Historic Child Abuse: Committee of Inquiry: Chairman and Panel Members: Appointment

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A decision made 8 November 2013:

Decision Reference: MD-C-2013-0134
Decision Summary Title :	Committee of Inquiry – Historical Child Abuse, Appointment of Chairman and Panel members		Date of Decision Summary:	8th November 2013
Decision Summary Author:	Executive Officer to the Chief Executive		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 :	Committee of Inquiry – Historical Child Abuse, Appointment of Chairman and members		Date of Written Report:	5th November 2013
Written Report Author:	Greffier of the States		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: Committee of Inquiry – Historical Child Abuse, Appointment of Chairman and members
Decision(s): The Chief Minister approved a report and proposition recommending to the States Assembly to refer to their Act dated 6th March 2013 in which they agreed that a Committee of Inquiry should be established in accordance with Standing Order 146 to enquire into a definite matter of public importance, namely historical child abuse in Jersey and that the Committee should be chaired by a senior legally qualified person from outside Jersey, and to their Act dated 16th July 2013 in which they appointed Mrs. Sally Bradley Q.C. to chair the inquiry; and – to note that as a result of ill-health Mrs. Sally Bradley Q.C. is unable to take up the position of Chairman and to appoint instead Mrs. Frances Oldham Q.C. as Chairman of the Committee of Inquiry and Professor Alexander (Sandy) Cameron CBE and Ms. Alyson Leslie as members of the Committee.
Reason(s) for Decision: The Chief Minister has had no involvement in the selection process for the recruitment of the Chairman and members. The recruitment process was undertaken by the Greffier of the States who has been able to identify suitably qualified candidates with extensive legal experience following the unfortunate ill health of Mrs Sally Bradley.
Resource Implications: The Minister for Treasury and Resources presented detailed comments (P.118/2012 Com.(2)) on the proposition relating to the establishment of the Committee of Inquiry, setting out the anticipated financial implications of the Inquiry and the expected fees to be paid to the Chairman and members. The terms of appointment agreed with the 3 nominees are within the limits set out in those comments.
Action required: The Greffier of the States to be requested to lodge ‘au Greffe’ the proposition for debate by the States at the earliest opportunity.
Signature:		Position: Chief Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed): 5th November 2013