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3.5 Deputy S. Power of St. Brelade of the Minister for Treasury and Resources regarding the participation of States trading departments in the comprehensive spending review:
Can the Minister confirm whether States trading departments are omitted from the comprehensive spending review and if so, explain why?
The Greffier of the States (in the Chair): Now who is answering this question?
Deputy E.J. Noel of St. Lawrence (Assistant Minister for Treasury and
Resources - rapporteur):
I can confirm that the Minister had decided that all States trading departments will
take part in the comprehensive spending review. Discussions are ongoing with both
Harbours and Airport as to how the objectives will be achieved.
- Deputy S. Power:
The Assistant Minister would be as aware, as I am, having taken part in the inter- departmental discussions with senior officers and Ministers with the comprehensive spending review, that little or no reference has been made to States trading departments. Would he care to comment?
Deputy E.J. Noel:
I can agree with Deputy Power that up until recently the detailed work for both the trading departments have not been included in the C.S.R. (Comprehensive Spending Review) but I can again repeat that the Minister has decided that all States departments will take part in the comprehensive spending review.
- Senator P.F. Routier:
Could the Assistant Minister confirm that the Harbours and the Airport have submitted responses to the C.S.R. team? It was done so under my instruction for it to be involved in the C.S.R. process right from the outset.
Deputy E.J. Noel:
Yes, I can confirm that.
- Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:
The Assistant Minister talked of ongoing discussions. Could he tell us the precise subjects that are being discussed at these ongoing discussions?
Deputy E.J. Noel:
It is a range of topics primarily on the income-generating side of their respective businesses and also on saving costs. Substantial costs have already been squeezed-out of these departments over the last 5 years but they can produce more.
[10:15]
- Deputy S. Power:
Sometimes when I focus my mind on one of the States trading departments it is like trying to deal with a full moon in a fog. My next question to the Assistant Minister: is it not time to restructure these departments so that there is a board of commissioners that will take ...
The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):
I think you are straying well away from the comprehensive spending review, Deputy . Deputy S. Power:
All right, well I will rephrase it then. Does the Assistant Minister not think it is time that the 2 departments referred to should be brought into line with the comprehensive spending review and that bringing information late to the table is not appropriate?
Deputy E.J. Noel:
I am quite happy to answer the first part of the Deputy 's question. The Greffier of the States (in the Chair):
Please do not. [Laughter]
Deputy E.J. Noel:
Well I will. A shadow board is being discussed and the exact makeup of that board is being worked on at this present moment in time.
- Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:
In these ongoing discussions, could the Assistant Minister outline - given the post office problem of universal service obligations - what happens with core services that are, by their very nature, uneconomic like outlying harbours?
Deputy E.J. Noel:
Well I think the Deputy has answered his own question; they are core services that are required.