STATES OF JERSEY

OFFICIAL REPORT

FRIDAY, 19th JUNE 2026

COMMUNICATIONS BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER ........................................ 3

1. Tribute to Cynthia Rumboll, formerly Deputy Cynthia Horne .......................... 3
2. Appointment of Advocate Victoria Bell as Solicitor General ............................ 3

APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS, COMMITTEES AND PANELS ........................... 4

2.  Selection of Chief Minister designate...................................................... 4

2.1  Senator L.J. Farnham : ...................................................................... 4

1. Connétable I. Gardiner of St. Helier : ...................................................... 6
2. The Connétable of St. Helier : .............................................................. 6
3. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Saviour : .................................................... 6
4. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet : ................................................................... 7
5. Deputy T.A. Coles of St. Helier South : .................................................... 7
6. Deputy T.A. Coles : ........................................................................ 7
7. Deputy L.V. Feltham of St. Helier Central : ................................................ 7
8. Deputy L.V. Feltham : ...................................................................... 8
9. Deputy C.D. Curtis of St. Helier Central : .................................................. 8
10. Deputy C.D. Curtis : ....................................................................... 8
11. Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter : ......................... 8
12. Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson : ............................................................... 9
13. Deputy H.L. Jeune of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity : ............................. 9
14. Deputy H.L. Jeune :...................................................................... 9
15. Deputy B.B. de S.V.M. Porée of St. Helier South : ..................................... 9
16. Deputy B.B. de S.V.M. Porée : ........................................................ 10
17. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet : .............................................................. 10
18. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet : .............................................................. 10
19. The Connétable of St. Helier : .......................................................... 10
20. The Connétable of St. Helier : .......................................................... 11
21. Deputy L.V. Feltham :.................................................................. 11
22. Deputy L.V. Feltham :.................................................................. 11
23. Deputy C.S. Alves of St. Helier Central : ............................................ 11
24. Deputy C.S. Alves : .................................................................... 12
25. Deputy K.M. Wilson of St. Clement : .................................................. 12
26. Deputy K.M. Wilson : .................................................................. 12
27. Connétable R.D. Johnson of St. Mary :................................................ 13
28. The Connétable of St. Mary : .......................................................... 13
29. Deputy L.D. Carpenter of St. Helier Central : ......................................... 14
30. Deputy B.B. de S.V.M. Porée : ........................................................ 14
31. Deputy F.G. Voisin of St. Helier North: .............................................. 14

32. Deputy F.G. Voisin : ................................................................... 14
33. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet : .............................................................. 15
34. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet : .............................................................. 15
35. Deputy K.F. Morel of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity ............................ 15
36. Deputy K.F. Morel : .................................................................... 16
37. Connétable S.W. Pallett of St. Brelade : ............................................... 16
38. The Connétable of St. Brelade : ........................................................ 16
39. Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade : ...................................................... 17
40. Deputy M. Tadier : ..................................................................... 17
41. Deputy V. Li of St. Helier North :...................................................... 17
42. Deputy B. Ward of St. Clement : ...................................................... 18
43. Connétable A.N. Jehan of St. John :...................................................... 18
44. The Connétable of St. John : ........................................................... 18
45. Deputy H.L. Jeune :.................................................................... 18
46. Deputy H.L. Jeune :.................................................................... 19
47. Deputy P.J. Romeril of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity : .......................... 19
48. Deputy P.J. Romeril : .................................................................. 20
49. Connétable D.G. Curtis of St. Saviour : ................................................ 20
50. The Connétable of St. Helier : .......................................................... 20

ADJOURNMENT .................................................................................. 21

[9:30]

The Roll was called and the Dean led the Assembly in Prayer. COMMUNICATIONS BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER

The Bailiff :

1. Tribute to Cynthia Rumboll, formerly Deputy Cynthia Horne

Members will be saddened to learn that Cynthia Rumboll, formerly Deputy Cynthia Horne, passed away on 24th March in her home in Jersey at the age of 86. This is the first opportunity for the Assembly to pay tribute to her since we prorogued for the elections. Born in Northumberland in 1939, Cynthia Pilkington grew up in London. She had an adventurous youth, making many sea voyages with her father, and also being one of 8 young people who participated in the British Alpine Hannibal Expedition, which attempted to traverse the Alps with an elephant. Miss Pilkington published a book in 1961 about the trip entitled Elephant Over the Alps. In 1960, she was awarded the Cambridge Certificate in Education. Then, following a few years of teaching, she returned to study social work at London University. She married John Horne in 1963, with whom she had 4 daughters, and in 1973 she moved to Jersey, where her parents and uncle were already living. In 1987, Mrs Horne stood for one of the 4 seats in St. Helier No. 3 District and topped the poll with 1,075 votes. While serving as Deputy of St. Helier from then until 1990, she was a member of a range of committees, including the Education, Tourism, Gambling Control, Overseas Aid and House Committees. In 1989, she was appointed as a member of the Occupation and Li beration Committee, and then as chair of a sub-committee to oversee the creation of a tapestry to show life during the Occupation. The same year saw Deputy Horne marry her States Assembly colleague, Deputy Robin Rumboll, the first instance of sitting Deputies tying the knot. Stepping down from politics in 1990, she continued her public service outside the Assembly. She was appointed a member of the Public Lotteries Board and in 1996 became a member of a special committee to consider the relationship between the committees and the States. She was a dedicated supporter of the Order of St. John's Ambulance and rose to the rank of Dame Commander. In that capacity, she was rewarded with an M.B.E. (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2017, presented by the Princess Royal. She was predeceased by her second husband and is survived by her 4 daughters. Our thoughts are with them today and their extended families. I invite Members to rise and reflect on her life. (Silence) May she rest in peace.

2. Appointment of Advocate Victoria Bell as Solicitor General

Members will recall that the position of His Majesty's Solicitor General fell vacant in March of this year on the appointment of Matthew Jowitt King's Counsel to the Office of Attorney General. The post was publicly advertised in the usual way in mid-February, with a deadline for applications of 13th March. 9 applications were received, 8 of which met the criteria for appointment. Prior to interview, the panel on 19th March met for the purpose of shortlisting. The panel consisted of the Bailiff , the Attorney General, Jurat Elizabeth Dulake, and Ms. Julia Therezien, Commissioner of the Jersey Appointments Commission. 4 applicants were shortlisted for interview. The customary consultations took place on 27th March and extended to the Bailiff 's Consultative Panel of States Members, Jurats of the Royal Court, senior lawyers and members of the judiciary. The interviews took place the following day, Saturday, 28th March. All members were agreed as to the identity of the successful candidate. The name of that candidate and the detail as to the appointments process followed. It was sent to His Excellency the Li eutenant Governor, who in turn transmitted it to the Lord Chancellor via the Ministry of Justice. The Lord Chancellor transmitted our recommendation to the King. I am delighted to say that His Majesty has confirmed that the next Solicitor General for Jersey will be Advocate Victoria Clare Bell. [Approbation] Advocate. Bell was born in Jersey, went to school at the Jersey College for Girls, read English at the University of Exeter, and was admitted as an English solicitor in 2009 and a Jersey Advocate some 10 years ago. She is currently

a senior legal adviser at the Law Officers' Department and will be sworn in, in the Royal Court, on Monday, 13th July.

APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS, COMMITTEES AND PANELS 2.  Selection of Chief Minister designate The Bailiff :

The only item of business today is selection of the Chief Minister designate. In accordance with Standing Order 116, I ask the Greffier to read out the nomination or nominations received for the office of Chief Minister.

The Greffier of the States:

In accordance with Standing Orders of the States of Jersey, one nomination for the post of Chief Minister was received, Senator Lyndon John Farnham .

The Bailiff :

Under the same Standing Order, Senator Farnham will be able to speak for up to 10 minutes and Members will then have up to one hour to ask him questions. We will display the time and ring a bell to signal when the 10 minutes are up. Similarly, the bell will be rung when we reach the one- hour limit. Members are able to ask a question and, of course, a supplementary question too, which must be related to the original question.

2.1  Senator L.J. Farnham :

I am grateful for the opportunity to address Members today in this first sitting of the new Assembly and to outline the approach I intend to take as Jersey's Chief Minister. I do so with humility, a deep sense of responsibility and, above all, optimism about Jersey's future. The election is now behind us, Islanders have spoken, they have elected a new Assembly and entrusted each and every one of us with the privilege and responsibility of serving our community. We may come from different political backgrounds, we may hold different views on individual issues, but we now share a common purpose: to provide effective Government, to make good decisions, and to deliver for the people of Jersey who have placed their trust in us. Jersey remains a remarkable place. We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful Island that enjoys political stability, strong public institutions, a successful economy and a community spirit that continues to define who we are. We have much to be proud of but, at the same time, we should never lose sight of the challenges that many Islanders face. The cost of living remains a concern for households across the Island. Businesses face rising costs and increasing international competition. Public services are under pressure to do more while ensuring better value for money. Li ke many other jurisdictions, we face longer-term challenges around demographics, productivity and economic competitiveness.

[9:45]

These are all significant issues, but they are not insurmountable. Jersey has faced difficult periods before and emerged stronger because we have always been prepared to adapt, to innovate, and to rally ourselves to the cause. That spirit remains one of our greatest strengths. Throughout my time in public service, I have learned that progress is rarely achieved by any one individual acting alone. The most successful Governments are those who are prepared to listen, to build consensus, and draw upon the widest possible range of experience. That has always been my approach. I have worked with Members from across the political spectrum throughout my time in the Assembly, and I have always believed that good ideas deserve support regardless of where they originate. The public expects debate, they expect robust scrutiny, they expect constructive challenge - quite rightly so - but they also expect us to find common ground where we can and to work together when the interests of the Island require it. I would like to chair a Council of Ministers that reflects the breadth of talent, experience  and  perspective  that  exists  within  this  new  Assembly.  One  that  values  different

viewpoints, constructive challenge. One that is united by a shared commitment to improving the lives of Islanders. One that is focused not on political labels, but on delivering good government. While leadership is  important,  Islanders will rightly  judge us on what  we achieve.  The next Government must remain focused on a number of clear priorities. The first is maintaining strong and sustainable public finances because strong public finances are not simply an accounting exercise. They provide foundation, the foundation for everything else this Assembly seeks to do. They allow us to invest in healthcare, education, housing, infrastructure, and they give us the flexibility to respond to unforeseen challenges. Over recent years Government has faced considerable spending pressures. Some have been unavoidable; some have reflected necessary decisions taken to improve services and invest in our future. However, the next Government must place renewed emphasis on financial discipline and long-term sustainability, and that means focusing spending on our priorities, it means eliminating inefficiency wherever we find it, and it means ensuring every pound spent delivers better value for Islanders. To be absolutely clear, I do not believe in austerity. Neither do I believe that government can continue to grow indefinitely without regard to cost. The second priority is economic growth. A successful economy creates opportunity, supports better living standards, generates revenue needed to  fund public services, and provides a confidence that encourages investment and innovation. At the same time, we must continue to strengthen the sectors that already underpin Jersey's prosperity, particularly financial services, while creating new opportunities in other sectors  such  as  technology,  digital  business,  artificial  intelligence,  the  marine  economy  and sustainable energy. But we must also support our local economy, including small businesses, hospitality, tourism, agriculture, retail, construction, professional services, because these sectors provide the jobs that sustain our communities and ensure that economic success is felt across the whole Island. Government must play its part too by maintaining competitiveness and ensuring that unnecessary bureaucracy does not stand in the way of progress. The third priority is affordability and housing. For many Islanders these are the issues that matter most. They affect daily life and shape people's confidence in the future. Housing remains one of the defining challenges facing our Island. Too many people feel that owning a home remains out of reach. Too many young Islanders question whether they will be able to establish their future here. We must continue increasing housing supply, accelerate the delivery of developments, and support initiatives that help Islanders access home ownership. The fourth priority is health and public services. Islanders need good public services that are reliable and responsive. That means improving access to affordable care, supporting our front line staff, making better use of technology, and placing greater emphasis on prevention and early intervention. It also means completing the new hospital at Overdale in accordance with the agreed programme, with a clear focus on delivering the safe, modern and efficient healthcare environment that Islanders, patients, staff and future generations deserve. The fifth priority is improving the performance of the Government itself. Islanders rightly expect Government to be efficient, responsive and focused on delivery. They expect decisions to be implemented, they expect projects to be delivered, and they expect accountability when things do not go according to plan. But we must also take a long-term view. One of the most important issues facing Jersey over the coming years will be the impact of an ageing population and a declining birth rate. These are not simply demographic issues because it affects our economy, our workforce, our healthcare, our housing needs and our public finances. So addressing it will require careful planning and thoughtful decision- making across a number of policy areas, including housing, childcare, health, education, skills and support for families. But at the same time, Jersey must continue to look outward because our future prosperity depends in part on our ability to compete internationally, attract investment and maintain strong relationships beyond our shores. We must continue to protect and enhance Jersey's good reputation and ensure that our voice is heard and respected internationally. I have been privileged to serve the Island in 4 different decades and, during that time, I have held many roles including Deputy , Senator,  committee  member,  committee  president,  member  of  the  scrutiny  process,  Assistant Minister, Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Chief Minister. But do not worry, Sir, I am not after your job just yet. I have also spent much of my professional life in business and in sectors that

