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2.3 Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier of St. Saviour to the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the control and/or influence the Minister had over those voluntary organisations in receipt of States funds:
What control and/or influence, if any, does the Minister have over a voluntary organisation to whom he allocates funds annually from his budget, and upon whose board he has a representative?
Senator B.I. Le Marquand (The Minister for Home Affairs):
There are some principles which apply to all grants to such voluntary organisations, namely compliance with finance directions, particularly currently 5.5, in relation to grants, and the existence of a service level agreement. The degree of control over such organisations relates to the service level agreement and the renewal of grants. The degree of influence depends upon the degree to which I choose to exercise influence. In relation to the specific organisation to which the question relates, I do not have a representative on the board, although I used to, but there is, however, a staff member of Home Affairs who sits on the board in their own time but not as my representative. They do so because they have expertise in this area. I am very content with the composition of the board of that particular organisation, and have not found it necessary to intervene in any way.
- Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:
Could the Minister acknowledge that I forwarded representations to him and he essentially answered, some time ago, in the way that he has answered now? Would he, again, say when he gives finance to an organisation what control or influence does he exert on that organisation? Would he, for example, say what are the key factors of the service level agreement in relation to such an organisation?
The Bailiff :
The first part of that question was a repetition of the main question... Senator B.I. Le Marquand:
Yes, I have nothing to add on the first one, Sir. In relation to the second, the principles in relation to grants are quite complicated, and I do not think the Assembly wants me to start reading out 6 pages, but if I can summarise it? First of all, the aims of an organisation must be in accordance with aims of the States and clearly of the individual department. The department must be satisfied that this is an efficient way of delivering that aim, and then it must be satisfied that there are appropriate governance systems in place: things like proper accounts, sometimes audited accounts, and so on and so forth. Clearly, if you are going to be supporting an organisation that is delivering something that you want to deliver, you must ensure, as far as you can, that it is delivering what you want to deliver. One should not, in my opinion, be overly interfering in relation to the matter, because if one is going to do that, one might as well do it within one's department anyway.
- Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:
If the Minister were to receive a complaint, for example about the management, and it was to be a serious one which could well impede the achievement of the organisation's objectives, what would he do with that complaint, or what, previously, given the sudden and unexpected disappearance of his representative, was he doing when such complaints were received?
Senator B.I. Le Marquand:
I am aware that there was an issue of a complaint last year, and I am aware of the process which was dealt with in relation to dealing with that, and I am perfectly happy with it. I thought this issue had been resolved and gone away. There are some very capable people on the board of this particular organisation, including a chief officer of a States department, not one of my departments, who also sits there and I have every confidence.