The Minister for Jersey’s Health and Social Services Department was ordered to disclose key documents to the Inquiry at a second preliminary hearing in St Helier.
The Chair, Frances Oldham QC, made it clear that the confidentiality of information and data was central to the Inquiry’s work but said it was “for the benefit of everyone” that the documents were handed over within seven days.
She agreed to strengthen the right to challenge decisions over which sections of documents get blacked out or redacted as the Inquiry progresses. She added that keeping confidentiality undertakings were a “heavy onus of responsibility” for those given Interested Party status and their representitives.
At the hearing, which was held in public, Interested Party status was given to the Office of the Attorney General, which covers his predecessors.
Mrs Oldham also advised that correspondence to the Inquiry could be made public. This does not apply to witnesses who get in touch about giving evidence – their privacy will be respected.
A full transcript of the hearing can be found here.