Reprioritisation of previous growth funding

WQ.322/2024

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TREASURY AND RESOURCES

BY DEPUTY I. GARDINER OF ST. HELIER NORTH

QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 30th SEPTEMBER 2024 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 7th OCTOBER 2024

Question

"Will the Minister provide a detailed explanation of the reprioritisation of previous growth funding that is referenced within the proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2025-2028, including the following –

1. which projects have had their funding removed or reduced, and by how much; and
2. how were decisions undertaken to decide which projects would be prioritised and which would receive reduced funding?"

Answer

The Common Strategic Policy (CSP) 2024 – 2026, set out the Council of Ministers intention to reprioritise existing budgets where appropriate to deliver our objectives. During the development of the CSP to ensure affordability the Council of Ministers agreed funding options, including the reprioritisation of revenue expenditure growth allocations from Government Plan 2024 – 2027.

Over the course of the Budget 2025 – 2028, Council of Ministers further developed funding actions and agreed to reprioritise the allocations of the below revenue growth lines, so that funding could be redirected to CSP objectives including for example, extending nursery and childcare provision, and providing a nutritious school meal for children in our States primary schools.

Through Council of Ministers workshops to discuss the Budget 2025 – 2028, it was agreed that certain growth lines should be excluded, where doing so would result in an unavoidable financial pressure, or where a previous commitment exists including;

• Deficit funding for Health and Community Services, and the Health Board.

• Insurance premiums, which continue to increase significantly.

• Fire and rescue pay, terms and conditions review agreed by the States Employment Board.

• Agriculture and fisheries – amendment by the States Assembly to Government Plan 2024 – 2027.

• Free GP visits for full time students – amendment by the States Assembly to Government Plan 2024 – 2027.

• Non-Ministerial growth – under article 10 of the Public Finances Law, non-ministerial bodies submit their budget for inclusion in the Government Plan.

The following table details the list of 2025 estimates of revenue expenditure growth items in Government Plan 2024 – 2027 and the reductions to those lines in the lodged Budget 2025-2028.

£'000  2025  2025  2025 Reference/Head of Expenditure  Description  Estimate  Reduction  Lodged I-SPP-GP24-001  Statistics Jersey – Administrative data linkage team   436   (79)   357 I-SPP-GP24-002  Health Board   206   -   206 I-SPP-GP24-003  Continuation of Strategic Health Policy and Governance Team   387   (77)   310 I-SPP-GP24-004  Maintaining the Public Health and Health Protection Function   2,273   (455)   1,818 I-SPP-GP24-005  Major Incident Health and Wellbeing Recovery Programme   713   (80)   633 I-SPP-GP24-006  Strategic Housing and Regeneration Team   85   (17)   68 I-SPP-GP24-007  Vaccine Scheme   400  (80)   320 Cabinet Office - Total   4,500   (788)   3,712 I-CYP-GP24-001  Children's Social Care Reform - New Homes   1,700   (340)   1,360 I-CYP-GP24-002  Investment across CYPES frontline services   2,607   (518)   2,089 I-CYP-GP24-003  Investment in young people workforce participation   393   (77)   316

Children, Young People, Education &

Skills Total   4,700   (935)   3,765 I-CLS-GP24-001  Community Compass   377   (75)   302 I-CLS-GP24-002  Housing Advice Service   215   (32)   183 I-CLS-GP24-004  Children with Life Changing Conditions   600   (120)   480 Customer and Local Services Total   1,192   (227)  965 I-HCS-GP24-001  Ongoing Risks and Pressures in HCS   14,500   -   14,500 I-HCS-GP24-002  Free GP Visits for Full Time Students   75   -   75 Health & Community Services Total   14,575   -   14,575 I-IHE-GP24-001  Ambulance Station HQ Maintenance   679   (17)   662

I-IHE-GP24-002  Fort Regent   1,142   (100)  1,042 Infrastructure Total   1,821   (117)   1,704 I-IHE-GP24-003  Natural Environment Team   300   (60)   240 Environment Total   300   (60)   240 I-JHA-GP24-001  Fire and Rescue Service Pay, Terms and Conditions Review   1,429   -   1,429 I-JHA-GP24-002  Ambulance Service - Outcome of Demand and Capacity Review   482   (40)   442 I-JHA-GP24-003  Data Management and Analyst   100   (17)   83 I-JHA-GP24-004  Fire and Rescue Service Operations   85   (15)   70 I-JHA-GP24-005  Defence Funding   88   (18)   70 Justice and Home Affairs Total   2,184   (90)   2,094 I-POL-GP24-001  Digital Forensics Unit   327   (47)   280 States of Jersey Police Total   327   (47)   280 I-MER-GP24-001  Overseas Offices   134   (27)   107 External Relations Total   134   (27)   107 I-DFE-GP24-001  Implementation of Digital, Visitor Economy and Elite Sport Strategies   650   (130)   520 I-DFE-GP24-002  Rural and Marine Economy   1,150   -   1,150 I-DFE-GP24-003  Jersey Business - Core Grant Funding   150   (30)   120 I-DFE-GP24-004  Intellectual Property Framework   300   (60)   240 I-DFE-GP24-007  New Growth for Agriculture and Fisheries   3,000   -   3,000

Economic Development, Tourism, Sport

and Culture Total   5,250   (220)   5,030 I-DFE-GP24-005  Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)   755   (137)   618 I-DFE-GP24-006  Jersey Finance - Additional Grant Funding   750   (150)   600 Financial Services Total   1,505   (287)   1,218 I-T&E-GP24-001  Insurance Premiums   4,300   -   4,300