Senator Ian Gorst gave the following speech to members of the Chambers of Commerce of Jersey and Guernsey on 9 January 2013:
I am delighted to be invited to explain the progress we are making on mutual cooperation between the islands. Before I begin though - I would like to read a short message from Deputy Peter Harwood, who has been unable to reach us today.
“I would like to offer my most sincere apologies to Senator Gorst, the Chamber of Commerce and those guests here today – I am afraid the fog has defeated me. I do hope that you will all agree with me when I say that the fog is one of the few things that neither Senator Gorst nor I can be blamed for!
“I did also want to say that since becoming Chief Minister, Senator Gorst and I have established a first-class working relationship which is reflected across the Policy Council in Guernsey and the Council of Ministers in Jersey.
“Working together is vital – to create efficiencies and to create growth.
“Our relationship with Jersey remains central to our prosperity in the future, and I am sure I speak for Senator Gorst when I say that we will do all we can to support the work that all of you do.”
I would like to fully endorse these comments. We have begun a programme of regular meetings to discuss the way forward, and the Treasury Ministers of both islands have already discussed how the Islands could work together to save money and improve efficiency.
They will soon be reviewing progress on the ideas discussed, and considering how to strengthen the relationship between the two Treasuries. They are looking at pensions; shareholder resources; leaner working; joint bargaining power on key contracts; internal audit; and the scope for a Channel Island energy policy.
Both islands have been tackling tough times in recent years, and developing strong relationships between the treasuries means we can learn from each other as well as improving efficiency by working together.
Tri-island meetings
The islands’ health departments have taken the spirit of cooperation a step further, by including the Isle of Man in their joint working. The first tri-island meeting of the health authorities of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man was held last year.
The three jurisdictions discussed upcoming legislation and areas of shared work like alcohol and drug misuse policies. The health services of all three islands are facing similar challenges, financial constraints and growing demand for services. I know that our health authorities can combine efforts to maximise efficiencies at a time when the medical profession is moving towards training increasingly specialised staff, while the need in a small jurisdiction is for generalists.
Housing
The islands’ two housing providers have a strong working relationship, taking it in turns to host annual visits so Jersey’s Housing Department and Guernsey’s Housing Association can share best practice and policy developments. Since their last official meeting, Jersey’s housing officials have invited Guernsey’s Director of Older People’s Housing to advise on the 80 new lifetime homes the Housing Department is taking on in St Saviour. And Guernsey’s Housing Association has been learning from the work Jersey has just completed at The Cedars, before they start refurbishing their only high rise building.
Police training
Our police forces have been developing a collaborative approach to training. For more than a year, all new police officers have undertaken their 15-week probationer training together, with each force taking it in turns to act as host. A joint approach is also being taken to training on the police national computer, and for driving, firearms and search skills.
Both organisations are looking at other opportunities to collaborate further in the future
Joint regulators
I am sure you will have noticed the growing number of joint positions that have been established between the islands. We are already seeing the benefits of pooling resources within the Office of Utility Regulation and the Jersey Competition and Regulatory Authority.
A joint Data Protection Commissioner is now working well and will, over time, offer both Jersey and Guernsey a greater degree of experience of the wider Data Protection issues that the Channel Islands face.
We have a Director of Civil Aviation for the Channel Islands and have established the Channel Islands Air Traffic Control and General Aviation Working Group. We have also appointed a joint aviation security regulator.
There is much to be gained from increasing the scale and scope of co-operation between Jersey and Guernsey.
Aircraft registry
Guernsey’s Commerce and Employment Department and Jersey’s Economic Development Department are moving towards agreement that establishing a joint Channel Islands Aircraft Registry would be the best way forward for both islands. It makes economic sense and is consistent with our political aims of developing greater inter-Island collaboration.
There are a number of details to be concluded, but my own view is that a joint registry will further our aims of cooperating more closely, and will also allow us to share resources and harmonise technical requirements across both jurisdictions. I hope we can make a formal announcement soon and set up a registry this year
Cost cutting
We all know that working together can cut costs – and I am confident we can go further. More savings can be made if we continue in this spirit of inter-island cooperation.
Those of you who are visitors to our shores may not know that in 2011 we put in place a comprehensive spending review which has been working to control public spending for nearly 3 years. This programme reaches completion at the end of 2013 and we are now concentrating on reforming the public sector.
Those of you who do not often venture west of St Ouen may not be aware that our colleagues in Guernsey have set in motion a Financial Transformation Programme with the aim of reducing expenditure and establishing a new culture of delivering value for money for the public.
Sound familiar?
We are working along similar lines and we can learn from each other’s experience. And it’s not just about saving taxpayers’ money, although I know that is something which is dear to the hearts of Chamber members. Mutual cooperation goes much deeper than cost-cutting.
Common history
We share a common history. Together, we represent the last remnants of the medieval Duchy of Normandy. When both islands remained loyal to the King of England in 1204 we were given the right to follow our own laws, customs and liberties
We share much, while maintaining our own laws and customs.
We compete for business while also facing many of the same challenges. Our European interests are aligned on the vast majority of issues – civil aviation, maritime matters, tourism marketing, agriculture, and access to financial services markets.
Our strong working relationship has been clearly demonstrated with the establishment of a Channel Islands Brussels Office.
By setting it up in the political and administrative capital of the EU, we have created an opportunity to develop our relationships with key policy makers in Europe. It is helping us to exert influence on key decisions that could affect our future and is an invaluable asset to both Islands.
Pan-island working
Personally I would support going both faster and further; setting up more pan-Channel Island bodies; agreeing more policy at Channel Islands level; with both Islands delegating decision making upwards and taking the first steps towards some confederated government structures.
For example - why shouldn’t we have a Channel Islands Foreign Affairs Committee? Both governments would contribute to the setting of foreign policy as equal partners, with a committee made up of Ministers from the Islands.
We know that we are viewed from abroad as the Channel Islands rather than as separate entities, and it must be to our advantage to present ourselves to the outside world as a united confederation of the Islands.
The differences between our two islands appear minimal when viewed from mainland Europe, let alone when viewed from the growing economies of Asia. Getting our respective Ministers working together in a confederated Channel Islands foreign affairs committee is something we could achieve this year, particularly if there is support from the public and the business community.
Stronger together
In recent years, we have made great strides in developing a closer working relationship. The motivation may have begun with budgets coming under pressure in both islands, but we are now benefiting from many other aspects of our mutual cooperation and I believe there are more to come.
We are stronger together.
I remain committed to our policy of joint working, but I would like to go even further in 2013. We must seek more innovative ways of achieving savings and efficiency. We shouldn’t shy away from at least starting to create some confederated structures.
We can go further in creating more Channel Island bodies.
Why shouldn’t we have a Channel Island police force?
A Channel Island customs and immigration service?
A Channel Island Financial Services Commission?
It is important that Ministers from both our islands maintain a positive dialogue and an open mind. We must continue to combine forces in an increasingly challenging and competitive world.
There is no alternative. The only decisions are how far and how fast.
My own view is that we should embrace our combined future as a stronger and more united Channel Islands with confidence and determination.
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