understand the importance of service, accountability, teamwork and delivery. Those experiences have reinforced a simple belief, Jersey always works best when we choose respect over rivalry. The public is not interested in political point scoring. They are interested in outcomes. They want Government to focus on the issues that matter to them. They want practical solutions. They want progress and they want renewed confidence in our future. The election is over. The task of governing now begins. As Members, we will not agree on everything, nor should we, but we all want a prosperous economy. We all want strong public services. We all want more opportunities for younger Islanders, and we want Jersey to succeed. I will work with every Member of this Assembly in pursuit of those objectives. I will seek to build consensus wherever possible, listen carefully to differing views, and remain focused on delivering the outcomes that Islanders expect from their Government. We are a small Island, but we have never lacked ambition. We have the talent, the resilience and the determination to meet the challenges ahead. Now is the time to move forward with confidence, with purpose, and with unity. In closing, can I just remind Members that Jersey's future cannot be shaped by words alone but the decisions we take, the discipline we show, and the results we  deliver.   I  hope  all  Members  of  this  Assembly  will  join  me  in  that  task.   Thank  you. [Approbation]

1. Connétable I. Gardiner of St. Helier :

The Common Strategic Policy 2024-26, approved by this Assembly, included a clear priority to revitalise town. It recognised the urgent need for infrastructure for town residents, including public spaces, walking and cycling access, town markets, parking and protection of St. Helier 's unique character. Will the candidate, as our next Chief Minister, confirm that this will remain one of the priorities of his Government in this term, and he will commit to fund a time-bound delivery plan for St. Helier ?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Yes, absolutely. Rejuvenating our town centre is essential to a number of issues that affect our future, not least our economy. Having said that, we have received some criticism over some of the schemes that have been started, but I think it is essential we push forward, and I look forward to working with the new Constable in achieving that.

2. The Connétable of St. Helier :

I would like to thank the Chief Minister for his answer, and I am also looking forward to working collaboratively. Would the Chief Minister commit to meeting myself as, the Connétable of St. Helier , next week to agree the first practical priorities, and would the candidate advise if he is considering to have a Ministerial responsibility, with a named Minister who would be responsible for St. Helier?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

I would be delighted to meet the Constable next week. I do not have much choice by the sound of things. [Laughter] I would like to discuss with her how best that we work together to deliver the improvements we need.

3. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Saviour :

Children are living in poverty in our Island. I would like to understand what the Chief Minister's response is to the Children's Commissioner, who raised this issue, and said it is a huge red flag for our society that a quarter of children in our Island are living in poverty and also 69 per cent of single parents are struggling financially. What will he respond to the Children's Commissioner and to my question? In his response, I would like to understand specifically how he is going to address single parents.

Senator L.J. Farnham :

While we have made significant progress over the years with our work to support and protect and enhance the lives of children and young people, we recognise we still have a way to go. We have, or the previous Assembly, supported significant increases in funding into sectors that support children, and that will remain a priority for the Government and the relevant Ministers who will be dealing with that. I cannot give the Deputy detailed answers of how we are going to deal with that because those are for further discussions with Ministers, the Children's Commissioner and other important stakeholders that we need to engage with to address the severe challenges that still lie ahead of us. But I want to reassure the Deputy and Members that we will continue working hard to improve the lives of those children that need support.

4. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :

Given that this issue is so cross-cutting, can the Chief Minister commit to a single point of action whereby he will either set up a child poverty task force, make a statement about specific actions he is going to take to tackle this problem very early on in his term of office so that Islanders and children themselves know that this is going to be acted on and taken seriously?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Absolutely. While I can commit that the Government will start tackling this with renewed vigour early on in the Government, I would be reluctant to commit to any new task forces or groups or bodies before having discussions with the relevant Ministers.

5. Deputy T.A. Coles of St. Helier South:

The Senator has said that he does not believe in austerity. Will he make it clear to every Member he asks to serve in his Government that fiscal discipline must mean reducing waste, improving delivery, not cutting support for Islanders least able to absorb these cuts?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

My answer to that is absolutely yes. The Deputy and colleagues should know that has been the approach that we have taken in the previous Government. We will continue to provide support to the people who need support. But I want to be clear, that I believe that when we support Islanders, we should make sure that it is properly targeted.

6. Deputy T.A. Coles :

Will the Senator commit that no Minister in his Government will be permitted to bring forward proposals that reduce support for pensioners on modest incomes, single-parent households, disabled Islanders, carers or low-income working families unless he is prepared to defend it as compatible with his statement that he does not believe in austerity?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Regrettably I do not have that kind of power because we are in a democracy and Ministers are free, as are Members, to bring what they wish. But I will give the Deputy an undertaking that I will do my utmost to ensure this Government focuses on saving money, eliminating inefficiency, and making sure we are spending the taxpayer pound more carefully without impacting those in our society that need help.

7. Deputy L.V. Feltham of St. Helier Central :

Does  the  Senator  accept  that  Jersey's  reputation  as  a  well-regulated,  transparent  and  stable jurisdiction depends not only on our legislation and financial services regulations, but also on confidence in our democratic standards.

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Yes, I do. Fortunately, Jersey has always been known for its political stability. I hope all Members of this Assembly will bear that in mind in every part of their duties as a States Member.

8. Deputy L.V. Feltham :

Will the Senator therefore agree that opaque political interference is not a minor procedural issue, but a potential reputational risk for Jersey that Government should take seriously?

[10:00]

Senator L.J. Farnham :

I do not really like opaqueness. I like things to be black or white. But if the Deputy is referring to the recent election, I think I am not in a position to comment on that. What I will say is that the Jersey Electoral Authority will be doing their duties and carrying out their responsibilities to make sure we had a fair election, and their report will come back to this Assembly via the Privileges and Procedures Committee. Depending on what that report says, the Assembly can take the necessary action, if any action is required. In the meantime, I would urge Members not to be distracted by what happened in the past. We need to look forward to work in the best interests of Islanders. They need us to get working pretty quickly.

9. Deputy C.D. Curtis of St. Helier Central:

I was going to ask a question about the welfare of children but was beaten to it, so I have one on the economy. The Senator's vision statement includes the need for a stronger and more dynamic economy. How does the Senator aim to grow the economy?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Remove barriers to business, reduce regulation are the 2 that instantly spring to mind. Make it easier for businesses to operate, reduce costs for business, make it easier to employ people to support skills development, to make sure we have a new Minister for Sustainable Economic Development who is focused on the local economy, supporting competition, and doing everything we can to make life easier for business. Because if we make life easier for business, we make life easier and provide more opportunities for Islanders.

