The commission is gathering evidence regarding the economic, constitutional and operational relationship between the islands, with a view to completing a report by autumn next year.
Its chairman Sir Bob Neill said the commission was interested in asking the average person whether it makes a difference to them, what works well, and what does not.
‘The governments of the three islands were saying they wanted an outside but informed set of eyes to look at how the relationship works,’ he said.
There are five appointed commissioners and this is their second round of visits to the islands.
‘Transport connectivity between the islands is clearly a big issue,’ said Sir Bob. ‘Providing services like education, social services and healthcare across the island – that’s clearly a challenge.
‘I think there’s a lot of debate but not a lot of clarity about how funding arrangements between the three of them work.’
The cost-of-living was another common issue brought up.
He said the commission would consider if there is anything that the arrangements do that can change that, or if it is a factor of geography and economics.
Sir Bob said that public engagement on the Bailiwick’s internal relations showed a higher turnout proportionally in Alderney and Sark, which he speculated was due to the transferred service arrangements in particular.
‘The fact that if you’re paying tax in Alderney it goes to Guernsey, you’re going to be much more alert to that relationship than perhaps if you’re here in Guernsey,’ he said.
The Bailiwick Commission will produce an interim report by September which sets out their findings so far.
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