Thursday 19 June 2014
Lord Faulks, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice with responsibility for managing the UK's relationship with the Crown Dependencies, will be visiting the Bailiwick this week. He will be in Guernsey on 19 June, Sark on 20 June and Alderney on 21 June 2014. Sir Christopher Geidt, Private Secretary to Her Majesty the Queen, will accompany Lord Faulks whilst he visits Guernsey and Sark.
Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, the Chief Minister of Guernsey said:
"I am delighted to welcome Lord Faulks on his first official visit to Guernsey. The UK Government's response to the second Justice Select Committee report on the Crown Dependencies was published in March, and It was welcomed by the Policy Council. It is important that Guernsey and the UK, in partnership, continue to drive forward further improvements in how our relationship works so that it can meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.
"I hope that this visit will provide first-hand insight to assist Lord Faulks in his efforts to improve awareness and understanding of how the relationship between Guernsey and the UK operates, and how we best deliver those improvements.
"When the UK's Deputy Prime Minister was in Guernsey last week for the British-Irish Council Summit, he and I agreed that good communication was vital for the effective management of the Guernsey-UK relationship, and Lord Faulks' visit will, I am sure, further improve that communication."
Justice Minister Lord Faulks said:
"The UK is proud of its strong relationship with Guernsey and other Crown Dependencies and I am delighted to be here in an official capacity for the first time.
"The work of all sides in recent years has had real practical benefits, as highlighted in the recent Justice Select Committee report. This noted improvements made since 2010, and the work the MoJ has done to strengthen relationships between the UK and the Islands. "We must not be complacent however and I look forward to building on this in the future.
"The UK Government takes its responsibility to the Islands very seriously and recognises communication and dialogue is key to continued understanding, something I know we will build on throughout my visit and as time goes on."
Whilst in Guernsey Lord Faulks and Sir Christopher will also meet with the Chief Minister, members of the Policy Council and the Constitutional Investigation Committee. They will also be meeting with the Lieutenant Governor, the Bailiff and Deputy Bailiff, and the Law Officers of the Crown.
ENDS
