Chief Minister Ian Gorst was in the middle of introducing his proposition to increase the allocated budget for the Jersey Independent Care Inquiry by £14 million when the fire alarm sounded.
St Clement Constable Len Norman, who has been a States Member for 32 years and was at the time presiding over the debate, said that he had only once encountered a fire alarm going off during a States sitting.
‘The last time this happened was not for very long, maybe five or ten minutes, and it was a long time ago,’ he said.
‘It is an extremely rare occurrence.’
The building evacuated shortly after 11 am, with the decision being taken to adjourn the sitting before continuing at St Helier Town Hall at 2 pm.
It was believed to be the first ever States sitting in the Town Hall.
