This rule was used to shut down three of four questions put to the President of Policy and Resources by Deputy Chris Le Tissier. 

He asked: 

“Please would you supply me with details of all the properties either owned, leased, rented or used by HSC as HSC staff accommodation and in the case of rented or leased properties the date of the expiry of the lease or rental?” 

In response, Deputy Lyndon Trott said: 

“Under Rule 15 of The Rules of Procedure of the States of Deliberation and their Committees the Presiding Officer has, on the grounds of public interest, ruled that the question need not be answered.” 

Deputy Le Tissier said he asked the question because “HSC staff is always one of our priorities I am sure, however I don’t believe I have seen the granular details on this matter”. 

He also asked for a breakdown of job titles of “all persons occupying the properties” and the number of accommodation units per property and “the number occupied and unoccupied”. 

Both questions ‘need not be answered’ according to the use of Rule 15. 

Despite three of the questions being dismissed, Deputy Le Tissier was provided information on one query: “For each property leased or rented the annual cost of the lease or rent.” 

“During the course of the year, as leases come to an end and new properties are added, the total number and type of rental accommodation allocated to HSC staff varies,” said Deputy Trott. 

“The Keyworker team currently allocate staff to the various rooms, as well as managing the voids and staff changes. At the time of writing the States of Guernsey rent in 77 properties (45 from the GHA) for HSC staff with 245 beds in various accommodation types ranging from 1-bedroom flats to Houses of Multiple Occupancy and hotel rooms (as block bookings). The rented average room rate for general residential accommodation is £8,101 per annum or £675 per month. The hotel average room rate equates to £46 per night, albeit there are seasonal adjustments.” 

The following summary was subsequently provided: 

“It should be noted that depending on the lease terms charges such as utilities, parish rates, insurance and the like may be included in the above figures,” continued Deputy Trott.