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WQ.236/2023
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHAIR OF THE STATES EMPLOYMENT BOARD
BY DEPUTY M.R. SCOTT OF ST. BRELADE
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON TUESDAY 30th MAY 2023
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 6th JUNE 2023
Question
"Following the response to Written Question 196/2023 which suggests that no training in anti-corruption measures or ongoing conflict of interest identification management has taken place in the public sector in the last five years despite the findings of the Jersey Child Care Inquiry, will the Chair confirm this to be the case or otherwise provide the relevant training materials?"
Answer
The Executive Leadership Team adopted a revised Anti-Fraud and Corruption Policy and Strategy in November 2022. These are available on the MyStates intranet for all staff. A cross-departmental working group has been driving delivery of the Strategy.
Anti-fraud, corruption and money laundering online training is in the final stages of development. This will be mandatory for all staff and is expected to be live by the end of June 2023. Contents can be provided to the Deputy on completion.
The Minister for Treasury and Resources has approved a new Public Finances Manual section on Conflicts of Interest. This is expected to go live by the end of July 2023, and will be accompanied by a new online form for officers to record conflicts of interest and for managers to record how those conflicts are managed. Compliance with the Public Finances Manual is mandatory for all staff.
A robust approach to declaring and managing conflicts is already in place and embedded in some parts of the organisation. Those individual functions may have carried out training for staff in those specific areas.
The States Employment Board issued Codes of Practice which includes duties to avoid conflicts of interest, compromising positions and places a duty on public servants to disclose and report concerns.
The Government maintains a register of interests which records details of directorships and other significant interests held by the Principal Accountable Officer and Accountable Officers. Furthermore, it is a requirement under Auditing Standards for these to be considered by External Audit. (A further description of requirements can be found on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities).
External Audit is key as part of robust governance arrangements and to ensure there is independent review not only of the financial statements but also other key areas including conflicts of interest and related party transactions. The 2022 External Audit Opinion in the annual States of Jersey Group 2022 audited accounts concludes in this area and is reported publicly as required as a Public Interest Entity as has been done in previous years.
With respect to training, several officers hold professional qualifications and there is a requirement by several institutes to undertake ethics and integrity training including anti-corruption.
The Government of Jersey has several processes in place to identify conflicts of interest. This includes conflicts declared at project and programme boards, tender panel contracts, pension enquiries and payments to name a few .
The C&AG will commence her review on Fraud and Error shortly and her review is welcomed to enhance and improve the current arrangements and processes.