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New safety laws being proposed by Jersey's Health and Social Services Department have been criticised as "breathtakingly powerful".

The draft Public Health and Safety (Dwellings) law would give the health minister the power to have properties inspected over safety concerns.

Deputy John Young, the chairman of the Environment Scrutiny panel, said the powers would be "very, very draconian".

Health Minister Anne Pryke said they would only be used in extreme cases.

Under the law, if approved by the States, it would become legal for health inspectors to enter homes.

Deputy Young was particularly critical of proposals to give the minister the right to order works to be carried out which would automatically have planning approval.

This would apply to any order made for the property's demolition.

"It's not good government, I don't think, to have blanket powers," he said.

The Health and Social Services Department said the proposals had stemmed from the receipt of about 80 complaints each year from tenants concerned about sub-standard accommodation.