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2015.04.14
3.10 Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding funding for the Jersey Community Relations Trust:
Does the Minister intend to continue supporting the Jersey Community Relations Trust with appropriate funding?
The Deputy of St. Peter (The Minister for Home Affairs):
The Home Affairs Department has provided annual funding of £27,500 for the Jersey Community Relations Trust since 2009 when it was transferred to the department from the Chief Minister. This is a contribution towards the trust's running costs. This level of funding has been maintained at a time when the department has been required to deliver efficiency savings and savings over £4 million as part of the Comprehensive Savings Review. As the Deputy is aware, the next Medium-Term Financial Plan will require the States to deliver significant savings during the period of 2016 to 2019. During this time the department will endeavour to provide funding to the J.C.R.T. (Jersey Community Relations Trust) at a level which is appropriate from within the resources agreed by the Assembly.
- Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :
Given that the aims of the Trust match so many of the policies from the Council of Ministers, and as a States trustee for the Community Relations Trust myself, I can tell the Assembly that there are lots of priorities that at the moment will need some more funding. Can the Minister see that there will be an increase in funding in the future?
The Deputy of St. Peter :
I am afraid that in this current climate an increase in funding is very unlikely.
- Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :
Does the Minister believe that the funding is coming from the appropriate department because this could be possibly a barrier to the increase in funding given that the aims may be more closely matched to that of other departments?
The Deputy of St. Peter :
As I said in my first answer, the Community Relations Trust has only recently in 2009 - relatively recently - moved to Home Affairs. We do share a lot of the priorities and principles and fully understand and support the work of the J.C.R.T. I feel it is currently well placed within Home Affairs but I do not feel that the issues of funding would make any difference whichever department the J.C.R.T. was connected to at the moment.