THERE will be no in-committee debate on decriminalising drugs under the new government, the Home Affairs Minister has confirmed.
Deputy Mary Le Hegarat said her priorities over the next two years were to address other issues, including recommendations made by a taskforce to tackle violence against women and girls.
Deputy Le Hegarat said: “I am aware that the previous Home Affairs Minister intended to seek the Assembly’s views on the decriminalisation of illicit substances for personal use by an in-committee debate to help inform further policy developments in this area.
“I do not intend to propose an in-committee debate in relation to this matter.
“From my perspective, I am very conscious that we have limited time, finite resources and a very heavy legislative programme which needs to be developed.”
She said: “That includes some very pressing issues including developing a modern-day slavery law, a hate crime law, a law to deal with stalking, a new divorce law and work to implement the recommendations of the Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce, including amendments to further domestic violence legislation.
“We as a government have to make choices and from my perspective, the legislation which we are bringing forward in relation to the VAWG Taskforce Report is a priority.
“Let’s make this quite clear: that is my priority and it is the priority of the Council of Ministers.”
Asked at this week’s States sitting about work to deal with alcohol misuse – for example, if a tax on alcohol would be considered – Deputy Le Hegarat said that while she was not herself involved, Health Minister Tom Binet was working in relation to the sale of alcohol.
Deputy Binet recently told Scrutineers he hoped to find a way to target cheap alcohol sales in shops, but only if this did not affect the hospitality sector.
Deputy Le Hegarat stressed that the ministers had a “very short, finite opportunity” to work on their policies.
Jersey, she added, lacked the legislation to tackle drug-driving properly.
“There are people in prison in relation to drugs offences. There are also people in prison who have committed offences in relation to drug-driving, and that is a piece of legislation that actually could also be brought forward.
“Because at this present time, we have good drink-drive legislation, but we do not have legislation which makes it easy to actually deal with people who drive while under the influence of a substance other than alcohol.”
