The row over legal advice that has split Members on the Council of Ministers and Scrutiny is coming back to the States, after the Scrutiny code of practice was formally lodged for the third time.
It had been withdrawn previously after strongly-worded opposition from Attorney General William Bailhache, who said that opening up the legal advice would drag lawyers into political rows and would drive a wedge between them and ministers.
But Scrutiny chairmen’s committee chairman Sarah Ferguson has relodged the code of practice – which also includes formal rules for panel reviews and hearings – without changes, and it will be debated on 26 February.
The row over access to ministerial advice and independent advice for Scrutiny panels has meant that Scrutiny has been operating for two years without a formal code of
practice.
