Written for the November 12, 2021, issue of Penguin News. Printed under the headline “New assembly portfolios distributed among MLAs”.

The portfolio system of the 2021-2025 Legislative Assembly was announced on November 9, elected members deciding upon the departments they will be overseeing.

A number of changes to portfolio structure were included in the decision making, including that Trade & Industry changed to economic development - now overseen by MLA Gavin Short. The Economic Development portfolio includes the Development Corporation, Tourism (and the Tourist Board), science and technology (including SAERI), labour force development, the Gateway to the Antarctic Programme and policy and human resources. FIMCo was formerly included in the Trade & Industry portfolio but has now moved to the Natural Resources Portfolio.

The Natural Resources portfolio continues to be held by MLA Teslyn Barkman and is largely unchanged, aside from the inclusion of FIMCo and absence of Hydrocarbons Development - which is entirely absent from the 2021 portfolio system.

MLA Barkman told Penguin News “Oil and gas are still natural resources” and that as such “responsibilities can be added” to the portfolio. In addition to this, energy is reflected in the portfolio of MLA Biggs. MLA Barkman said “There is a decision gateway on how to proceed for this assembly now that Chrysaor have withdrawn from Sealion [oil project] and a discussion is planned.

Public works has now been moved to the Environment and Public Infrastructure portfolio, formerly Environment and Public Protection. This portfolio is held by Pete Biggs, and includes all environment-central areas, and the full range of PWD operations - such as property and municipal, power and electrical, housing, highways and Fox Bay.

The public protection element of the 2017 system has become a separate portfolio: Island Security, and is held by MLA Ian Hansen. This portfolio includes emergency planning, police, prisons, fire and rescue, customs and immigration, FIDF and the Maritime Authority.

Health and Social Services is entirely unchanged, and is held by MLA John Birmingham.

Commercial services, which has oversight of contracted and privatised services such as IT, ferry and coastal shipping, FIPASS management, shipping and fuel supply - as well as FIG commercial services FIGAS and the leisure centre, is held by MLA Mark Pollard.

Corporate Government Services, formerly just Government Services, is still held by MLA Roger Spink. Corporate Government Services includes the treasury, archives (formerly in Education and Community), legal and legislative services, registry, and regulator matters.

Education and Community now includes Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and; Equalities and the Shield Programme, and is held by MLA Leona Roberts.

The Strategic Pandemic Management Group is headed by MLAs Roberts and Pollard, and COVID-19 Recovery Group by MLAs Pollard and Roberts. The Public Accounts Committee is overseen by MLAs Barkman and Biggs.

National And International Relations is “the responsibility of all Members of the Legislative Assembly” and includes reputation management; sovereignty; international meetings, obligations and diplomacy; the constitution, the FI Government Office in London and UK Relationships and Government House.

Nicholas Roberts