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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHIEF MINISTER BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 17th JUNE 2008
Question
- W ill the Chief Minister inform members what economic impacts are predicted for the Waterfront developmenton the overall Island economy, and whatimportance he places on these effects?
Answer
I n an island economy like Jersey where land is scarce, the prospect of bringing reclaimed land into
economic use has significant economic potential. The public consultation document on the Masterplan for the Waterfront highlighted how the development would bring economic benefits to the Island. It stated that by creating new investment, supporting innovation, allowing competition, encouraging enterprise and creating job opportunities it would help support productivity improvements in the economy and help achieve our economic objectives of economic growth, employment opportunities and low inflation. By improving the supply capacity of the economy, wider economic benefits could also arise in the medium term through efficiency improvements. The bottom line is it will add to our economic potential and create job opportunities for local people.
Question
- W i llhe further state whyhegaveno indications ofthese impacts in his speech to the Assemblyduringthe debate on theEsplanade Quarter Masterplan (P.60/2008)?
Answer
My speech during the debate, focused on the issues that I felt were of most concern to States members. The Ministers for Planning and Environment and Economic Development covered some of the economics issues in their speeches. As there seemed to be little debate about whether the development would generate significant economic benefits for the Island this issue was not a major part of my speech.
Question
- W ill the Chief Minister informmembersofthegroundsonwhichhehasdeniedaccessto the Economic Adviser'sEconomicImpactReportonthe Waterfront development,and will henow agree to release it, if necessary in redacted form or in confidence?
Answer
I have not denied access to any reports by the Economic Adviser on the Waterfront. The last report the Economic Adviser did for the Council of Ministers on the Waterfront was in February 2006 considering analysis from PwC on the economic impact of the proposed development at that time. A summary of the report was released to all the attendees at the Waterfront Forum on March 4 2006 at the airport.