Scrutiny minutes and Health and Community Services staff (FOI)

Request

A

As a matter of public interest would it be possible to see a copy of the minutes from the Scrutiny meeting that lead to the vote of no confidence in Deputy Geoff Southern?

B

Would it also be possible to confirm the working status of Caroline Langdon, Patrick Armstrong and Rose Naylor. Whether they are still employed, on prolonged sick leave - if so for how long or have been let go and or on gardening leave?

If they are away from their posts could you please give an explanation why as well as a brief summary of their roles and responsibilities within the health structure and their yearly salary?

Response

A

The minutes of Scrutiny Panel meetings are made available on the States Assembly website , with minutes of the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel available on that Panel’s homepage.  However, there was no meeting of the Panel that led to the vote of no confidence in the Chair of the Panel and, consequently, there are no minutes of such a meeting.

States Assembly (statesassembly.gov.je)

Scrutiny Panel (statesassembly.gov.je)

B

Please see the following link:

Senior departures announced at Health and Community Services (HCS) (gov.je)

Patrick Armstrong’s employment status has not changed. 

C

The Government of Jersey does not comment on individual contractual matters as this is personal information and would breach the privacy of the individuals concerned. Therefore, Article 25 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) 2011 Law has been applied.

The annual salary for the Chief Officer of HCS is published in the States of Jersey Annual Report and Accounts. Please see the following link to the 2021 report. Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied:

R States of Jersey 2021 Annual Report and Accounts.pdf (gov.je)

The Annual Report and Accounts for 2022 will be published within the next 12 weeks, therefore, Article 36 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law has been applied.

Article applied

Article 23 - Information accessible to applicant by other means

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information..

Article 25 - Personal information

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018.

(2) Information is absolutely exempt information if –

(a) it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018; and

(b) its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law.

Article 36 - Information intended for future publication

(1) Information is qualified exempt information if, at the time when the request for the

information is made, the information is being held by a public authority with a view to its

being published within 12 weeks of the date of the request.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground

must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant –

(a) of the date when the information will be published;

(b) of the manner in which it will be published; and

(c) by whom it will be published.

(3) In this Article, “published” means published –

(a) by a public authority; or

(b) by any other person.

Public Interest Test

Article 36 is a qualified exemption, which means that a public interest test has to be undertaken to examine the circumstances of the case and decide whether, on balance, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.  

Public interest considerations favouring disclosure:

• Disclosure of the information would support transparency and promote accountability to the general public.

Public interest considerations favouring withholding the information:

• It is intended to publish the Annual Report and Accounts on www.gov.je within 12 weeks of the receipt of this request. Publishing the draft document in such close proximity to the final version could potentially lead to confusion.