News

Scrutiny questions Ministers on delivery of strategic priorities

• The Education and Lifelong Learning Minister admitted he’d not had any discussions with the business community about the choice of 15 hours of free nursery care being funded. The Minister for Sustainable Economic Development said that while he thinks the initiative will hopefully bring more people into the workforce and free up family finances, he is concerned that the government has created a “15 hour situation” when most part time jobs are 20 hours. He added that Government has a habit of not quite matching initiatives with the business environment and that there also hadn’t been any discussion between his department and CYPES over planning skills delivery.
• The Minister for Social Security confirmed only initial conversations have been had between both Ministers to coordinate early years implementation.
• The Minister for the Environment acknowledged that he had misunderstood the implications of agreeing the 13 Common Strategic Priorities, believing it would not affect his ability to deliver his own ministerial priorities within his department’s existing business-as-usual budget. As a result, one of his own top priorities to deliver before the next election, a comprehensive water strategy for the Island, has been put on hold due to the Government’s consultancy freeze.
• The Minister for Health and Social Services confirmed that he has been unable to fulfil his role as Deputy Chief Minister for the past two years due to workload pressures within the Health Department.

• The need for potential tax changes was brought up by two Ministers: Minister for Health and Social Services and the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning. In addition, the Minister for the Environment raised concerns about his department’s falling revenues and the need to increase charges and introduce new ones. This is directly against the Common Strategic Policy priority not to increase fees and charges by more than 2.5% which is under the rate of inflation.
• The Minister for the Environment also warned about further upcoming pressures. With the effects of Brexit there is a need to ensure the Island is set up with laws to make us equivalent to both the UK and EU. There is a huge amount of time needed for law drafters which is going to be expensive.
• The Minister for Health and Social Services said he was very grateful for the money which has been allocated in the proposed budget for health but it is not as much as he would have liked. He also noted that the continuity of care between providers has been hampered by digital inconsistencies and that a single patient record system will improve this.
• The Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning said he would like to see extended education and support up to the age of 25 for those with special needs, but he can’t guarantee it will happen as whilst work is underway it can’t be achieved in this government term. In addition, he said that while he’d like Apprenticeships to become statutory, these are also not likely to be brought in by this current government.