Further snub for Chief Minister over care inquiry

Tuesday 12 September 2017

The Chief Minister's plans for implementing the recommendations of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry are in tatters this morning, after two more local deputies have refused to take part, describing the plans as "unspecific" and unclear.

Deputies Louise Doublet and Richard Renouf have both announced they will not be joining a panel advising the Chief Minister on what steps to take following the publication of the £23million Care Inquiry report.

They are following in Deputy Sam Mézec's footsteps who announced at the end of July that he had turned down the Chief Minister's invitation to join the panel as he wished to remain independent.

Deputies Louise Doublet and Richard Renouf, respectively Chairs of the Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel and the Health and Social Services Scrutiny Panel, announced this morning they had declined the invitation from the Chief Minister "...after careful consideration." Both of their panels will play a large part in scrutinising the  implementation of the recommendations made in the Care Inquiry Report in the coming months.

The deputies however stated they found the terms of reference of the proposed advisory panel "unspecific" adding that they lacked "any clarity" making it unclear what value the panel would bring to the process.

In a joint statement, they wrote: "Both Deputies wish to engage positively with the Chief Minister in this work but consider this is best achieved by working within the Scrutiny process where members can be entirely independent in reviewing government decisions and where staff and resources are available to advise and assist them."

Earlier this summer, Deputy Sam Mézec announced he had turned down the Chief Minister's invitation saying, "I have come to the conclusion that the Chief Minister is handling the aftermath of the report poorly and I am better placed to argue for positive change whilst being independent from any advisory panel."

In an open letter to the Chief Minister, the deputy explained that he wholeheartedly supported the recommendations made by the Inquiry and would vote for "...any proposition which I believe takes the Island forward in getting these recommendations implemented." Deputy Mézec added: "Whatever noble intentions the government may have in its attempts to implement the recommendations, innocent mistakes may be made along the way which I would be complicit in if I take up a role in advising the government. It is vital that there remain members who are not compromised by this process, who are able to speak out and oppose potential mistakes when they arise."

The announcement casts doubt on how the Chief Minister will be able to act on the Care Inquiry's recommendations. Speaking after the publication of the report, the Chief Minister said, "We, as an Assembly, must also hold ourselves to account for putting in place in the measures needed to protect children in future." He also promised to bring a "detailed response" to the Inquiry's core recommendations in October.