report entitled ‘Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministers and Assistant Ministers’ - is presented to the States.
Reason(s) for Decision: In accordance with Article 30A of the States of Jersey Law, the Chief Minister is required to ‘establish, maintain and publish a list of Ministers and Assistant Ministers and the functions exercisable by each of them and by the Chief Minister personally.’ Therefore the following report has been produced to comply with this legal requirement.
Resource Implications: There are no financial or manpower implications.
Action required: Chief Minister’s Department to send attached Report to the Greffier for presentation to the States.
Signature:		Position: Chief Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministers and Assistant Ministers

In accordance with Article 30A of the States of Jersey Law, the Chief Minister is required to ‘establish, maintain and publish a list of Ministers and Assistant Ministers and the functions exercisable by each of them and by the Chief Minister personally.’

Details of the responsibilities are given below in order of department –

Chief Minister’s Department

The Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, is the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. In this role he is responsible for co-ordinating the work of the Council and ensuring that it agrees on a draft Strategic Plan for lodging within 4 months of being appointed.

The Chief Minister also has political responsibility for a range of matters, including:

International affairs
Constitutional issues and relations with the UK Government
The Population Office
The States Employment Board
The Statistics Unit and the Law Draftsman’s Office.

Senator Ian Le Marquand has been appointed Deputy Chief Minister.

There are 2 Assistant Ministers, and they have been assigned responsibility in the following areas –

Senator Sir Philip Bailhache is responsible for the Island’s external affairs and for engagement both internationally and with the UK government. In this role he provides assistance to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister in developing the Island’s external relations. He is also Chairman of the Legislation Advisory Panel (LAP).

Senator Paul Routier is responsible for the Island’s migration policy and will assume functions relating to migration and population. He is also responsible for developing and co-ordinating social policy across the States.

Economic Development

The Minister for Economic Development, Senator Alan Maclean, is responsible for all areas of economic policy and development in Jersey, including:

Finance
Tourism
Fisheries, and agriculture

The Minister for Economic Development also oversees the following:

Jersey Business Limited - supporting new and established businesses
Digital Jersey – promoting technology and innovation
Locate Jersey - encouraging Inward Investment and developing international trade
Skills Jersey - promoting work related skills training

He also maintains political oversight of the harbours and the airport (including air and sea links), Financial Services (JFSC), postal and telecommunications services, and consumer and regulatory services (Trading Standards).

There are 2 Assistant Ministers, and they have been assigned responsibility in the following areas –

Deputy James Baker: Harbours and Airport

Deputy Carolyn Labey: Agriculture and Fisheries

Education, Sport and Culture

Deputy Patrick Ryan, Education, Sport, and Culture Minister, has political responsibility for education, sport, and culture in Jersey. His responsibilities include –

 Pre-School Education

 Child Care Registration

 Schools and Colleges

 Private School registration

 Higher Education

There are two Assistant Ministers, and they have been assigned responsibility in the following areas –

Deputy Rod Bryans: Culture and Youth

Deputy Roy Le Herissier: Sport

Department of the Environment

Deputy Robert Duhamel, the Planning & Environment Minister, is the political leader of the Department of the Environment. In this role he is responsible for a number of environmental matters, including:

Environmental Management and the Rural Economy
Environment Policy and Awareness
Environment Protection and Regulation
Planning Policy
Development and Building Control
Historic Environment
Veterinary Services
Meteorological Services.

Deputy Carolyn Labey has been appointed as Assistant Minister, providing support to the Minister, focussing on Rural Affairs.

Health and Social Services

The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Anne Pryke, is responsible for the Island’s health and social wellbeing. In this role she is responsible for:

Reform of the current health and social care system in Jersey
Provision of a wide array of hospital services
Monitoring and improvement of the quality of all health and social care related services
Education and development of medical professionals
Provision of a co-ordinated approach to mental health care
Offering psychological /psychiatric support services
Provision of social care and support in the community in care or respite homes or day centres for vulnerable islanders, including children, adults and older adults
Influencing and creating conditions which allow people to improve their health
Advising about the maintenance of a safe and healthy environment
Enforcement of public health regulations
Monitoring of health related environmental issues
Prevention and control of infectious diseases
The care of Jersey’s Looked After Children (those who are in the care of the Minister, for example, in foster care, or in a children’s home either in Jersey or the UK)

There are two Assistant Ministers, and they have been assigned responsibility in the following areas –

