26 July 1999 – The States agree to adopt the code of Practice on Public Access to Official Information
26 March 2002 – The States approve the establishment of the Privileges and Procedures Committee. Among its terms of reference are to look at possible amendments to the Code of Practice and look at introducing legislation
25 March 2003 – Privileges present their Freedom of Information consultation paper
8 June 2004 – The Code of Practice on Public Access to Official Information: measures to improve implementation is approved by the States.
21 December 2004 – Privileges present their Freedom of Information position paper
19 April 2005 – Privileges lodge Freedom of Information; proposed legislation
6 July 2005 – The States adopt the proposed legislation
21 April 2006 – Privileges present the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2000- consultation document
19 July 2010 – Privileges lodge the Draft Freedom of Information Law 2000-
3 May 2011 – States Members approve the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011
From Wednesday the law was broadened to allow Islanders the right to access information held in any form from all parish authorities.
Constable Len Norman, the chairman of the Constables’ Committee, said that parish staff had been preparing for the change for the past 12 months.
The parishes have conducted internal audits to help staff understand what information they hold and training has also been given to elected officers and parish employees.
Under the legislation Islanders can make information requests from a parish hall by letter or email, stating what they would like to know and providing their name and contact details.
After receiving requests, parishes will have 20 working days to respond.
Mr Norman said: ‘The parishes have worked closely together to prepare for the FOI law and this will continue as we handle FOI requests.
‘All requests will be logged by the parish FOI team.
‘We will ensure the request is received by the appropriate parish or parishes who may provide the information required.
A person can therefore seek information from a specific parish or from several parishes at the same time.
‘Everybody has been working very hard for many months on this.
‘The problem is that we just don’t know how much extra work there is going to be.’
According to the States FOI unit, as of 27 August they had received 480 requests since the legislation came into effect on 1 January.
FROM tickets to rugby matches and retirement parties to dinners for visiting dignitaries and receptions for special events, the States spends thousands of pounds on hospitality every year.
Figures released to the JEP following a freedom of information request show that in 2013 the States spent a total of £248,587 on hospitality.
That figure dropped to £176,634 last year, while an additional £9,013 was spent over the course of the two years on various items under £100 – which were included separately in the figures – to bring the total spending over the two years to £434,235.
Some of what they spent it on:
Economic Development – £127,904.85 (over two years)
Examples:
Rugby hospitality games in the UK x 6, £964
Tourism Christmas drinks for industry, £1,843
‘Jersey – Gateway to Europe’ event in Hong Kong/ Shenzhen, £12,488
Locate Jersey summer reception, £1,313
Island Innovators welcome reception, £10,517
Bailiff’s Chambers – £89,690.34
Chief Minister’s Department (includes External Relations spending) – £43,514
Briefing events at the Conservative Party Conference, £1,049
Business briefings for visiting UK MPs, £1,686
Working Lunch for visiting UK government minister, £434
Working dinner with visiting delegation, £1,923
Fiscal Policy Panel annual fact-finding visit, £502
Hosted dinner at party conference, £400
Jersey Harbours (which pays for its hospitality through the Ports Trading Fund financed by commercial revenues) – £29,654.97
Staff dinner, £340
Barbecue for staff sponsors and Royal Navy – Boat Show, £4,303.60
Exhibitors Party – Boat Show, £1,327
CIAS charity lunch, £143.62
Staff dinner, £433.03
Education, Sport and Culture – £24,681.18
Sandwich lunch and hire of room for Jersey Music Service States Members’ briefing, £363
Staff retirement party for three staff and launch of Friends of Le Rocquier, £227
Spring Concert at Fort Regent, £266
Island Games ‘welcome home’ reception, £415
Joint leaving reception for two members of staff, £231
Environment Department – £16,467.00
Planning Applications Panel farewell lunch, £340
Planning Applications Panel Christmas lunch, £204
Jersey Architecture Week sponsor’s dinner, £972
Consultants meeting and dinner, £200
St Aubin’s Bay workshop and stakeholder event, £629
Minister and chief officer lunch with Jersey Evening Post, £203
Jersey-London office summer reception, £179
Home Affairs – £15,981.33
Dinner with Police Service Northern Ireland officers, £120
Meal and drinks at retirement lunch for staff officer, £203
Senior management board away day/ leaving dinner, £417
Operation Invicta inquiry catering, £945
New recruits pass-out parade function, £1,167
Christmas lunch for voluntary Jersey Police Complaints Authority members x8, £251
Jersey Airport (which pays for its hospitality through the Ports Trading Fund financed by commercial revenues) – £14,327.44
Staff dinner, £360
Event for staff and business partners, volunteers and air crews to encourage engagement with new involvement in Jersey International Air Display £7,438.00
Celebration for project milestone being completed, £130.45
Customer service agents/info desk staff Christmas party, £71.43