10. Deputy C.D. Curtis :

The Senator has mentioned skills development, which was one of the things I was going to ask about as well, but will he also address constraints to attracting skilled staff to the Island, such as high housing costs?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Yes, we continue to do that. We realise high housing costs has been a barrier to bringing in a skilled server. Generally, we have managed to overcome that work. I will mention the good work of the previous Housing Minister, the former Deputy Mézec, who made significant progress in that area. I hope the new Housing Minister, whoever that may be, and other colleagues will continue that good work to make housing more affordable for all.

11. Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter :

Will the Senator set out his vision for Fort Regent and a timeline for implementing it? When can Islanders expect to be back in the Fort?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

The first draft of the vision has been set out and presented to Islanders, predominantly to young people through the schools. The plan is the Fort will be open to Islanders by the end of 2030, if this Government and this Assembly does not seek to change things. I know we are not all united on this, and I am not necessarily looking at Senator Binet in front of me, but clearly we have work to do. We 8

have to engage with Islanders and the Assembly moving forward. But I would like to see the Fort Regent development come to fruition because the way we have let it decay over the years is simply unacceptable. It is quite representative of the way we treat some of our public assets, and that is not good for anyone. It is not good for the balance sheet especially, but it is not good for Islanders, visitors and especially our young people. So, I am fully supportive on continuing that journey, but the answer to the question is 2030.

12. Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson :

I am pleased to hear that from the Chief Minister. Can he provide a bit of detail about how he would plan to fund that project?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

The capital cost of bringing it to the standard we want it to be is in the region of £100 million, the majority of that would be supported by borrowing. We have to bear in mind that if we do nothing the cost of keeping the structure up and maintaining Fort Regent in a safe condition runs into tens of millions, so the net cost is not all of that. We are still going to have to spend money on it and keep spending money on it even if we do nothing. But the business plan, and that will be presented in short order to States Members by the Jersey Development Company, is to seek tenants for the vast majority of the entertainment and businesses in there, so it will be a private-public partnership and the rental income will cover the running costs moving forward. That is the current plan. So capital costs will be borne by the taxpayer, the running costs will be run by the business carried out within the Fort.

13. Deputy H.L. Jeune of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity :

The candidate made almost no mention of the environment in his speech or vision statement. How will he ensure that environmental protection is not sacrificed in the pursuit of economic growth and fiscal savings?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

I do not think that any Member of this Assembly would not take our environmental responsibilities extremely seriously, and I continue to do that. I hope this new Government continues to do that. But I would like to keep some focus on keeping it practical. We do have to build in affordability to part of it. For example, the well-intentioned plan to stop the import of fossil fuel cars in 2030 was simply unrealistic. We need to make sure our targets remain realistic. We cannot move ahead of the rest of the world, because the rest of the world dictates what we do. It dictates what is manufactured. It dictates what type of energy is removed. If we bear that in mind, remain practical, we should continue on the journey. We might have to reduce the velocity of how we get there to be a little bit more realistic, but to reassure the Deputy , I am fully committed to our environmental agenda.

14. Deputy H.L. Jeune :

Jersey's access to U.K. (United Kingdom) and E.U. (European Union) markets to support our economy depends on maintaining recognised environmental and regulatory standards. Can the candidate guarantee that environmental standards commitments or regulations will not be weakened during his term? If there will be cuts, who will decide where the line is drawn?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

I cannot guarantee anything until the new Government is in place. I refer to my previous statement where I stressed my support and the importance of the environmental agenda, but ultimately all of those targets, all of that legislation that is planned, will be a matter for the Assembly to debate in the fullness of time.

15. Deputy B.B. de S.V.M. Porée of St. Helier South :

Can the Senator state what are his main priorities in tackling the cost-of-living crisis during his mandate?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

It is extremely difficult because, as Members will know, we have little control over the cost of living, the inflation, simply because we rely on imported goods. This Island consumes .. the vast majority of our consumption, about 97 per cent I think is imported, so we are often at the vagaries of geopolitical instability. However, there are actions we can take. We can make government more efficient, we can cut costs, we can cut fees and charges, we can reduce regulation on business, we can promote competition, and all of those will be high priorities for us because we heard the public, the electorate, loud and clear in the election, that the biggest issue for them right now is the cost of living. So that will be a high priority for us.

16. Deputy B.B. de S.V.M. Porée :

Is it fair to say that the Senator is saying that the best way to deal with the cost-of-living crisis is to cut the red tape? Is that a question to ask?

The Bailiff :

Yes.

Senator L.J. Farnham :

That was one of the list of options I gave. That is certainly a part of it, but there are other actions we can take. I am sure the newly constituted cost-of-living group, formerly chaired by Deputy Morel , will be coming and reporting to Members on a regular basis. We would also like to hear from Members. I said this Government wanted to be inclusive, so the door is always open. Members have a free voice to come and give Government advice whenever they wish to, but it is a big challenge. It is a difficult one, but we must do everything we can to help ease the burden.

17. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :

Is the Senator aware that around the world L.G.B.T.Q.+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and additional identities) rights are being rolled back in some very concerning ways? Will the Senator commit to protecting L.G.B.T.Q.+ rights in Jersey and commit to human rights generally?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Yes.

18. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :

On the subject of human rights, is the Chief Minister committed to fully incorporating the U.N.C.R.C. (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) into our domestic legislation?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

I would have to again just re-familiarise myself with all of the detail of that. Ultimately, that will be a matter for the Assembly, but I am certainly not against it. But I need to understand the full detail.

19. The Connétable of St. Helier :

The Senator's statement supports accelerated housing supply and removing barriers for development, which is welcome. How will he ensure the housing growth in St. Helier is matched by community facilities, parks, active travel, parking and community safety?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

I am pleased the Deputy asked that because that was part of the catalyst and the very reason behind establishing the Investing in Jersey programme, which ring-fences a budget. For Members' benefit that might not know this, in the past, budgets have been given to departments that included the capital budget. So, if they were underspent on capital and overspent on running costs, they could transfer budget. What we have done now - and Deputy Millar led this - is created the Jersey Capital Investment Fund, which ring-fences our capital spend. So, it cannot be used to cover overspends in running costs but must be used in delivering our infrastructure and improvements to our public realm.

20. The Connétable of St. Helier :

Will the Senator commit that the major St. Helier housing schemes will not be considered in isolation from the public infrastructure needed by existing and future residents?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

I would like to commit to that in principle, but I do not want to commit to something without understanding all of the requirements needed. But if it is possible, yes. But that is a part of one of the problems we have, we are seeing a falling birth rate. Young people are having children later on in life. A lot of our young people are living in one and 2-bedroom flats because that is what they can afford. That is not conducive to raising a family. So, the strategy around all of that depends upon creating more family-sized homes. I would like to see that be significantly accelerated. I would like to see less apartments being built. We still need apartments, but we need to get the balance right, and we need to do everything we can to get our young people into family homes.

