Letter - Public Accounts Committee to Chief Executive re. Review of Response to COVID-19 - 20 September 2021

States Greffe

Chief Executive

BY EMAIL

cc Treasurer of the States

20 September 2021 Dear Chief Executive,

PAC launch Government Covid-19 Response Review

Please find attached to this letter, the Terms of Reference for the PAC's Review into the Government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, to be launched on Monday 20 September and concluded with a report by February 2022. You will know that the C&AG has produced several  reports  on  various  aspects  of  the Government's  implementation  of the  Covid-19 Response measures. The PAC's own review into the Government's handling of the Covid pandemic will focus on governance procedures relating to decision making, procurement and supply chain management, and the management of public finances, and we aim to add value and highlight areas the C&AG has reviewed as well as gathering evidence from other, external stakeholders.

We have set out some preliminary questions for which we would be grateful for a response by 30 September 2021, and which will be published in full.

1. We  know  there  has  been  a  huge impact  of  COVID-19  response  measures  on departmental business as usual activities, including the secondment of Government staff to other departments to aid the response effort. Do you have a back-to-normal' recovery plan?
   1. In respect of the secondment of Government staff to other departments to aid  the  response  effort, how  did  you  ensure  disruptions  to  certain workstreams were prioritised in an objective and consistent way?
   2. What would you do differently next time?
2. How  have  you measured,  monitored,  and  reported on your performance,  financial management (including value for money and cost benefit analyses) and impact on work programmes during the Covid-19 pandemic? What 3 things could be improved?
3. What would you do to improve communication of Government measures next time?
4. How will you evaluate the success of the test, trace and vaccine roll out programmes?
5. How and when will you evaluate the support to businesses and individuals?
6. What three key lessons in governance and financial management have been learned and will be applied to future crises?
7. How  did  you  ensure all  processes  for  monitoring  performance  (such  as self- assessments and Key Performance Indicators) continued to operate adequately during the disruption of key workstreams?

8. Were  there  any public  funds used in  responding  to  the  pandemic which  did  not comply with the Public Finances (Jersey) Law and Public Finances Manual?
9. Was any departmental authority changed during the Pandemic, including as a result of crisis  management  efforts,  and  if  so, were  they consistent  with  existing  laws  and regulations?

Yours sincerely

Deputy Inna Gardiner , Chair, Public Accounts Committee

Public Accounts Committee COVID Response Review Terms of Reference

1. To assess the Government's implementation of the Covid-19 Response measures.
2. To examine the impact of COVID-19 response measures on departmental business as usual activities, including the secondment of Government staff to other departments to aid the response effort.
3. To assess the methods of the Executive in measuring, monitoring, and reporting on its performance,  financial  management  (including  value  for  money  and  cost  benefit analyses) and impact on work programmes during the Covid-19 pandemic.
4. To examine whether the Government has applied public funds for the purpose intended by the States in responding to the pandemic and complied with the requirements set out by the Public Finances (Jersey) Law and Public Finances Manual.
5. To consider the effectiveness of the Government's governance procedures during the pandemic, with particular regard to its:

1. decision making
2. procurement and supply chain management
3. healthcare response
4. management of public finances
5. communication
6. test, trace and vaccine roll out programmes
7. support to businesses and individuals

6. To determine what key lessons in governance and financial management have been learned  and  will  be  applied  to  future  crises,  including  evaluating  the  Government's response to the C&AG's reports and recommendations on the pandemic response.