REPORT
States of Jersey (Transfer of Functions No.7) (Economic Development to External Relations) (Jersey) Regulations 2014
On 10th September 2013, the States adopted P.67/2013 which was the proposition to establish the office of Minister for External Relations. At that time a number of functions of the Chief Minister were transferred to the new office, including matters relating to civil aviation safety and security.
As a consequence, the Minister for External Relations has political responsibility for aviation safety and security. The Director of Civil Aviation, as the independent regulator, is accountable to the Minister and has a duty to report and to advise the Minister on international civil aviation matters including air navigation services, aviation security and measures to promote the safety of aviation.
In accordance with the principles of the previous transfer of functions, it is considered political responsibility for certain further regulatory functions in relation to civil aviation should be transferred from the Minister for Economic Development to the Minister for External Relations.
The proposed transfers concerned are responsibilities under:
- The Civil Aviation Act 1982 (Jersey) Order 1990, which includes, amongst other matters, provisions in connection with -
- the safety of air navigation,
- implementation of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation,
- restrictions on unlicensed carriage by air for reward,
- enforcement of air navigation route charges,
- investigation of air accidents,
- regulation of nuisance, noise and vibration caused by aircraft.
- The Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) (Jersey) Order 2008, which includes provisions in connection with –
- ensuring the investigation and prevention of air accidents or incidents,
- reporting on the outcome investigations,
- ensuring implementation of recommendations for safety improvements.
The above matters should fall within the political authority of the Minister for External Relations to the extent that they fall within the accountability of the Director of Civil Aviation and with regard to his responsibilities for the regulation of civil aviation and air traffic control, investigation of air accidents and implementation of the International Civil Aviation Convention (Chicago, 1944).
The draft States of Jersey (Transfer of Functions No.7) (Economic Development to External Relations) (Jersey) Regulations 2014 make provisions for the transfer of the above functions and for the construction of both Orders in Council so as to assign responsibilities to the Minister for External Relations.
External Relations
27 March 2014