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2.11 Deputy J.M. Maçon of St. Saviour of the Minister for Treasury and Resources regarding funding commitments to the Jersey Heritage Trust in 2012 and onwards:
Would the Minister confirm that the Education, Sport and Culture Department was notified that the profits from the summer lottery would be used to fund the Jersey Heritage Trust? If so, as the lottery did not generate the amounts anticipated, from where will the Treasury Department meet the funding commitments to the Trust in 2012 and onwards?
Deputy E.J. Noel (Assistant Minister for Treasury and Resources - rapporteur):
The published M.T.F.P. (Medium-Term Financial Plan) assumes a contribution from the summer lottery to fund the growth for the Jersey Heritage Trust of £288,000 in 2013, £320,000 in 2014 and 2015. The M.T.F.P. clearly states that £315,000 was added on a one-off basis to Education, Sport and Culture's cash limit for 2012 in case the lottery was unsuccessful, thereby ring-fencing the funding for Jersey Heritage for 2012. The Minister and the Treasury understand that Jersey Heritage must have guaranteed funding from 2013 onwards to be able to deliver its capital programme and to ensure its assets are maintained properly. Jersey Heritage are in active talks with Education, Sport and Culture Department to discuss alternative sources of funding in the event the lottery does not raise enough money from 2013 going forward. Treasury, Education, Sport and Culture, Economic Development Department and Jersey Heritage will work together to find a solution which will be brought forward later this year.
- Deputy J.M. Maçon:
Can I ask then what mechanism has been decided upon should the same circumstances occur next year that have occurred this year given that the one-off, I understand, then will be removed from the Education Department?
Deputy E.J. Noel:
In the first instance, Jersey Heritage would be asked to consider whether they could raise funding in whole or in part in new or different ways. If this is not achievable, then Education, Sport and Culture and Economic Development, together with Treasury, will be asked to consider whether they could meet the costs from within their cash limits approved in the M.T.F.P. As a last resort, the Council of Ministers could agree to fund a grant from contingency.
- Deputy G.P. Southern :
Does the Assistant Minister not accept that this is the ultimate sign of the dire state of our economy that Jersey cannot even raise a decent amount of money from a lottery?
Deputy E.J. Noel:
No.
- Deputy J.M. Maçon:
Does the Minister concede that no matter what happens then, the States or the Department for Treasury and Resources is always going to be backstop and is the Assistant Minister satisfied with this situation?
Deputy E.J. Noel:
As I already said, if we cannot find funding from other sources and the lottery does not produce what it is anticipated to produce in 2013 going forward, then yes, it will be up to the Council of Ministers to consider a withdrawal from contingency to fund Jersey Heritage over the period of the M.T.F.P.