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Fiscal surplus or deficit for the last five years

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WQ.295/2025

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TREASURY AND RESOURCES

BY DEPUTY M.B. ANDREWS OF ST. HELIER NORTH

QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 30th JUNE 2025

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 7th JULY 2025

Question

"Will the Minister –

  1. state the Government's fiscal surplus or deficit position, excluding investment returns, for each of the last five years; and
  2. advise what actions, if any, she has taken with the Council of Ministers to address any deficit and whether any such actions will reduce the anticipated level of any future such deficit?"

Answer

The Annual Report and Accounts routinely reports on two types of surplus/deficit. It is assumed that this question refers to the Operating Surplus/Deficit, which relates to the difference between States income and revenue expenditure through the Consolidated Fund (e.g. departmental spending), including depreciation. The numbers reported in the Annual Report and Accounts for the last five years are as follows:

 

 

Operating Surplus/(Deficit)

2024

(£63 million)

2023

£5 million

2022

£104 million

2021

£59 million

2020

(£113 million)

The deficit in 2024 was partly anticipated in the Government Plan 2024 and includes the reintroduction of the States Grant to Social Security (£77 million).

The Budget 2025, approved by the States Assembly, showed the deficit reducing in 2025, before a return to surplus expected in 2026.

Balanced budgets are only one part of maintaining the sustainability of public finances. Budget 2026 will update forecasts based on the latest economic data and identify further actions required to achieve this.