21. Deputy L.V. Feltham :

Will the Senator commit to supporting the implementation of whistleblowing legislation, longer time limits for employment and discrimination tribunal claims, and protection against fire and rehire practices?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

I am certainly prepared to consider that. I do not think I can commit to it, but we will consider it at Council of Ministers. Again, a lot of that depends on the detail. The temptation is to say yes to everything right here, but I just want to be clear; happy to consider anything. We want to make sure when we introduce new legislation, we absolutely need it. Sometimes we get carried away and we introduce too much legislation. I would like to see us having a rule on a one in-2 out type of approach to legislation. That is something we are going to be looking at.

22. Deputy L.V. Feltham :

I will remind the Senator that, of course, the whistleblowing legislation is out in the public domain, so he does have the detail of that. But will he accept that a pro-growth Government should also be pro-good employment Government, or does he see workers' rights as a barrier to growth?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

The Deputy should know the answer to that because we have worked closely together over the last 2½ years, working on improvements in those areas. Yes, what I should have said is I cannot remember all of the detail on the whistleblowing legislation, but I appreciate the work that has been done on that. I refer to my previous answer; yes, prepared to consider it. We want to keep moving forward with advanced modern legislation around employment, but we have got to make sure we maintain a balance that is right for the Island.

23. Deputy C.S. Alves of St. Helier Central :

As the Chief Minister designate is aware, political awareness and education is something that I am extremely passionate about and constantly trying to push for.

[10:15]

I am pleased to see that our voter turnout numbers, although the percentage may have not increased, but the numbers did. Although I recognise that also a lot of this work falls under P.P.C. (Privileges and Procedures Committee), Government does have a responsibility to ensure that the Island's public are kept informed. Can the Chief Minister designate explain why the Government chose to remain silent during the election period across all its social media channels, and failed to provide even the basic neutral information to the public on when and how and even the day of the election?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

I think there are probably some lessons to be learned. I think the Government is keen to separate itself from election processes, but we did, following pressure from the Deputy , consider that and we did put some very basic electoral factual information out, after taking advice, on the Government's social media channels. But in future, I think now once we have done it and the world did not end, we can get better at it for the next election.

24. Deputy C.S. Alves :

I thank the Chief Minister designate for his answer. Can I therefore ask him to commit to ensuring that this Government makes every effort to improve democratic engagement and voter turnout, not just in the lead-up to elections but also in between, and ensuring that communication remains open and as transparent as possible with the public?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Yes, I absolutely can assure the Deputy of that in the process she has referred to. But I would remind all States Members and future Ministers that the best way we can engage the public in the electoral process is by doing a good job for them.

25. Deputy K.M. Wilson of St. Clement :

Could the Senator explain what he has learned about the ability to control public expenditure and the performance of public services while in office, and how will he take that learning forward and what will he do differently this time to improve control of public expenditure?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

This is a job that you never stop learning in. I have learned that it takes time to change course of the ship. When we came into office in January 2024 the trajectory was on the way up, coming out of COVID where we had to increase resources to deal with the challenges. We were too slow to go back down in size to where we were pre-COVID, so we allowed that to bed in. What I learned from that is it takes time to change. Once you are on the trajectory it takes a year or 2 to change that, so we must never allow ourselves to get into those trajectories. The action we took since 2024, which has saved us probably in the region of between £100 million and £150 million since then, for example, if we had not have done that our accounts would have been significantly diminished from what they did show. We took 1,000 job vacancies out of the system. We introduced recruitment freezes, which saw a significant decrease in the central management of the public sector, but we allowed front line services such as health and education to significantly increase their numbers because they were operating at below level. We saved £44 million in 2 years on reduced consultancy fees. Those are areas where we have to maintain the direction of travel. But the new Minister for Treasury and Resources is going to have to work extremely hard to understand where we can make further savings without making material reductions to our public services, especially when we put money into the system to support the Islanders that need help.

26. Deputy K.M. Wilson :

I have just got a load of written questions prepared from that answer, but thank you to the Chief Minister for that response. One area of public expenditure that does deliver social, health and economic benefits is investment in community facilities. In the previous Assembly, he committed to funding the redevelopment of Le Squez Youth Club. I would like to know from the Senator whether he still maintains that commitment, and he will ensure that for the residents in St. Clement that will actually be factored into his planning in the coming term.

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Yes, I remember well the visit I had to the youth facility with the Constable, the Deputy and other Members, and I think there is fantastic potential and a great need to improve the youth facilities at St. Clement . We did not manage to get that over the line because we prioritised the new youth facility in St. Helier , because St. Helier were significantly lacking. They had very little in the way of youth facilities, so we had to prioritise that. I would very much like to see St. Clement 's funding go to St. Clement for the long overdue redevelopment of that centre. Again, I can commit to making sure it is on the agenda of the new relevant Ministers, and I will do my very best to work on them, and the next Minister for Treasury and Resources, to make sure we can find some funding for that, although I cannot promise because we have some difficult challenges ahead of us. But I certainly agree with the principle, we need to do more for our young people.

27. Connétable R.D. Johnson of St. Mary :

My question relates to the ongoing saga of the complaints handling for public services, in respect of which former Deputy Moz Scott, Assistant Minister, delivered a report as to her findings and recommendations in March of this year. That concluded, and if I can quote: "Establishing an independent J.P.S.O., Jersey Public Services Ombudsman, is essential to restoring trust, ensuring fairness  and  improving  complaint  handling  across  public  services."   Following  that,  she recommended that a roadmap for implementation of a J.P.S.O., including a refined proposition, should be developed for submission to the next Council of Ministers at the start of the political term. Does the candidate accept that recommendation?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

I worked closely with Deputy Scott in the preparation of that report. It took almost 2 years to complete, so by the time it landed we did not have much time to deal with it. But we are also much more aware of the financial challenges we were facing after 2 years in Government. While I very much support the principle of a public services ombudsperson, we have to now, moving forward, be mindful  of  the  cost  of  everything  and  carefully  prioritise  whether  we  need  to  have  another organisation. We are very good at creating bodies for a small country. I have said it before, we have a big country approach to doing things, which is very nice but it is also very expensive and not always necessary. We should look for more synergies between these organisations where they can work together. So, yes, I support the principle; concerned about the cost. That is a matter for the next Council of Ministers to deal with, but I cannot make any promises on that other than to make sure it is on the agenda for early discussion.

