May 30, 2023
On Tuesday 23rd May, by invitation, the Minister for External Relations, Deputy Philip Ozouf, presented evidence to the House of Commons Justice Committee on the constitutional relationship between the Crown Dependencies and the United Kingdom. Also giving evidence were the Hon Alfred Cannan MHK, the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man and Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, Minister for External Relations for the Government of Guernsey.
The Justice Committee, which scrutinises the work of the Ministry of Justice, engages with the Government of Jersey periodically because of the Lord Chancellor’s and the Ministry’s role in facilitating many aspects of the constitutional relationship.
Previous reports by the Committee on this subject have made recommendations on how to sustain and improve the workings of this relationship in the mutual interest of the UK and the Crown Dependencies. Therefore, the Government of Jersey, particularly through the London Office, was pleased to have the opportunity to present up-to-date evidence, reflecting significant post-Brexit developments in particular.
The Committee’s questions were wide-ranging, exploring the Government of Jersey’s relationship with the Ministry of Justice and other UK Government departments, issues arising from the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, the UK’s Free Trade agenda and the opportunities this presents to Jersey, and the future of the constitutional relationship. Throughout, there were opportunities to suggest ways to improve and expand the operation of the constitutional relationship in the interests of the Island.
You can read our written evidence to the Committee here, watch the oral evidence session here and view a transcript of the session here.
