Taxpayers foot bill for Law Officers’ parking
Thursday 6th November 2008, 2:58PM GMT.
TWO of the most highly paid law officers have been given ‘free’ town parking spaces, courtesy of the taxpayer.
Permits were applied for on behalf of the Attorney General, William Bailhache, and the Solicitor General, Tim Le Cocq, by the Law Officers’ department.
It was argued that as ex officio States Members, they were entitled to a space in one of the three car parks where spaces are set aside for elected politicians.
The application for the spaces was signed by Transport Minister Guy de Faye in a ministerial order of 17 October. He explained that he had no choice but to agree to the request, as States Members were entitled to free parking.
He said that if he had his way, all States Members would pay for their parking. And he added that the two law officers would be ‘way down the pecking order’ when it came to the allocation of spaces because they were not allowed to vote in the House.
• Picture: At one time States Members enjoyed free car parking in the now paved over Royal Court road
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Why don’t States members set a good example and take the bus? There is no incentive to do so if they get free parking. That should be stopped at once.
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Another typical example of give to the rich and sod everyone everyone else. The Bailhache brothers should be ashamed of themselves.
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I could not believe it when I read this. From the sizes of these peoples wages you would think they would at least lead the way.
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well im glad to see that my tax-payer money is going to good use. just imagine, if i hadnt have paid any taxes ever i could be doing something absolubly ludricous like putting food on my plate.
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We foot the bill for states members, finance and the millionaires, so no surprise this has been passed.
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Come on guys – walking is good for you and frankly there should be NO free parking. As soon as your priveledge you loose touch – ask Obama…
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How easy it is to overlook that these guys could earn many times more in the private sector with a huge bundle of perks including free parking. People moan [for good reason] about the quality of our government yet the rewards of office seem few and far between. For people living outside St Helier walking is not an option and thanks to Guy de Faye our public transport is still a joke. Parking is provided to enable these people to attend important meetings so our TTS ministers comments are rich considering he could not make it to his own nomination. People should stop moaning about those who appear to have more and spent this energy in improving their own lot. The general lack of parking and public transport are the real issues here.
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another two spaces for ordinary working folk lost.
where our replacements?
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We could save more by not having capable people willing to be part of our government.Let’s make it difficult for them. Make them take a bus, miss vital meetings and make sure they are stressed,before embarking on the serious matter of Jersey’s economic survival in a world in economic meltdown.It is astonishing that Guy de Faye says “that the two law officers would be way down the pecking order’ when it came to the allocation of spaces because they were not allowed to vote in the House”.
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Advocates in private practice do not necessariliy earn any more than those in the public sector. Those days, if they ever existed, have long gone.
In many cases, public sector lawyers earn rather more than their counterparts in the private sector. The public sector insulates legal practitioners from many of the other realities of high street practice, including legal aid, which is paid for by the lawyer and is, as such, a significant business expense.
The Crown officers are unaccountable and, I am sure, partake of many other benefits at the public expense, including trips abroad. The Attorney is also due to speak at a private function organised by a local law firm, thereby endorsing the firm and perhaps raising other questions. Will he be paid for this by the law firm concerned? Will his time in giving the speech be taken as holiday leave or will the public be expected to pay his salary during this private expedition?
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The AG and SG may not enjoy the renumeration of their best off private sector counterparts but the money is guaranteed and the pension arragements are copper bottomed!
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Why just pick on the AG and SG for their parking arrangements , i should imagine that many of our states members abuse the free parking they have, letting partners use their passes etc whilst shopping who checks if it is a states member is actually using the vehicle at the time of parking, where else do our officials get free parking, i suggest Andy Sibcy does a little more digging and see if chief officers and senior states officials get privileged free parking at the Airport, Harbour , or any other areas.
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