28. The Connétable of St. Mary :

I thank the candidate for his reply, and I note and appreciate what he says about unnecessary expenditure. All I ask is that will he note the further comment in the report where Deputy Scott advised that she did not consider it would be a drain on the public purse in the sense that it would be self-financing? Would he simply acknowledge and look into that?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

I acknowledge the report of Deputy Scott; I am not sure I agree with that particular part. I remember when we introduced the F.O.I. (Freedom of Information) Law. We said we would get about 2 dozen a year. We have had about 1,000, and the cost of running that is about £1 million. These things tend to grow arms and legs when they get going.

The Bailiff :

Now, the first question from a new Member, Deputy Carpenter .  [Approbation]

29. Deputy L.D. Carpenter of St. Helier Central :

As the Chief Minister designate will know, housing costs are generally regarded as the single largest driver of cost-of-living pressures for Islanders. Can the Chief Minister designate please confirm that his Government will continue to support the Residential Tenancy Law, ensuring that those renting will continue to experience far greater predictability and far lower volatility when it comes to rent increases?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Yes, I certainly support the Residential Tenancy Law, and I would not support any changes to it, either strengthening it or weakening it in any way. I think what we have got now is about right and we need to give that time to bed in.

30. Deputy B.B. de S.V.M. Porée :

Will the Senator support public sector pay rises that guarantees the minimal cost-of-living rise during this time, and if not why not?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Again it would be unwise for me to comment on that publicly at this stage when we have pay talks ahead of us. What I will say is over the last 3 years we put in place a pay deal of cost of living plus one per cent for the public sector to allow them to catch up, which I think they largely have done. If we look at the pay scales and grades now, they are largely much more in line with the cost of living. Having said that, I do look forward to the discussions ahead of us on pay and I hope all public sector workers, who I hold in the highest regard .. we are very quick to hear criticism but I will say it here and now, the public sector and our Civil Service do superb work for Jersey, as many of you will find out when you get to grips with your new roles. We need to support them as much as we can.

The Bailiff :

Supplementary first question from a new-ish Member, Deputy Voisin . [Laughter]

31. Deputy F.G. Voisin of St. Helier North :

Ish. We have this morning heard a wide range of questions demonstrating the very wide range of demand that are going to be placed on the next Council of Ministers and on public finances. Would the candidate please inform us how prepared he is to take the difficult decisions that are inevitably required to achieve the aims set out in his own election document?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Can I just say how very pleasant it is to have Deputy Voisin back in the Assembly, although he is slightly greyer than he was 20-odd years ago. [Laughter] Mind you, I am not really in a position to .. and neither are you, Sir, come to think of it. Sorry what was the question? [Laughter] No, I am only joking. Yes, I am as prepared as anyone can ever be in this Assembly in whatever role they take up. But I did say in my opening speech we need to move forward with purpose, with focus, and with some unity.

32. Deputy F.G. Voisin :

Would he like to give an indication of how he will prioritise these tasks and demands in the future? Senator L.J. Farnham :

Careful delegation. I joke, but we need a real team effort to do this. It is impossible for me to give you a definitive answer to how we do that, but what I would ask all Members and all new Ministers to do is make sure they are completely engaged with their portfolios, completely engaged with teamwork, and completely committed to getting things done quickly. We do not have time to procrastinate. The public want us to deliver improvement as quickly as we can.

33. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :

Health was one of the biggest topics that my parishioners were talking to me about when I visited them over the election period, and the Chief Minister designate mentioned in his speech that he wants healthcare to be affordable and accessible, but he also spoke a lot about reducing government expenditure. I wanted to know how is he going to square that circle when there is such a huge investment needed in health to bring it up to the standards required by Islanders?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

I think we need to look at removing inefficiency where we find it, we need to look at waste, we need to look at duplication across the public sector, we need to look at duplication in our arm's-length organisations, we need to look at restructuring in certain areas. Deputy Binet will know this, and hopefully by a slight nod of the head he will agree, when I say the health service has had significant additional spending. We have to remember, though, that post-COVID, the cost of providing health services from staffing to the acquisition of the drugs required and the medicines required have grown exponentially. In addition to that, the good news is we are all going to live a lot longer, hopefully. The bad news is, that is going to be more expensive to keep everybody alive. So significant challenges ahead, but I think it is prioritisation, it is removing duplication across the public sector, looking for ways of driving further inefficiencies.

34. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :

My follow-up is about women's health specifically, because actually one of the things I was astounded by on the doorsteps was the amount of women who have had their health problems dismissed or not believed, women who have been told that they cannot be feeling that much pain, that it is a mental health problem rather than a physical health problem. Does the candidate agree that actually we can save a lot of money by tackling this issue, and that the women's health strategy needs to be properly funded so that we can give women the health and care that they deserve?

[10:30]

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Yes, of course. The health of every single Islander, young or old, regardless of gender, is of the utmost importance. I am not up to speed with where we are with the women's health policy, but I should get an update in due course. I cannot really say more than that at the moment.

The Bailiff :

I am now going to invite Members who have not had a chance to ask a question to ask their questions before coming to those Members who have already had one or 2 or 3 answers from the candidates.

35. Deputy K.F. Morel of St. John, St. Lawrence and Trinity

For 6 years the Island and the States Assembly has been strangely quiet on the subject of Europe and our relationship with it. In the election it was very clear from Islanders that I spoke to that they wish to be able to purchase goods from Europe and from France, and I know speaking to agriculturalists and fishermen that they have struggled for 6 years to land their goods into Europe via Saint-Malo and elsewhere, and indeed agriculturalists who have failed or struggled to get their goods across the border to Northern Ireland. It is clear that Brexit is not in Jersey's interests. Would the Chief Minister let the Assembly know what he would plan to do over the next 4 years to improve Jersey's relationship with Europe?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Deputy Morel has been working alongside myself and Deputy Gorst and others over the last 2 to 3 years to do everything we can to ease the trade restrictions that we inherited via Brexit to make the movement of goods much easier between our Islands. We know how politically challenging that has been. We fully support the U.K.-E.U. reset and Deputy Gorst at some stage, if he is the next Minister for External Relations, I am sure will update Members on that. But what we need to do moving forward is just keep doing what we have been doing, engaging at every opportunity, promoting our will to assist in any way we can with the U.K.'s position on that. There is not a lot more we can do other than keep the pressure on in our own small but important way. The Deputy will also know we are quite in the business between the U.K. and the E.U., the fishing waters around this area is quite a political piece to play with, so it is quite challenging, but we have continued to do whatever we can to ease the position.

