§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list his powers in respect of the government of the Channel Islands and the states of Jersey, the states of deliberation of Guernsey, the states of Alderney and the chief pleas of Sark.
§ Mr. JackThe Channel Islands are internally self-governing dependencies of the Crown. The Crown is ultimately responsible for the good government of the Islands and the United Kingdom is directly responsible for their defence and international relations. In exercising its responsibilities for the Islands, the Crown operates through the Privy Council and my right hon. and learned Friend is the Privy Counsellor with particular responsibility for islands matters. This includes advising the Queen in Council as to the grant of Royal Assent to Acts passed by the island legislatures, and advising the Crown on the appointment of Crown officers in the islands.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those measures which he has altered, or prevented the implementation of, following decisions taken by either the government or the legislatures of the Channel Islands over the past five years.
§ Mr. JackMy right hon. and learned Friend has no power to direct the drafting of laws within the islands legislatures. As the Privy Counsellor with particular responsibility for islands matters, he advises the Queen in Council as to the grant of Royal Assent to island laws; and the framing of island legislation is often the subject of consultation with the United Kingdom Government.
In 1989 the then Home Secretary declined to recommend that the Interception of Communications (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law should receive Royal Assent and the law was returned to Guernsey for further consideration.