Father of the House Deputy Ivan Rihoy is fourth from the left, standing between local dignitaries Lt-Governor Sir Fabian Malbon, Bailiff Sir Geoffrey Rowland and Royal British Legion president Major Eric Le Quesne, and two of the crew of HMS Daring. (0869661)

CHIEF MINISTER Lyndon Trott has moved to clarify the Policy Council’s position in a row over the order in which wreaths were laid on Remembrance Sunday.

Emails were sent during the weekend to all deputies as States members argued about whether the Policy Council should have discussed the issue at all.

Several deputies criticised the Policy Council for being ‘preoccupied with the order wreaths are laid’ following discussions over whether a representative of the States should perform the duty before or after the Crown Officers.

Deputies Roger Domaille and Janine Le Sauvage condemned on a radio phone-in yesterday any politician who was concerned about the matter.

But Deputy Trott (pictured) emailed States members over the weekend to confirm that it had not been the Policy Council that raised the issue.

‘This matter was placed before the Policy Council at the written request of the Bailiff,’ he said. ‘It is not a matter that would have found itself onto the agenda otherwise.’

Housing minister Dave Jones today backed up the chief minister’s statement.

However, two Policy Council members released statements distancing themselves from the debate.