DEPUTY Mary Lowe (pictured) has called for the creation of a new States department to deal with external affairs and immigration.

She suggested the move during last month’s States debate on the extension of the housing control law, saying population issues were important enough to have a department and minister to deal with them.

‘I think we should have a separate department for external affairs and relations, including immigration and migration,’ she said, adding that the current system was not good enough. ‘The new minister and members would be responsible for all external affairs through the States – a properly mandated department,’ she said.

‘At present, the chief minister and Policy Council choose members to take care of external affairs, but the States doesn’t have a say. It is so important that the Assembly should choose. It must be debated and decided.’

The issues must not be underestimated, she said. ‘Population is key. It is on top of everything – until we get these issues solved, the rest is secondary.’