Select a region
How old is the average States Member? Who has sat in the Chamber the longest? And who speaks the most?
The States Assembly’s Annual Report for 2017 has just been published and offers a little insight into those very questions.
The report explains everything the island’s Senators, Constables and Deputies got up to last year – from international trips, to key debates, and the grilling sessions of Scrutiny.
As it turns out, 2017 was the busiest year for the outgoing States Assembly in their entire four-year term, with States Members sitting for more days than they had done since the previous election year of 2014.
Video: An introduction to the States Assembly.
In his foreword to the report, the Bailiff also notes that members appeared slightly less inquisitive than previously during their fortnightly sittings.
“Interestingly, the number of questions put to Ministers reduced, other than to the Chief Minister, which perhaps suggests a view amongst members during that period that there had been a move to Chief Ministerial government, in that the Chief Minister, who has relatively few direct functions under the law – these are limited under Article 18 of the States of Jersey Law 2005 – was expected to answer questions on every aspect of government policy and its administration. The 2005 Law was now drawn on that basis but politics of course develop,” Sir William Bailhache, who recently announced his retirement, mused.
The report also contained other interesting fact nuggets about the island’s most – and least – active States Members serving last year.
Express trawled the stats so you don’t have to – and popped them into this quiz.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.