Census (Jersey) Regulations 201-

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While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.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 27 July 2010 regarding: Census (Jersey) Regulations 201-.

Decision Reference: MD-C-2010-0072
Decision Summary Title :	Census (Jersey) Regulations 201-		Date of Decision Summary:	21 July 2010
Decision Summary Author:	Head Statistician		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 :	Jersey Census 2011: Lodging of the Census Regulations		Date of Written Report:	19 July 2010
Written Report Author:	Head Statistician		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: Census (Jersey) Regulations 201-
Decision(s): The Deputy Chief Minister agreed to lodge the Census (Jersey) Regulations 201- for the 2011 Jersey Census
Reason(s) for Decision: Article 2 of the Census (Jersey) Law 1951 specifies that the States of Jersey has: “Power to make Regulations directing the taking of a census and prescribing procedure in relation thereto”. Following the guidelines contained within the Census (Jersey) Law 1951, the Census Regulations for the 2011 Jersey Census specify: o of whom the Census will be conducted; o imposes obligations on census officers and on persons in respect of whom the census is taken; and o the contents of the Census form; and o the process by which the Census will be conducted.
Resource Implications: Financial: the budget for the 2011 Jersey Census is £500,000. Manpower: up to 200 temporary short-term staff will be employed to undertake the 2011 Census. These will be comprised largely of enumerators (fieldworkers) employed for a period of approximately two months. There will also be specialised enumerators, whose focus will be to ensure a high return rate, and data coding and data entry staff employed for a period of several months.
Action required: Policy & Research Manager to arrange for the Regulations to be lodged ‘au greffe’ for States Assembly debate
Signature:		Position: Senator P.F.C. Ozouf, Deputy Chief Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Census (Jersey) Regulations 201-

19 th July 2010

Jersey Census 2011:

Lodging of the Census Regulations

1. Introduction

1.1 The Chief Minister is asked to give consideration to lodging the attached Regulations for the 2011 Jersey Census.

2. Background

2.1 The next Census of the population will be held in Jersey on 27th March 2011.

2.2 Article 2 of the Census (Jersey) Law 1951 specifies that the States of Jersey has:

“Power to make Regulations directing the taking of a census and prescribing procedure in relation thereto”.

2.3 Paragraph (2) of the Law states that

“Any such regulations may be repealed, amended or varied by subsequent Regulations”.

2.4 The States of Jersey (Transfer of Functions No. 3) (Home Affairs to Chief Minister) (Jersey) Regulations 201- was approved by the States Assembly on 23 March 2010, whereby responsibility for the Jersey Census was transferred from the Home Affairs Minister to the Chief Minister. Subsequently the Chief Minister appointed the Head Statistician of the States of Jersey Statistics Unit as Census Officer for the 2011 Census.

2.5 In order to progress the Census Regulations for debate by the States Assembly, since the appointment of the Head Statistician as Census Officer, the Statistics Unit has since been developing the methodology of the census process and content of the census form. Two workshops for States Members relating to form content were held in March 2010; meetings with officers of States Departments were held throughout the period April to June 2010.

2.3 Following the guidelines contained within the Census (Jersey) Law 1951, the Census Regulations for the 2011 Jersey Census specify:

o of whom the Census will be conducted;

o imposes obligations on census officers and on persons in respect of whom the census is taken; and

o the contents of the Census form; and

o the process by which the Census will be conducted;

3. Timing:

3.1 In order that the Census Regulations be debated by the States Assembly at the start of the Second Session of 2010, it is proposed that the Census Regulations be lodged with the States Assembly.

4. Recommendations:

4.1 It is recommended that the Chief Minister sign a Ministerial Decision to lodge the attached “Census (Jersey) Regulations 201-”.

5. Financial, manpower and human rights implications

5.1 The budget for the 2011 Jersey Census is £500,000.

5.2 Up to 200 temporary short-term staff will be employed to undertake the 2011 Census. These will be comprised largely of enumerators (fieldworkers) employed for a period of approximately two months. There will also be specialised enumerators, whose focus will be to ensure a high return rate, and data coding and data entry staff employed for a period of several months.

5.3 The Census Regulations are compatible with the Human Rights (Jersey) Law 2000.

Duncan Gibaut

Head Statistician, Statistics Unit

19 th July 2010