Cost of the historic abuse inquiry up to retirement date of the former Deputy Chief Officer and monitoring process

1240/5(5301)

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. MARTIN

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 20th APRIL 2010

Question

"Will the Minister inform Members –

1. of the cost of the historic abuse enquiry from 23rd February 2008to the date of the former Deputy Chief Officer'sretirement;
2. the costsincetheappointmentof his replacement;
3. how the expenditure is monitored and who is the accounting officer legally responsible for expenditure;
4. whohas political responsibility for the expenditureandhow closely the expenditure is monitored?"

Answer

1. Cost ofthe historic abuse enquiry from 23rd February 2008 to the date offormer Deputy Chief Officer's retirement - £3,202,600.
2. The cost since the appointmentofhisreplacement from September2008to end March 2010 - £3,710,800.
3. Financial Managementofthe enquiry isoverseenby a multi-agency Gold Strategic Co-ordinatingGroup. The Chief Officer oftheHome Affairs Departmentis the AccountingOfficer,andmemberoftheGold Strategic Co-ordinatingGroup.
4. The accounting officer of a States funded body is personally accountable for the proper financial managementof the resources of the body in accordance with Article 38of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005 Law.

T h e accounting officer is not responsible for making decisions on policy issues but is accountable for the

implementation of policy with due regard to value for money. Policy decisions are the responsibility of ministers. Furthermore, the accounting officer does not have managerial oversight of, nor clearly any operational responsibility for, the States of Jersey Police.

D e p artmental expenditure is monitored on a regular basis and reported to the Minister in the Quarterly

Ministerial Financial Report in accordance with Financial Direction 6.5.