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STATES OF JERSEY
DEFINING THE COST OF MINISTERIAL GOVERNMENT (P.111/2015): COMMENTS
Presented to the States on 19th October 2015 by the Council of Ministers
STATES GREFFE
2015 Price code: A P.111 Com.
COMMENTS
The Council of Ministers supports the intention of Deputy J.A. Martin of St. Helier 's proposition.
It is important for financial information to be presented in a manner which helps readers gain the greatest understanding as to how public funds are used.
At the same time, we need to exercise care in separating out the costs of Ministers from the costs of government as a whole.
For example, a staff member may prepare Ministerial Decisions, or provide advice on governance issues, or on a financial matter, but it would be wrong to say that they are a cost that is incurred by Ministers individually. Indeed, officers may support a number of Ministers, as part of an increasingly responsive public sector working across Departments.
This is why the Chief Minister, in answer to question 1240/5(8789), outlined a number of caveats.
Having said this, some costs, such as travel relating to Ministers and Assistant Ministers, and various hospitality expenses, lend themselves more readily to the identification of a specific and dedicated budget and actual costs (and in a number of cases are already published).
Accordingly, the Council of Ministers is supportive of the intentions of the proposition, and will reflect this in the Addition to the Medium Term Financial Plan.
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