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States Greffe
Deputy Alex Curtis
Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture
BY EMAIL
3rd October 2022
Dear Assistant Minister,
Technology Accelerator Fund
Thank you for your letter dated 13th September regarding the Technology Accelerator Fund P.75/2022 (the TAF'). My apologies for the delay in acknowledging your letter while undertaking research into the background of the Proposition.
We have discussed this matter as a Panel and have agreed it is something we would like to look at: as such, it has formed part of our formal work programme.
As you no doubt are aware:
• no scrutiny was undertaken of Proposition P.75/2022 when it formed part of the approved Government Plan 2022-2025 that was approved in 2021; and
• none of this Panel's members were party to a briefing given by Government to the Panel's former members.
This could pose some difficulty in understanding certain conceptual statements in the Report accompanying the Proposition in P.75/2022 (the Report'). For example, the reason why it states in practice, no programmes can be developed in the areas of strategic priority that meet the three requirements listed in the Report.
The initial informal discussion offered by you therefore would be helpful to the Panel to help:
• explore further the strategic priorities for the TAF as stated in the Report (including any sorting principle to be used to identify priorities amongst priorities); and
• resolve confusion that may arise from the wording of the Proposition and the content of the briefing given to the former Panel.
We note you also have written to the Corporate Scrutiny Services Panel regarding the TAF. Distinctions have been made in the Report regarding an appropriate investment strategy' for the TAF, as required by the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 (for which the Minister for Treasury and Resources has Ministerial responsibility) and the strategic plan for a Technology Accelerator Programme', on the delivery of which a Political Oversight Group is be established to advise the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture. These distinctions merit initial exploration too.
Our officer currently is investigating whether the Corporate Scrutiny Services Panel would like to join this Panel in attending an informal briefing and update on the TAF from you and also is liaising with the Public Accounts Committee to ensure collaborative working. Once she has established who wishes to attend the briefing, she will liaise with your Department to find a suitable time.
If you have any further questions regarding this or our work in general, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards Yours sincerely,
Deputy Moz Scott
Chair
Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel
CC Chair of Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel