Tuesday 27 February 2024
His Majesty The King has approved changes to the way primary legislation (known as Projets de Loi) is granted Royal Assent for the Bailiwick of Guernsey, paving the way for the introduction of legislation to be expedited through the granting of Royal Assent by His Excellency the Lieutenant- Governor.
At a meeting of the Privy Council held on 21 February 2024, an Order in Council was approved which introduces the modified process to take effect from 29 February 2024.
This follows consideration of a Policy Letter in May 2023 and approval by Guernsey, Alderney and Sark's parliaments of proposals to change the process for granting Royal Assent to Projets made within the Bailiwick.
Prior to this change all Bailiwick Projets were approved by the Sovereign providing Assent acting through the Privy Council. The modified process will enable the ratification of Bailiwick Projets by His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor in the Bailiwick (unless the Projet is specifically reserved for His Majesty The King's Assent, which could include Projets involving defence or the Royal Prerogative).
The new procedure should result in faster processing of Bailiwick Projets, which will no longer be reliant on set schedules for Privy Council meetings. There will be no change to how Projets are debated or approved by the Bailiwick parliaments nor to the registration of legislation in the Royal Court. The change to the Royal Assent process underlines the Bailiwick's domestic legislative autonomy and developing international identity.
The President of the Policy & Resources Committee, Deputy Lyndon Trott said:
"The Constitutional Investigation Committee, which I was honoured to be part of, reported to the States in 2016 with this change being one of the recommendations. Following years of work, and noting the benefits of an expedited process, I am pleased this change has now been agreed. This new process is not only of practical importance, it also reflects our identity as a jurisdiction through our direct relationship with the Crown, distinct from the UK."
