How not to answer the question!

Mike Jackson was recently asked about the work to be done on the Promenade to provide a "back route" for emergency vehicles to the Fuel Farm / Power Station etc, which according to Hansard will involve that usual mantra, "consultation" with the people around the area.

Senator Routier asked a question in the States. Note how Mike Jackson cleverly avoids answering directly the question about "the historical appearance of the promenade" and talks vaguely about "enhancement" instead.

Of course, anyone with two brain cells can see if the part of the promenade from (for example) the slipway going west is enlarged to accommodate emergency vehicles, it will completely lose its historical appearance, and have to be pretty well ripped apart; the end result will look more like a road than a promenade. What kind of promenade accommodates fire engines??!

5.11   Senator P.F. Routier:

Following on from Deputy De Sousa's question about Havre des Pas, can the Minister reassure me and Members that the historical appearance of the promenade will be retained in the future, once the promenade is altered?

The Connétable of St. Brelade:

I think it is essential that the appearance of the promenade be enhanced.  It is not pretty or tidy in certain areas and I would suggest that any work we do will be an improvement to the area.

Later on he pulled the same trick of diversion with his answer, ignoring the part of the question about bus shelters completely, although this is clearly what Phil Rondel is asking about. Instead he answers a completely different message about how many bus routes there are in the country.

5.13   The Deputy of St. John:
Is the Minister aware that the current bus routes, many people living in the country live at least one mile, and further, away from their closest bus stop?  Will he give serious consideration to putting one or 2 bus shelters out into the country for those people who have very limited bus services?

The Connétable of St. Brelade:

Yes, we continually answer requests for bus services and I think primarily one has to focus on areas of priority in numbers, but should the Deputy have any particular areas which he feels are worthy of consideration I would please ask him to submit them to me.

Mike Jackson has obviously been taking lessons from James Hacker:

"If you have nothing to say, say nothing. But better, have something to say and say it, no matter what they ask. Pay no attention to the question, make your own statement. If they ask you the same question again, you just say, 'That's not the question' or 'I think the more important question is this:' Then you make another statement of your own." (Yes Prime Minister)