36. Deputy K.F. Morel :

It is an interesting quirk of Brexit that Northern Ireland now benefits from the relationship with Europe that Jersey used to benefit from, which it was in for goods. Is it not time that rather than just Jersey playing the game and waiting for the U.K. to make progress, is it not time for Jersey to define its own relationship with Europe and gain permission from the U.K. to create its own relationship with Europe, particularly around the access of goods?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Again, yes, in principle that sounds good. There are a number of constitutional issues we have to consider when we move into those areas, notwithstanding our relationship with the U.K., and our own ability to represent ourselves internationally. It is challenging, but in principle, I revert to my previous answer, we will continue to do .. whatever we can, we will make sure our voice is heard at every opportunity.

The Bailiff :

Another new-ish Member, the Connétable of St. Brelade .

37. Connétable S.W. Pallett of St. Brelade :

I am sure the Chief Minister designate would agree with me that when it comes to health, prevention is far better than cure. Does the Chief Minister designate have any concrete ideas around how we can tip the balance towards prevention rather than cure, and start to commit funding health prevention adequately through, for example, the Public Health Unit?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Can I again welcome my former colleague and friend back to the Assembly? That is a key part of the health strategy, and we have committed significant additional budget to digitisation of the health service and the focus on preventative care. Those will probably be the 2 most important things we deal with moving forward, because if we do not get to grips with that we will see significant problems moving forward. So, yes, that has been part of the reason why the health funding has increased significantly, because we need to get to grips with those 2 areas.

38. The Connétable of St. Brelade :

To keep Islanders healthy, will the Chief Minister designate commit to supporting those less well-off to be able to access public sports facilities to maintain and improve their health?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

This is a supplementary, I presume, because of the link to health at the end of it. I am pleased we have a former England netball captain with us in the Assembly. [Approbation] Because I very much hope to have conversations with her about using her skills and knowledge and experience to focus on future fitness and health of Islanders. The answer to that is yes. Of course, I am reluctant to say yes to free anything at the moment, because, as I keep hearing whispers, we do not have the magic money tree anymore. But I would very much like to prioritise spending to improve Islanders' health from the youngest to the oldest.

39. Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade :

In electing a Chief Minister, we do not just want to hear about policies, we also want to know that person  has  sound  political  judgment.   So  my  question  relates  to  that  issue  and  the  ongoing commitment that I hope we all aspire to, which is to keep our children safe. Could I ask the Chief Minister, a few months ago when his Minister for External Relations decided to provide a character reference for the Guernsey paedophile, Jonathan Le Tocq, when he had already pleaded guilty to those offences, did the Minister for External Relation discuss that with the Chief Minister in advance?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

No, he did not discuss it with me in advance, and I am not aware of the timeline or the rationale behind that. That would have to be a question for Deputy Gorst . But I think that was reported in the media, and I can say no more on it than that.

40. Deputy M. Tadier :

We are now in a position where in a few days the Chief Minister will be proposing his slate of candidates for senior office, including those who will represent Jersey around the world and indeed closer to home. Will he make sure that those he appoints, he is satisfied that they have sound judgment and can he give an underlying commitment of course that in all of these things that priority will be given to supporting the voice of the child and the sympathy will always be with those victims of abuse rather than trying to make excuses for perpetrators of abuse.

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Absolutely. I think judgment is a prerequisite for all of us. We are here to make judgments on many decisions, and I will certainly be assuring myself that the nominations for Ministers, and that goes for any Member of this Assembly, whatever they stand for, has the ability to exercise good judgment.

The Bailiff :

Another new Member, Deputy Li .

41. Deputy V. Li of St. Helier North :

I have a very simple question; it is a yes or no question. Published by the last Council of Ministers, the Future Economy Programme says that Jersey's prosperity by 2040 would depend on growing our own skills, and that pipeline starts from our schools. But currently it leaks first at our special education needs and disability, and then at 14-plus pathways, and then access to higher education, or while we all know that A.I. (artificial intelligence) integration is reshaping which skills that the market wants at this moment. My question for our Chief Minister designate: will your Common Strategic Policy treat education as economic infrastructure, which means joining up education and economic policy so that no young person, whatever their needs, is not going to be left behind our future economy?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

I could probably answer yes or no, but I think it just needs a bit more of an explanation. What we do need to do is better understand and get to grips with the special educational needs. We have started that work. I think at the heart of that are about investment in facilities and staff. What we do need to do is make sure that education, especially education in its latter stages, is more closely aligned with the economic requirements, so we are producing young people who are adequately skilled and ready to go into work in the local economy.

42. Deputy B. Ward of St. Clement :

Will the Chief Minister designate commit to the introduction and the establishment of a standalone carer's allowance to be in its own right, so that carers do not have to make a choice of either taking their old-age pension or the carer's allowance, and can this be looked at during this term?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

I cannot rely on my former colleague, Deputy Feltham , to jump up and rescue me on this one, but the answer is yes, we can look at ironing out the wrinkles on that. There should not be a choice, but in instances in the past Islanders have chosen to stay on the care allowance because it was more financially beneficial, so what we want them to do is be in receipt of the most beneficial arrangement for their particular circumstances.

43. Connétable A.N. Jehan of St. John :

Following the publication of the relationship between Parishes and Government reports, is the Senator committed to working together to progress the recommendations, and if so how will he do this?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

I am sorry, I do not have all of the recommendations in front of me, and I commend Deputy Miles for the work that was done on that. I am a strong supporter of the Parish system, and when I was interviewed by the panel, I said I did not think we needed to see much change. I had full confidence in the Constables in managing their Parishes and their finances. In fact, I think I suggested we should perhaps replace the Minister for Treasury and Resources with the Comité des Connétable s because I think we would save an awful lot of money if we did that, judging by the very good value we get for our rates in St. Ouen . I think the simple answer is yes, we will work together to make sure we get the best solution resulting from the report.

44. The Connétable of St. John :

Following that answer, which I am encouraged by, in our combined drive for efficiency, will the Senator include consideration for any aspects of government functions that could be more effectively run by Parishes, such as minor planning applications?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Possibly. Yes, I would like to see the freeing up completely of minor planning applications. We have strong building regulations now. I think there is a future in saying we should broaden the margins for small planning applications as long as they are signed off by Building Control to free up householders and the construction sector. I think the answer to what he is saying is yes.

