The report vindicates Deputy Peter Ferbrache, who resigned after the probe started.

BBC Radio Guernsey

The Rue Des Buttes has reopened after a three-vehicle crash earlier.

Guernsey's emergency services said no one had to be cut from their vehicles and there were no reported injuries.

BBC Weather

Tonight it will be cold with blustery showers and a strong westerly wind.

The showers will be heavy at times, with hail and thunder possible.

Minimum Temperature: 4C (39F).

On Thursday there will be sunny spells and scattered showers.

These will bring a wintry mix of rain, hail and sleet, mainly over high ground.

It will be feeling cold in the northwesterly wind.

Maximum Temperature: 8C (46F).

BBC Radio Guernsey

Drivers are being asked to avoid the roads around the Last Post pub in St Andrew, Guernsey, while emergency services deal with a crash.

Three vehicles are involved and the Rue Des Buttes is partially blocked.

Ben Chapple
BBC News Online

Payments made to Guernsey law firm Ferbrache and Farrell were made without the sign off of a States committee.

Deputy Peter Ferbrache, whose name is used by the law firm for who he does consultancy work, stood down as President of the Committee for Economic Development after concerns were raised about a conflict of interest after £300,000 was paid to the firm.

The summary of an internal audit, which is not due to be made public, has been released today and "found no evidence of an actual conflict of interest".

The Office of the Public Trustee appointed Ferbrache and Farrell and paid for their services.

The trustee, who stood down after an investigation into the payments of public funds was launched, was found to have done nothing wrong.

However, the auditors found the law does not explicitly set out how funding should be obtained and suggested it would have been "good practice" to approach the committee rather than just the accounting team.

They also found "existing custom and practice" was followed throughout, but a lack of documented process to identify and report rising costs outside of monthly accounts.

Ben Chapple
BBC News Online

There was no conflict of interest in Deputy Peter Ferbrache's role as President of Economic Development and his consultancy work for a law firm bearing his name.

A summary of an internal audit carried out by the States has been released today - although the report itself is not to be made public.

Mr Ferbrache resigned from the committee in November after a probe was launched into how law firm Ferbrache and Farrell was paid £300,000 in fees by the States of Guernsey.

The summary says the audit found there was no conflict in his role and the Public Trustee, who authorised the payments and stood down after the investigation was under way, acted within her powers.

Changes to procedures to "ensure compliance with the relevant legislation and safeguards" were recommended along with a formal review of the law and governance of the Office of the Public Trustee.

Ben Chapple
BBC News Online

Guernsey States has made a robust reply to being listed 10th on a list of the most secretive financial jurisdiction in the world by campaign group the Tax Justice Network.

Deputy Lyndon Trott, Vice President of the Policy and Resources Committee, said: "We see no value in the report or commenting on it in detail."

He criticised those behind the list for not contacting the island's government for information and said "they have a partial view and they have used it to support their own political agenda".

Mr Trott said: "The international community recognises that Guernsey meets every single international standard of tax transparency and information exchange.

"The EU Commission recently reaffirmed that we are a co-operative jurisdiction, and therefore any suggestion that we are a tax haven is nothing more than political spin."

• Transparency campaigner: 'Guernsey needs to open up'
• Jersey, which was listed as 18th, responds

Here are some of the findings from a study into middle age health trends in Jersey, published today. , external

Image source, States of Jersey Statistical Unit

Rob Byrne
BBC News Online

A survey of people in Jersey in their 40s and 50s shows the majority of health indicators have stayed the same between 2007 and 2017.

Image source, States of Jersey Statistical Unit

The Jersey Middle Age Health Trends survey, external is based on a number of annual studies done in the island.

It shows one-in-four middle-aged people have a long-term illness, disability, or infirmity.

Fifty-eight percent of men are overweight or obese, whereas only 47% of women are.

In 2017 women were, on average, eating less fruit and vegetables compared to 2007, whereas men were eating the same amount compared to a decade ago.

