Next autumn will be kept free of States sittings

The appointment will be a major focal point as the island moves from its current committee system to a ministerial-style government.

The 15 committees presently administering the island will be replaced by 10 ministries.

The Privileges and Procedures Committee has said it also wants other days in the same month to be made available for electing other ministers.

Legislation backlog

A decision was taken in 2001 to set up a ministerial-style government after a report from the Clothier review panel.

In August, Jersey's government published the amendments to existing laws needed to implement the switch to the new system, which is expected take place in late 2005.

There is still much to be decided about how Jersey's new system of government will work, but it will be led by a Chief Minister.

If States members agree, he or she will be elected on Tuesday 6 December 2005.

The Privileges and Procedures Committee has also suggested extra dates for States sittings next year to work on a large backlog in legislation before the changeover.

But it is also supporting a bid to keep the weeks before island-wide elections in the autumn free of States sittings.

This would be to give members more time to campaign and prevent them from having an unfair advantage over other candidates through any media coverage they would get from points made during States sittings.