Crown Dependencies - Justice Committee Contents


Appendix 1

Geography, People, Government and Economy
Bailiwick of Jersey
GeographyArea: 116 km2

Coastline: 70 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea 3 nm; exclusive fishing zone 12 nm

PeoplePopulation: 91,626 (July 2009 est)

National origins: Jersey 51.1%, Britons 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%, Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)

GovernmentChief Minister Terry Le Sueur (12 December 2008); Bailiff Michael Birt (since 9 July 2009)

Cabinet: ministerial government since December 2005

Elections: ministers of the Cabinet including the Chief Minister are elected by the Assembly of States; Lieutenant Governor and Bailiff appointed by the monarch.

Legislature: unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (53 are elected, 12 are senators elected for six-year terms, 12 are constables or heads of parishes elected for three-year terms, 29 are deputies elected for three-year terms. Non-elected and non-voting members are the Bailiff and the Deputy Bailiff (the presiding officers), the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General. Elections last held 15 October 2008 for senators and 26 November 2008 for deputies (next to be held in 2011).

Judiciary and legal systemThe principal court is the Royal Court of Jersey. Bailiff and Deputy Bailiff appointed by the Crown; Jurats (lay judges of fact) elected by an electoral college. Judges of the Jersey Court of Appeal appointed by the Crown.

The Bailiff presides over the Royal Court and is head of the judiciary. Appeals from the Royal Court are to the Jersey Court of Appeal (comprising the Bailiff of Guernsey, judges and senior counsel appointed from the United Kingdom). There is a further appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

Qualification for the Jersey legal profession requires candidates to have obtained a law degree from the United Kingdom and to enrol on a course of tuition at the Institute of Law in Jersey.

EconomyGDP (purchasing power parity): $5.1 billion (2005 est)

GDP per capita: $57,000 (2005 est)

Revenues: $829 million (2005)

Expenditure: $851 million (2005)

Industries: tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics

Jersey's economy is based on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. In 2005, the finance sector accounted for about 50% of the island's output. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export income earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. Tourism accounts for one-quarter of GDP. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed, displacing more traditional industries. All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs.

Bailiwick of Guernsey
GeographyArea: 78 km2

Coastline: 50 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea 3 nm; exclusive fishing zone 12 nm

PeoplePopulation: 65,484 (July 2009 est.)

National origins: UK and Norman-French descent with small percentages from other European countries

GovernmentChief Minister Lyndon Trott (since 1 May 2008); Bailiff Sir Geoffrey Rowland (since June 2005)

Cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation

Elections: Lieutenant Governor appointed by the monarch; Chief Minister is elected by States of Deliberation.

Legislature: unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote for four years); note: Alderney and Sark have separate parliaments, although Alderney also has two representatives in States of Deliberation.

Judiciary and legal systemThe principal court is the Royal Court of Guernsey. Bailiff and Deputy Bailiff appointed by the Crown; Jurats (lay judges of fact) elected by an electoral college. Judges of the Guernsey Court of Appeal appointed by the Crown.

The Bailiff presides over the Royal Court and is head of the judiciary. Appeals from the Royal Court are to the Guernsey Court of Appeal (comprising the Bailiff of Jersey, judges and senior counsel appointed from the United Kingdom).There is a further appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

Qualification for the Guernsey Bar requires candidates to obtain academic qualifications in law from a French university and a UK university and to have qualified as legal practitioner in the United Kingdom.

Legal aid is provided on a pro bono rota system by law firms.

EconomyGDP (purchasing power parity): $2.742 billion (2005)

GDP per capita: $44,600 (2005)

Revenues: $563.6 million

Expenditure: $530.9 million (2005 est.)

Industries: tourism, banking

Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account for about 23% of employment and about 55% of total income in this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Financial services, construction, retail, and the public sector have been growing.

Alderney
GeographyArea: 7.9 km2
PeoplePopulation: 2,400
GovernmentPresident of the States of Alderney Sir Norman Browse (2002)

Elections: 10 States Members, half of which are elected every 2 years for a 4 year term.

Legislature: States of Alderney (two representatives sent to the States of Guernsey).

Judiciary: the Court of Alderney has original jurisdiction in civil matters, with appeal to the Royal Court of Guernsey, and limited criminal jurisdiction. The Court sits as a Chairman and at least 3 Jurats.

EconomyIndustry: e-gaming, tourism.
Sark
GeographyArea: 5.5 km2
PeoplePopulation: 600 (2007)
GovernmentSeigneur John Michael Beaumont, OBE; Seneschal Lt Col RJ Guille, MBE.

Legislature: Chief Pleas, chamber consisting of 28 elected Conseilliers, the Seigneur and the Seneschal

Judiciary: the Seneschal's Court hears cases at first instance, with appeal to the Royal Court of Guernsey.

EconomyIndustries: tourism, crafts, finance.
Isle of Man
GeographyArea: 572 km2

Coastline: 160 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea 12 nm; exclusive fishing zone 12 nm

PeoplePopulation: 76,512 (July 2009 est)

National origins: Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Britons

GovernmentChief Minister Tony Brown (since 14 December 2006)

Cabinet: Council of Ministers

Elections: Lieutenant Governor appointed by the monarch; the Chief Minister is elected by Tynwald for a five-year term; election last held 14 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2011).

Legislature: Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (11 seats; members composed of the President of Tynwald, the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man, a non-voting Attorney General, and 8 others elected by the House of Keys); the House of Keys (24 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); and both Houses sit together as Tynwald Court.

Judiciary and legal systemThe principal court is the High Court of Justice. Judges are appointed by the British Lord Chancellor on the advice of the Lieutenant Governor and following public advertisement for applicants.
EconomyGDP (purchasing power parity): $2.719 billion (2005 est)

GDP per capita: $35,000 (2005 est)

Revenues: $965 million

Expenditure: $943 million (FY05/06 est)

Industries: financial services, light manufacturing, tourism

Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the economy. The government offers incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on the island; this has paid off in expanding employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their contributions to GDP. The Isle of Man also attracts online gambling sites and the film industry. Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free access to EU markets.

Sources: CIA World Factbook at www.cia.gov; www.worldtravelguide.net


 
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