Letter to Chief Minister re Written Questions - 20 September 2019

States Greffe: Scrutiny

Senator John Le Fondre Chief Minister

By email

20th September 2019 Dear Chief Minister

Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel Government Plan Review  

Thank you for your letter dated 10th September. We do have a number of questions in relation to four projects and an action which come under your remit. These are as follows:

Projects:

• Brexit - Constitutional implications policy resource

• Competition policy and Jersey Competition and Regulatory Authority

• Financial Stability Board

• Guernsey-Jersey Joint Working Programme

Action:

• Take forward the work of the independent charity commission

We would be very grateful if you could provide written responses to the following questions: Brexit - Constitutional implications policy resource (CSP3-1-01)

Additional Investment Required (£000)

2020  2021  2022  2023 78  82  86  90

1. What is the base budget for 2019?
2. Please can you provide a breakdown of how you intend to spend the requested additional investment over the 4 years?
3. Why does the investment increase by £4,000 each year?

4. What impact, if any, has the extension to Brexit had on this project?
5. Is this project broadly a continuation of what is already being provided?

Competition policy and Jersey Competition and Regulatory Authority (CSP3-2-02)

1. Please can you provide a breakdown of how you intend to spend the requested additional investment over the 4 years?
2. Is each year's investment (as outlined above) the full total being granted to the JCRA?
3. How much investment is being matched by the Guernsey strand of CICRA?

Financial Stability Board (CSP3-2-08)

1. What is the base budget for 2019?
2. Why is there no growth in the budget over the 4 years?
3. The Business Case mentions that the project is for the establishment of a Jersey Financial Stability Shadow Board (FSB).

a.  In 2012 an interim FSB was established. What actions has the iFSB taken since 2012?

4. The Business Case mentions that Lord Tyrie and Bill Allen have expressed an interest in sitting on the FSB.

1. Why is the government already accepting expressions of interest before the Government Plan is approved?
2. Will local expertise be sought?
3. How will members be appointed? Will the Jersey Appointments Commission be involved?

5. What are the Terms of Reference for the iFSB and the FSB?
6. We note that there are similar bodies in operation, namely the Fiscal Policy Panel and Government Economic Advisors. What will the FSB be bringing which is not already being provided by others?

Guernsey-Jersey Joint Working Programme (OI3-07)

Additional Investment Required (£000)

2020  2021  2022  2023 63  63  63  63

1. What is the base budget for 2019?
2. What are the main aims of this project?
3. Please can you provide a breakdown of how you intend to spend the requested additional investment over the 4 years?

a.  Will efficiencies be made by working more collaboratively with Guernsey?

4. Has any consultation been had with Guernsey Officials?
5. Is Guernsey matching this level of funding?

Action - Take forward the work of the independent charity commission

In giving an explanation of this action, the proposition states:

Take forward the work of the independent Charity Commissioner and a Jersey charities register, to provide for the governance and regulation of the charity sector. The Government modernised governance of the charities sector with the introduction of a new Charities (Jersey) Law 2014 and the consequent creation of a Charity Commissioner. Funding will be made available for the work of the Charity Commissioner through the Jersey Reclaim Fund, where proceeds due under the Dormant Bank Accounts (Jersey) Law 2017 are held.

1. How much funding is required for this action?
2. Please could you provide an explanation of the Jersey Reclaim Fund?
3. What distributions have been made to date from the Jersey Reclaim Fund?

The Panel would be grateful to receive a response by Friday 4th October.

Yours sincerely

Deputy Kirsten Morel

Chairman

Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel