CONTENTS

Articles

• The Imperial contribution controversy 1923 to 1928

  John Kelleher 144

  Between 1923 and 1928 there raged a dispute between Britain and the Crown dominions over a hotly contested request by the British Government for them to make an annual financial contribution to the ongoing cost of the British Empire. In an effort to resolve the dispute, the Government appointed a committee of the Privy Council to investigate the issues. Constitutional privileges were at the fore of the Island's opposition to the request. Eventually, Jersey and Guernsey agreed to make a one-off gift of capital towards the costs of the Great War, and the Isle of Man agreed to increase its extant annual contribution to the Government. Jersey and Guernsey also agreed to take steps to reduce tax avoidance by British taxpayers. At the heart of the dispute was the possibility that Britain might force a contribution upon the Islands. In the event, although contemplated at some levels of Government, that possibility did not materialise.

• “Le Roy le Veult”: recent developments in the grant of Royal Assent
  from a Guernsey perspective

  Megan Pullum and Simon Hodgett 213

  Although the idea of Royal Assent is not new, the way in which it is granted takes different forms in different Commonwealth countries and territories. This issue was considered in Guernsey in the mid-2010s by the States' Constitutional Investigation Committee, which subsequently made recommendations for a change to the traditional procedure via the Privy Council. Since that time, further consultation with the Ministry of Justice has taken place, leading to the making of Orders in Council, first updating and then supplementing the traditional procedure with a delegated power to grant Royal Assent being given to the Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey. This article sets out the history of this process and explains the effect of the new Orders.

• Who should preside?

  Gordon Dawes 225

  A proposition is likely to go before the States of Deliberation in Guernsey, possibly as early as July, seeking, inter alia, to replace the Bailiff as presiding officer of the assembly. The author reviews the history of the debate and examines whether the law actually requires the Bailiff to be removed and, if not, then what factors the Guernsey Deputies should have regard to when considering whether to make what would be a momentous decision with possible consequences for Jersey also.

Shorter Article

Declaration of incompatibility under Human Rights Law

Philip Bailhache 257

Case Summaries 264

Summary of Legislation: 1 January–30th April 2024

Bailiwick of Jersey 286

Bailiwick of Guernsey

Guernsey 289

Alderney 301

Sark 302