Connétable John Refault Has political oversight specifically of Hospital and Property matters

Deputy Judy Martin Responsibility for children who are in the care of Health and Social Services

Home Affairs

The Minister for Home Affairs, Senator Ian Le Marquand, has political responsibility for all the departments that come under the Home Affairs ‘umbrella’. These are principally, but not exclusively, front-line, uniformed services. The departments that form part of Home Affairs are:

The States of Jersey Police
The States of Jersey Fire and Rescue Service
The Jersey Customs and Immigration Service
The Jersey Prison Service
The Office of the Superintendent Registrar
Jersey Field Squadron (Jersey’s Territorial Army unit)
The Home Affairs Executive, which includes the Building a Safer Society Strategy.

The Minister for Home Affairs is responsible for bringing forward policy and legislation relating to the various departments that come under Home Affairs and also for such subjects as criminal justice policy, explosives, firearms, sexual offences, community safety, independent custody visitors and vetting and barring.

The Assistant Minister for Home Affairs is Senator Lyndon Farnham. He is the first point of ministerial contact for matters relating to:

The Jersey Prison Service
The Jersey Fire and Rescue Service

Housing

The Minister for Housing, Deputy Andrew Green, has political responsibility for all matters relating to housing policy, including housing control, social housing, encouraging home ownership, and estates management.

Responsibilities include:

Determining the housing policy
Managing a capital development programme to create new, and upgrade existing, accommodation to meet the decent homes standard
Encouraging home ownership
Managing the States' rental waiting and transfer lists to ensure fair treatment for everyone; including the nomination of prospective tenants to local housing trusts

Connétable John Refault has been appointed as Assistant Minister for Housing and has delegated authority to act on behalf of the Minister for Housing if he is unavailable.

Social Security

The Minister for Social Security, Senator Francis Le Gresley, has political responsibility for the Island’s social security system, income support benefits and a number of employment issues, including employment legislation and providing support for people looking for employment.

Main responsibilities include:

Administering contribution, benefit and pension schemes so that people in Jersey can have an acceptable standard of living
Providing support for people looking for employment,
Providing assistance and coaching for people with special employment needs through our Workwise scheme
Administering employment services

Deputy Susie Pinel has been appointed as Assistant Minister and has delegated authority to act on behalf of the Minister for Social Security if he is unavailable.

Transport and Technical Services

The Minister for Transport and Technical Services, Deputy Kevin Lewis, has responsibility for minimizing the impact of waste on the environment, developing on-Island travel networks that meet the needs of the community and providing well maintained public amenities and infrastructure.

RResponsibilities include:

Provision of sustainable and efficient waste management facilities
Development and operation of schemes for waste minimization and recycling
Provision, management and maintenance of the foul and surface water sewerage system
Treatment and disposal of the Island's liquid waste
Management of the main road network
Monitoring and management of public transport
Management of traffic systems
Provision and management of parking facilities
Ensuring motor vehicles are roadworthy and drivers competent
Maintenance and cleaning of public spaces, amenities, structures and sea defenses
Provision and maintenance of formal parks, gardens, open spaces and amenity areas

Deputy John Le Fondré has been appointed as Assistant Minister and has delegated authority to act on behalf of the Minister for Transport and Technical Services if he is unavailable.

Treasury and Resources

The Minister for Treasury and Resources, Senator Philip Ozouf, has political responsibility for the Island’s public finances. In summary the role covers:

Monitoring, implementation and review of taxation
Setting and monitoring of States budgets
Drafting and publishing of financial policies
The review of all States activities and spending to ensure resources are being applied in the most effective way
Representation of the States in publicly-owned companies
Corporate procurement

The Assistant Minister, Deputy Eddie Noel, provides a supporting role for Treasury and Resources Ministerial responsibilities; he is responsible for Jersey Property Holdings and has delegated authority to act on behalf of the Minister for Treasury and Resources if he is unavailable.

In summary the role of Jersey Property Holdings covers:

The provision of fit for purpose and affordable accommodation for States’ departments
Rationalisation and consolidation of the States property portfolio

You can find out more information about the role of Ministers and the work of each States Department on the States website.

www.gov.je/Government/Departments/

The Chief Minister’s Department also maintains an Internet-based list of the functions delegated by each Minister.

www.gov.je/Government/HowGovernmentWorks/Pages/DelegatedFunctions.aspx