Rob Byrne
BBC News Online

A deputy has questioned official statistics showing the ratio of dependents against those in employment in Guernsey.

States figures released today, external show a dependency ratio of 0.55, meaning for every 100 people of working age between the ages of 16 and 64 there were 55 people of dependent age.

The ratio has risen from 0.48 in 2011 as the island's population ages.

Deputy Peter Roffey points out 15% of 65-69-year-olds also work, meaning the number of dependents against those in work is different from the official ratio.

"A rising dependency ratio can easily be used in to justify a pro-population growth policy when in reality no such trend exists," he said.

Simon Fairclough
Guernsey Political Reporter

A Guernsey politician says he wasn't pressured to resign from the island's Education Sport and Culture Committee.

Deputy Lester Queripel was the only member not to step down from the committee after its plans for a three-school model of secondary education were defeated earlier in January, but he resigned shortly after despite saying it would "wipe the slate clean".

"I'm quite capable of making my own decisions, and even if any of my colleagues had tried to pressurise me or muscle me out, I would have asked them if they enjoyed wasting their time."

"I was not bullied," he said.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's government has been warned it must find the money to improve children's services following last year's Independent Jersey Care Inquiry report.

Chairman of the Scrutiny Review Panel Sam Mezec said if the States is serious about employing more people in specialist roles, it will come at a cost.

"A lot of this will cost money, and that's got to come from somewhere. That's going to be an important discussion."

BBC Radio Jersey

Sports associations in Jersey are being encouraged to apply for thousands of pounds worth of funding to cover the cost of getting to off-island competitions.

Image source, Jersey Sport

It's part of the travel-grant scheme, which is being run by Jersey Sport for the first time.

There's as much as £125,000 available for clubs that want to bid, with more information available online., external

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's economic development minister says residents will find out which company will operate a subsidised inter-island service by the end of next week.

It's understood an agreement has been reached with a company to run the Jersey to Guernsey route, which may also include Alderney.

The service is expected to start in May.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's chief minister has told States members the government must act now on the recommendations made in July's Independent Jersey Care Inquiry report.

The States are debating the government's response to the report.

Addressing the assembly, Senator Ian Gorst said: "It will have meant very little if we rung our hands, if we said the words, but if we don't change. That's why, sir, this action plan is so important."

The inquiry, launched in 2014, heard 553 offences took place between 1947 and 2004, with more than half said to have occurred at Haut de la Garenne children's home.

Edward Rowe
Broadcast Journalist, BBC Radio Guernsey

A public hearing is being held at 14:00 on the progress of Guernsey's Disability & Inclusion Strategy.

The public are welcome to observe proceedings at the scrutiny hearing.

Disability rights campaigners have criticised delays and the approach they believe the government is taking.

BBC Radio Jersey

A lawyer for abuse victims has called on Jersey's States to make sure the care system is robust after Brexit.

Alan Collins says there's a risk Jersey could miss out on important intelligence once border controls change, for example on known abusers who may head to the island.

States members are discussing how much progress has been made in implementing recommendations in the care inquiry's final report.

Mr Collins believes the States needs to give the recently appointed Children's Commissioner "teeth" and needs access to the "highest international standards" on child protection.

Jersey Evening Post

One of Jersey’s most popular children’s parks is to be given a £245,000 face lift in time for the summer., external

Twitter

Rob Byrne
BBC News Online

Jersey's government has responded to its 18th place listing on the 2018 Financial Secrecy Index, published by campaign group The Tax Justice Network. , external

The island has dropped two places in the rankings since 2015.

A States spokesperson said the island continued to meet transparency standards set by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund.

"In December 2017, the EU Code of Conduct Group on Business Taxation also determined that Jersey is a cooperative tax jurisdiction, and the government of Jersey has committed to dialogue with the Code Group throughout 2018 to ensure that this position is maintained,” he added.