45. Deputy H.L. Jeune :

The Senator mentions that one of his key priorities is affordability and housing, and that one of the main things is to build more affordable houses but there are still many rezones from the Bridging Island Plan that have not been built. In a briefing with Andium it was clear that they did not think they had the ability to be able to build in those rezoned areas. What would the Senator do to help encourage developers Andium to be able to build in already rezoned areas that we need housing for?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

We have a number of approved developments that have not been able to be progressed simply because the infrastructure is not in place to allow it. Again, that is why, unfortunately, we have had so many of our roads dug up at the moment, because we are putting that right. That is part of the Investing in Jersey Programme's increased investment in that. There are a lot of potential sites that would make good family homes that we cannot develop simply because we do not have the water or the drainage to deal with them, and that is a key priority. It is not a quick fix, but we are starting to see an accelerated move towards that. That is, I think, the most important thing. Of course, planning is going to be key. The next Island Plan is probably going to be one of the most important documents we produce.

[10:45]

I was pleased to see now we have the ability to amend an Island Plan without having to go through the full process. I hope the new Minister for Planning will take advantage of that to deal with some things that we need to do right now. For example, the use of the .. [Disruption]

The Bailiff :

I do not know whose phone that was but .. is it someone in the gallery or someone in the Chamber? Please turn your phone off or put it on silent.

Senator L.J. Farnham :

The answer to that is yes.

46. Deputy H.L. Jeune :

Thank you, Senator, for your answer. It is really important, I think, to be able to communicate that when we are talking about building more homes. There are numbers that we still are not able to build, so we need to make sure that the numbers are correct. Before the next Island Plan is put forward, we need to have the right numbers to understand what needs we have and what is his plan to understand what kind of houses do we need in the future, what are already designated, so we really understand in the next Island Plan what actually do we need to build until 2040?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

One of the ideas I have been thinking about is incorporating the portfolio of population into the Housing Ministry because we really need to understand the demographic challenges. Not just so we know the right number of family homes we need to build, but we need those figures for the education estate and other important factors. That work will be key to making sure we understand the demographic challenges that I alluded to in my opening statement.

The Bailiff :

I have a question from a new Member, Deputy Romeril .

47. Deputy P.J. Romeril of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity :

Jersey and its community benefit from a wonderful charity sector, which provides lots of services around the Island at a very high level. The relationship between Government and the charity sector, from my own experience at Family, Nursing & Home Care, has not always been very smooth, although I will say that Senator Binet , during his time at the Health Department, has really helped that. This leads to great delivery of services using government money. However, what I would like to understand from the candidate is whether he will commit his next Government to continually improving the relationship between the Government and the charity sector.

Senator L.J. Farnham :

That is a simple answer of yes, but I will expand on it briefly, if I may. Not that I am trying to run the clock down, but I think it is .. when we look at how we are going to save money and prioritise in the public sector, I would say my observations have been that the charitable sector and the third sector, in general, tend to do some things more efficiently than we do in Government. As part of the work we are going to do, when we are going to the third sector and charities and say: "Will you look at duplication in your sector and see where you can work together", I will be asking officials in the public service to look at potential areas that we are delivering that the third sector could do better and more efficiently.

48. Deputy P.J. Romeril :

Public perception is everything and I think that there is a general acceptance within the general public that the charity sector is very important and delivers great services. However, sometimes decisions made by Ministers, et cetera, can impact on the perception the public have on how Government view charities. Earlier this year there was a decision made about the Jersey Employment Trust, which caused some notable damage in that perception. I accept it was reversed, but can you, as the potential Chief Minister, make sure that you work closely with your Ministers to make sure that kind of poor comms and poor decision-making is not repeated?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Yes, but I would just like to put a bit of context around that. As you said with the Jersey Employment Trust, who do fantastic work across a number of areas, and I am not referring to that but that is why .. we have a duty to spend taxpayers' money - all of us here - as wisely as we can, and we generally do that by democratic decision. In some instances we give one-off grants. A charity or an organisation say: "We need a one-off grant or a 2-year admission to the grant", so we put in another ½ a million or £1 million and then very quickly that bakes itself. So when that one-off grant is meant to finish, they come back and say: "We cannot do it, we need to continue in that." Once you put more money in, it is very difficult to take it back. That is why we need to understand more about what they do and try and seek more .. cut out duplication in the charitable sector. But they have my full support, I am sure they have the Government's full support. We have a duty of care to make sure we and they are spending the money wisely, but I am very open to giving more to the charitable and third sector because I think, as I have said before, they will do it quite often better than we can.

The Bailiff :

A question from a new Member, Connétable of St. Saviour .

49. Connétable D.G. Curtis of St. Saviour :

I am glad to hear that the Island Plan came up in your previous questions. St. Saviour has been searching for a Five Oaks plan for some 15 years. In fact in 2011 I think it became ready for the current Assembly and it was promised it would be done by 2016, and it never materialised. Again, in 2022 it was promised to be on the agenda, and again at the Bridging Plan; it never came. Can the Senator reassure the parishioners of St. Saviour that there will be a Five Oaks masterplan, and they will address it with the new Council of Ministers with some urgency?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Can I thank the Connétable , and also welcome him to the Assembly? He may be aware, he may not, that I did a couple of stretches as Deputy for St. Saviour No. 2 District some time ago; that was 1999 to 2005 to be precise. That, I think, was an emerging issue back then. Of course while I cannot give any guarantees, I am sure the new Planning Minister will listen to all the Parishes. I think there are areas like that ripe for suburban regeneration, and I very much hope we can work to improve the lot of the St. Saviour residents. I cannot give any guarantees, of course, but I would certainly agree to make sure that is on the agenda of the new Minister for Planning.

The Connétable of St. Saviour :

I am thankful for those comments, Senator, and I would just ask that you give it some urgency and perhaps third time lucky we get it over the line.

50. The Connétable of St. Helier :

I have only 50 seconds. St. Helier is the front door for most of our visitors. What practical steps will the Chief Minister designate take to support the tourism and hospitality industry on which so much the town economy depends?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

I was rather hoping the Constable would be telling me how we do that. I think as we have 20 seconds left, going back to your first question, the continued investment in the rejuvenation, regeneration of the town centre is paramount. I look forward to supporting the Constable, and I look forward to the Constable hopefully supporting the Government. I think we are going to make good partnerships, and  I  undertake  to  do  everything  I  can  to  make  St.  Helier  an  even  better  place  than  it  is. [Approbation]

The Bailiff :

The period for questions having concluded, I can confirm that Senator Farnham has been selected as Chief Minister designate. [Approbation] That concludes the business for this meeting. The Chief Minister designate is reminded that he should submit his list of Ministerial candidates to the Greffier by 9.30 a.m. next Friday. The list will then be circulated to Members and published on the States Assembly website. In accordance with Standing Orders, the Chief Minister designate may state the reasons for his nomination but is not obliged to do so. The States will next meet when we consider appointments to the Ministerial panel and committee chair roles on Monday, the 29th, at 9.00 a.m., and the States is adjourned to that day.

ADJOURNMENT [10:54]