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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY SENATOR J.L. PERCHARD
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 20th APRIL 2010
Question
"What savings, if any, could be made if Jersey and Guernsey shared a competition regulatory authority and will the Minister undertake to hold talks to this effect as early as conveniently possible with the Guernsey authorities?"
Answer
At a joint meeting of 10th November 2009, the Minister for Economic Development met with the Guernsey Minister for Commerce and Employment, together with Officers, to discuss ways in which the two Bailiwicks could increase their working co-operation.
One of the areas discussed at that meeting was pan-Island competition and regulation.
As a consequence of that meeting and the political support to move forward, a working group has been established with representatives of the two sponsoring government departments, together with the JCRA and the Guernsey Office of Utility Regulation. This working group has held a number of meetings and is actively pursuing an agenda of closer co-operation leading to the possibility of a single body being created in the future if it was considered worthwhile.
Although at an early stage, initial opinion is that cost savings by way of efficiencies within the proposed joint body would be negligible. There would still be a need to have offices in both jurisdictions and the potential for savings in headcount is unlikely. Efforts towards introducing such a unitary body are further hampered by differences in legislation and diverging opinion on certain standards and thresholds, albeit these can be ameliorated as the Guernsey system comes into effect.
The real benefit from such a body, however, comes from the reduction in cost to business brought about by potential efficiencies such as joint filing of returns, common forms, shared data and so on. To that end the working group has concentrated and will continue to work towards delivering practical benefits for Channel Island businesses and consumers that can be delivered relatively quickly and without the need for legislative change.
A further joint Political and Officer meeting is due to take place in Guernsey in mid-May and this item will once again be on the agenda.