Support system for deputies idea from experienced politician

But, added Lyndon Trott, whether or not it could be set up would come down to budgetary considerations.

Vale deputy Sarah Hansmann Rouxel told the States on Thursday how she had not had any support in relation to a code of conduct complaint about data protection, other than that which she had paid for herself.

She said that the harassment and intimidation she had received had had an impact on her mental health.

Deputy Trott, along with two other deputies, was the subject of a code of conduct complaint in 2017 and was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing.

‘I didn’t get any support either,’ he said, ‘but as a very experienced member of the States I didn’t need any.’

It was at times like that that junior members should be ready and willing to call upon more senior members for guidance: ‘We must provide our own pastoral care in that regard,’ he said.

However, he appreciated that code of conduct matters needed to remain confidential between the parties and the panel.

‘But she was not making the point that she didn’t have much support with the code of conduct, it was to do with the GDPR [data protection law] complaint because there were no resources available. States members are on their own, effectively.’

Had the matter at the heart of the complaint against Deputy Hansmann Rouxel been connected to Environment & Infrastructure, as a committee member she would have had access to its civil servants. But since it did not, she was unable to get any direct advice from a States body.

Deputy Trott said that 20 years ago, losing some paperwork would have been an embarrassment for a deputy, whereas today it is subject to a law that did not exist at that time.

But while the laws have changed, the level of support for members has not.

With the increasing complexity of the modern world, with such things as data protection, cyber security and child protection among other issues, now could be the time for a dedicated resource to be made available to any States member who needed it, suggested Deputy Trott, saying that this could be a form of secretariat to help, particularly to help newer members.

Setting up such a resource would probably fall under the responsibilities of the States’ Assembly & Constitution Committee, he said.

But there would doubtless be budgetary issues: ‘People may legitimately ask the question “Is it better to provide that sort of assistance to States members collectively, or better to employ another teaching assistant in a school?”,’ he said.

Health & Social Care president Deputy Heidi Soulsby has previously raised her own concerns about data protection during the debate on the GDPR: ‘I wished to follow up an outstanding issue relating to the exposure of individual deputies in the law.

‘I was assured this would be dealt with by ordinance soon after the law was passed, but nothing has appeared yet.

‘I think Sarah was very brave in making her statement, which was done with great dignity, and I think she was right in highlighting the issues that we face nowadays.’