certain land matters; and appointments to public bodies other than appointments specifically devolved upon Ministers. Although the Governor has this responsibility, section 49 of the new constitution provides machinery under which such matters may continue to be discussed, as appropriate, with Ministers in the Gibraltar Council. Provision has also been included in the constitution to protect the in- dependence of the judiciary and of the Principal Auditor and to vest powers with respect to criminal proceedings in the Attorney-General; administrative matters in those fields should also remain within the direct responsibility of the Governor. Similarly administrative respon- sibility for the public service generally, should remain within the di- rect responsibility of the Governor (see also paragraph 6 below).
5. The significance of Gibraltar's economic problems at this time, as well as the nature of the new constitution itself and the mer- ging of the finances of the Gibraltar Government and the City Coun- cil, make it important that all financial affairs, both as regards defined domestic matters and as regards residual matters not so defined, should as hitherto be fully coordinated. It was for this reason that all those who took part in the constitutional discussions in July 1968 recognised that the Financial and Development Secretary would be in a special position under the new constitution and that the Governor should have certain powers in relation to the maintenance of financial and economic stability. Accordingly responsibility for the financial business of the Government of Gibraltar should continue to be en- trusted to the Financial and Development Secretary, and it is thus necessary that there should be very close liaison and consultation between him and the Ministers responsible for defined domestic mat- ters. I should hope, therefore, that the Financial and Development Secretary will be invited by the Chief Minister to attend all meetings of the Council of Ministers when any matters affecting his sphere of responsibility are discussed. Matters for which the Financial and De- velopment Secretary should remain responsible will include customs control; the collection of taxes, duties, licences and fees etc.; payment of salaries, wages and accounts; and the general coordination of finan. cial and economic business and accounting. Subject to the provisions of the new constitution the Legislature will, of course, continue to be responsible for the authorisation of expenditure and taxation
measures.
6.
There will be a single public service in Gibraltar. Since the matters for which the Governor and Ministers will respectively be · directly responsible are intrinsically incapable of being completely separated and are bound to overlap, it would not be conducive to effi-
3
r
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.