...e United Kingdom Government is responsible for defence, overseas representation and international affairs generally.So once again, the Channel Islands have their on government, their on systems of local administration, their on fiscal and legal systems and their on courts of la. They are neither part of the United Kingdom nor colonies. They just have allegiance to the British Cron.They are not represented in the United Kingdom Parliament, hose Acts extend to the Channel Islands only if those expressly agree that they should do so. By convention, Parliament does not legislate for the Islands ithout their consents in matters of taxation or issues of local concern.As to taxation, the Channel Islands are politically and fiscally secure lo tax areas and therefore lots of banks and firms come there.RELATIONSHIP ITH THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIESAt the time of the accession of the United Kingdom to the Treaty of Rome special terms applying to the Islands ere defined. Under these terms the Islands are included ithin the European Communities for the purpose of free movement of manufactured and agricultural goods. Yet, they are neither separate Member States nor Associate Members of the European Communities. For the provisions of the EC Treaty relating to free trade in goods, the Islands and the United Kingdom are treated as one Member State.Other provisions of the Treaty of Rome, including those relating to the free movement of Community citizens, capital movements, and the harmonisation of taxation and social policies, are not applicable to the Islands. Moreover, the Islands do not have access to financial support under the Common Agricultural Policy, nor to funding from the Communities Social or Development funds.Furthermore, under existing EU regulations, people born in the Channel Islands face restrictions hen taking up employment in EU countries other than the United Kingdom. Hoever, they may avoid any restrictions if they have a parent or grandparent born in the United Kingdom or have themselves been resident there for at least five years.Any change in the arrangements for the Islands ould require an amendment to the Treaty of Accession of the United Kingdom and this ould require the agreement of all EU Member States including the United Kingdom. No such change is in prospect or envisaged.LANGUAGEThe dominant language of the Islands is English, although French remains the official language of the Courts of the Islands. English is used exclusively in debates in the States chambers and legislation is drafted in English.Occasionally one can hear people speaking the local patois, a Norman-French dialect, but this has become increasingly rare.There is also a creole language mixture of English and French spoken in some parts of the Islands.EDUCATIONIn the Channel Islands there are only primary and secondary school systems, but nothing beyond that level. Therefore, people ho ant to study have to go either to England or to France.TOURISMThe Channel Islands have a very favoured position ith an equable and much armer, sunnier climate than most parts of Britain. Therefore, lots of tourists especially people from the United Kingdom and France spend their holidays there.Hoever, it is quite difficult to settle in the Islands, because the governments have established very strict immigration rules. Moreover, there are restrictions on the acquisition of delling accommodation and employment restrictions.CURRENCYThe Islands are in monetary union ith the United Kingdom but issue their on currency hich consists of notes and coins of various denominations. English and Scottish currency is also in circulation.SOME FACTS ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL ISLANDSJERSEYJersey is situated 14 miles off the north-est coast of France and 85 miles from the English coast. It is the largest of the Channel Islands ith a surface area of 117 km and a population of about 85000 people.Jersey operates in the European time zone and it is the sunniest place in the British Isles. The capital of Jersey is Saint Hlier.GUERNSEYGuernsey is the second largest of the Channel Islands ith a surface area of 63 km and a population of 56 000 people. Most of the island is hill country and in the South there are steep coasts. Its capital is Saint Peter Port.ALDERNEYAlderney is the third largest of the Channel Islands ith a surface area of 8 km and a population of about 2400 inhabitants. The capital of Alderney is Saint Anne.Moreover, Alderney is the island lying nearest to the mainland of Britain and it is frequently described as the most British of the Channel Islands. Yet, it has a distinctly French flavour hich is not surprising as the islands closest neighbour, France, is only 8 miles aay.Hoever, despite its closeness to the mainland of France and the other Channel Islands, Alderney has managed to avoid mainstream tourism.Finally it has to be said that bureaucracy barely exists in the Channel Islands and least of all in Alderney. In this respect the political position of Alderney is unique in the British Commonealth.SARKSark is a rather small island 11 km east of Guernsey ith a surface area of 5,5 km and a population of 600 people. The capital of Sark is La Collinette.In this island no cars are alloed, only the ruler of Sark, the Dame, may use one. As the title the Dame indicates, the ruler of Sark as alays female in history. In other ords, the onership of the island goes through a female line. Hoever, at the moment the Dame is a man....
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