PUBLICATION of the House of Commons Justice Committee report into the Crown Dependencies is a real fillip for those concerned about the ability of the UK to meddle in insular affairs.

Not only does the document support the existing ‘hands off’ understanding, it confirms that interference could  happen only in the most serious circumstances – a fundamental breakdown in public order, endemic corruption in government or the judiciary or other extreme circumstance.

In other words, a situation in which the UK’s involvement might be warranted cannot reasonably be contemplated – and if it was to happen, islanders would probably be grateful that it had.

The report is further supportive of the Crown Dependencies in that it emphasises the responsibility the UK has to represent the islands’ interests even when they run counter to those of Britain. Indeed, the committee is blunt in its findings: the UK Government has an obligation faithfully to represent insular interests and it is just that: a duty and not an option.

The committee, chaired by Sir Alan Beith, the Lib Dems’ longest-serving MP, went further by recommending ways in which the Ministry of Justice might act more creatively and effectively on behalf of the dependencies.

That could extend to seconding officials and making greater use of ‘letters of entrustment’, aimed at allowing the island authorities to conclude their own international agreements in specific areas. In short, the report as a whole is a ringing endorsement of the Channel Islands’ autonomy and lays foundations for its extension and is to be welcomed.

What it also does is build on past work through the so-called framework agreement aimed at developing the islands’ external personality on the international stage.

That, too, is to be welcomed, but there is a caveat. With the acknowledgement of the very high degree of independence enjoyed and the promise of more to come, there is an obligation on Guernsey to live up to that responsibility.

Clearly, that comes at a price – the Brussels office is one example.

But more to the point, the island has to ensure it has adequate checks and balances in place if it is to have more control over its destiny.