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With another light ‘public business' agenda, which doesn't contain a single piece of Government-proposed legislation, two statements from Ministers seem likely to generate the most talking points from tomorrow’s States sitting.
The first is one from the newly rebranded Minister for Sustainable Economic Development about the Government’s Future Economy Programme – an attempt to shake off two decades of flatlining economic growth and productivity.
FUTURE ECONOMY PROGRAMME: Deputy Kirsten Morel has already hinted at what the main strategy – expected to be launched tomorrow – will include.
One thing it will not include is a return to the traditional way of stoking growth by simply importing more people to do more stuff. He has already said that, at today’s productivity levels, we will need a population of 150,000 in 2040 just to retain our current living standards - and that is unacceptable.
So, the strategy is likely to strongly feature long-term commitments to automation, taking a pair of scissors to business red-tape, developing new niche industries and lighting the fuse of entrepreneurial spirit.
OFFSHORE WIND POWER: One of those could be exporting wind-powered energy, which is the topic of the second statement. Having already stated his commitment to building a wind farm, Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf is likely to chart how the Island will achieve that.
With an emerging wind farm visible to the southwest of Corbière, islanders already have proof that harnessing wind in our locality is viable and achievable, so Deputy Renouf is likely to moving Jersey’s project on a notch by seeking Assembly support, always a sensible first step.
While it might be logical to assume that the Minister for Energy would have responsibility for an energy provider or, at a stretch, the Infrastructure Minister for energy infrastructure, politics rarely follows the rules of logic.
Home Affairs Minister Helen Miles was probably surprised herself last week to learn that she was the ‘competent authority’ for all things gas, so stepped up to announce that Government was taking a strong leadership role by reposting Island Energy tweets.
GAS OUTAGE: As it happens, Deputy Miles is one of three ministers facing questions without notice tomorrow so may well be quizzed on the adequacy of the response to last week’s outage, and whether the 4,400 customers affected, including 400 businesses, should be compensated for missing out on revenue and hot showers.
EMPTY HOUSES: Housing Minister David Warr is also facing questions from his political peers, and will no doubt be prepped to discuss empty homes and his attempts to fill them, his proposed Residential Tenancy Law and failing housing supply targets.
As always, the Chief Minister will be facing 15 minutes of questions and might be asked for her views on the Middle East, and whether Jersey will be supporting one side, both sides or neither side, politically and/or with aid.
There is the usual eclectic range of written and oral questions with topics including Condor, the Hospital, the future of the island’s gas supply, and teachers’ pay.
1% FOR AGRICULTURE: Likely to generate the most debate is a backbench proposition from former grower and oyster farmer Deputy Steve Luce, who wants Government funding for agriculture and fishing to match one per cent of total revenue, as it does for arts and culture.
Although their economic importance has diminished in relative terms, there is much to say about the relevance of these industries to what makes Jersey different and special. That said, the Government will probably point to existing schemes, which they will argue adequately supports the rural and marine economies.
However, having not produced any formal comment paper on the proposal, the Government could pull a rabbit out of a hat and support Deputy Luce.
VACANCIES: Other propositions include a couple from Deputy Max Andrews calling for six-monthly stats on headcount, vacancies and turnover for departments, States-owned and arm’s length organisations; and a call for all departments to audit their current job vacancies and remove the ones that aren’t deemed necessary.
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Read the full order paper for tomorrow's States Assembly meeting HERE.
If you want to watch the action unfold live in the States Chamber, you can do so from 09:30 tomorrow HERE.
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