Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Rejected
Paragraph: 18
Establish more regular contact and routine meetings between senior MoJ officials and Crown Dependencies.
Conclusion
There is a very positive working relationship between the Crown Dependencies and the Ministry of Justice. Engagement has clearly improved in recent years with both planned and spontaneous contact and communications taking place much more frequently between officials, the Minister and the Lord Chancellor. More regular contact should be established between senior officials in the Ministry of Justice, namely the director, the director general and permanent secretary, and the Crown Dependencies. This should be actively offered, rather than the Crown Dependencies having to request it, and become a routine part of Crown Dependency and Ministry of Justice engagement. The permanent secretary should meet her counterpart in each Crown Dependency at least twice a year.
Government Response Summary
The government rejected the recommendation for more regular, proactively offered meetings between senior Ministry of Justice officials and their Crown Dependency counterparts, stating that meeting attendance should be based on relevance and need rather than seniority.
Paragraph Reference:
18
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
2. The Government welcomes the Committee’s recognition of the positive working relationship between the Crown Dependencies and the Ministry of Justice. This relationship is based on mutual respect and constructive dialogue on a range of issues relating to the Crown Dependencies’ interests and aspirations. The Ministry of Justice plays a vital role as an interlocutor and facilitator for the Crown Dependencies in their engagement with the rest of the Government. 3. We recognise the value of regular and meaningful engagement between the Crown Dependencies and senior officials in the Ministry of Justice as well as other Government departments, and how such engagement can enhance understanding, foster trust and cooperation, and help in the resolution of any issues or concerns that may arise. 4. We are pleased that the Crown Dependencies feel there has been an improvement in contact and communication with the Ministry of Justice in recent years, and we appreciate their positive feedback on the role and performance of the Crown Dependencies Team. 5. The Government notes the Committee’s recommendations that meetings with more senior officials, above Deputy Director level, should be actively offered by the Ministry of Justice and specifically that the Permanent Secretary should meet her counterpart in each Crown Dependency at least twice a year. 6. The Government does not think that the seniority of Ministry of Justice officials should be the decisive factor in determining who should attend a meeting with the Crown Dependencies. Rather, meetings should occur as needed, with the most relevant Ministry of Justice officials attending, based on the content of what is to be discussed. We will always endeavour to make sure that Ministry of Justice officials who attend meetings with the Crown Dependencies have the necessary authority, experience and expertise.