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Welcome to the latest edition of POLITICS DISASSEMBLED from Express. Before every States Assembly meeting, we’ll be disassembling the agenda to help you make sense of the goings-on in Jersey’s political world… and throwing in a bit of insider insight and gossip for good measure.
If there are other areas of the island’s political goings-on you want Express to disassemble, let us know. You can find contact details at the end of the piece.
Here’s your DISASSEMBLED digest for this week’s States Assembly sitting, starting tomorrow morning…
Facing questions without notice this week are the Ministers for Education, Treasury and the Chief Minister.
What do we expect them to be questioned about? Well, States Members get free rein here, and may already have some questions in mind, but might we suggest…
TEACHERS’ STRIKES: As Members go about their business in the Assembly, it is likely that teachers belonging to two unions - National Education Union and National Association of Head Teachers - will demonstrating outside.
The unions have called a one-day strike over disagreements with the Government over pay. Another union, the NASUWT, called off its action over the weekend after agreeing to a backdated 7.9% pay increase; however, they remain in dispute over a final settlement.
All three ministers could face questions on the issue, perhaps on the level of disruption in classrooms and how pay negotiations are progressing.
Deputy Gardiner might also be asked about recent fire safety concerns and if there have been any developments in the building of new town primary schools.
But before that quick-fire round of questioning without notice occurs, we’ve got oral questions with notice to get through - that is to say, the ones Ministers have been told about in advance, and had their officers so kindly prepare some answers for them to read out.
MORE ON THE STRIKE: Deputies Lyndsay Feltham, Sam Mézec and Rob Ward will be tackling this issue, the latter asking the Chief Minister - who chairs the States’ Employment Board - what action was taken by the Government to prevent the industrial action.
VAPES, VEHICLES AND REVENGE: Deputy Beatriz Porée is asking the Health Minister if any steps have been taken to ban the sale of disposable vapes; Deputy Carina Alves would like the Environment Minister to tell her if a vehicle scrappage scheme has been considered as part of his ‘Electric Vehicle strategy’; and Deputy Mézec is asking Housing Minister David Warr if he has considered banning ‘no fault and revenge evictions’.
VOTE OF CENSURE: The first debate is likely to be one that all Members will be keen to move on from as soon as possible as it does not put Jersey’s elected assembly in the best of light. The reasons why the Privileges and Procedures Committee have lodged a Vote of Censure – in other words, an official 'slap on the wrist' – in Deputy Max Andrews have been well reported and it is likely to be an uncomfortable public debate for all concerned.
The debate is preceded by a personal statement by Deputy Andrews, and what he says and how he replies to the Q&A session that follows a statement may well influence the course of the vote of censure motion.
A RECYCLED IDEA: Deputy Catherine Curtis would like Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet to reopen the recycling reception centre at La Collette, which used to run by Acorn before it consolidated back to its Trinity base in 2021. Deputy Binet has proposed an amendment to Deputy Curtis’s proposition, which says he will “take all necessary steps” to reinstate the centre by next April, which will allow a tender process to take place.
A CHRISTMAS BONUS: Deputy Rob Ward wants Social Security Minister Elaine Millar to provide some seasonal cheer to pensioners on Income Support by increasing the Christmas Bonus from £84.87 to £114.19 to reflect inflation. The rise is estimated to cost £151,000.
Unfortunately for Members, the main ‘gossip’ of the day may well be aired during the first debate, if details of how the relationship between two backbench politicians descended from - albeit inappropriate - gifts and compliments to swearing and resignation are shared.
It is also the first time that Members have gathered since July so it may take a while for the 49 politicians to warm up. That said, with the draft Government Plan - which will set out firm spending plans for next year and outline proposals for the following three - due to drop imminently, the Assembly doesn’t have long to get back to full speed.
Got any States Assembly gossip to fill our News team's appetites? Or want to suggest any other areas of political life you'd like disassembled? Let us know! Email us HERE or slide into our DMs on Twitter.
Read the full order paper for today's States Assembly meeting HERE.
If you want to watch the action unfold live in the States Chamber, you can do so from 09:30 tomorrow HERE.
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