Letter - EIA to MEDTSC re Quarterly Hearing - 02 November 2023

States Greffe

Deputy Kirsten Morel

Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture

BY EMAIL

2nd November 2023

Dear Minister,

Follow up questions following Public Hearing on 25th October

Firstly, thank you for your attendance at our public hearing on 25th October. The Panel would be grateful if you could respond to the following questions which were unable to be asked during the hearing due to time constraints and some follow up questions:

Sport Strategy

1. How is the independent review of sport policy and strategy progressing?
2. When can publication of the report be expected?
3. What are the key points raised in the stakeholder interviews?
4. The review was delayed to allow for additional interviews to take place, which were not initially anticipated. What type of stakeholders have been included?
5. In your letter of 12th June, you indicated that the Economy Department was due to publish a report on the health and social value of sport in the following weeks. Can you update the Panel on this report?
6. Will you be producing an updated Sports Strategy following the review?
   1. If so, what are the main points that will be updated and included?
7. The Panel understands that there is development of further skateparks in the Island such as an indoor skatepark; can you highlight the Government’s involvement in any of these?

a)  Will Government be providing funding to private developments of these?

We also note that you have agreed to forward the findings of the Jersey Sport review once drafted and look forward to receiving these in due course.

Jersey Reds

1. Was the Government of Jersey, and you as Minister, aware that Jersey Reds were in debt of circa £3 million?

2. If so, what was the rationale for issuance of a letter of instruction by yourself for Government to give the two additional sums of money it did and if not, why was Government able to offer this money knowing the financial status of the Jersey Reds?
3. What methodology was used to provide this funding and how was it considered realistic to expect this much financing to be found?

Retail Strategy

1. We understand you are taking actions to update the retail strategy; could you outline the progress made on this?
2. When is it anticipated that an updated strategy will be published?
   1. What are your key priorities in this area?
3. What resources have you directed be used in development of this Strategy, e.g. officer time?
4. How much impact can the Government have on market forces and how will this be achieved?
5. The Panel understand that the Interim Retail Strategy of 2021 was not largely accepted by industry. Can you please outline the background to this?
6. Has the envisaged data improvement identified in Workstream 2 of the Interim Strategy occurred and, if so, what has it uncovered?
7. What were the findings of Strategic Workforce Planning Group regarding commissioned evaluation of future workforce requirements of sector? (page 25 of Interim Retail Strategy)

a)  How does this fit in with Government’s message to solve work shortages with technology?

8. Have any other elements of the Interim Strategy been progressed?

Ministerial Plans Data Adequacy

1. The Ministerial Delivery Plan outlines a key action of maintaining Jersey’s Data Adequacy status in Europe and the UK: can you outline what this entails?
2. Why does this fall under your remit?

Guernsey and Collaborative Working

1. The Ministerial Delivery Plan indicates that quarterly meetings with Guernsey counterparts would be established; can you confirm these are taking place?
2. What are key elements being discussed?
3. What role do you as Minister have in these meetings?
4. What interaction does the Minister for External Relations, or wider Council of Ministers,

have in the meetings?

5. What benefits have been realised from these meetings so far?

Sustainability Framework

1. The Panel understands that you are beginning to scope a Sustainability Framework, can you update us on the purpose and progress of this action?
2. When is it anticipated that a Sustainability Framework will be produced?
3. What are the potential outcomes of the Sustainability Framework?

Productivity Support Scheme

1. The Productivity Support Scheme is currently open for applications, what has been the uptake of the Scheme so far this year?
2. The Panel understands that productivity generated by the Scheme is measured through Gross Value Added (GVA) per Full Time Equivalent (FTE);[1] how is this used to demonstrate return on investment (ROI)?
3. Have you identified any financial element of Return On Investment from previous years to evidence success of the Scheme?
4. What is its “definition of success” of the grants?
5. What were the main findings of the review of the 2022 Scheme and what changes were implemented in this year’s Scheme?
6. Is it anticipated that this Scheme will continue in the future?
7. Are any further reviews or changes anticipated?
8. Based on the table below from Statistics Jersey, what would the effect on the Island’s credit rating and solvency be if the trend in falling GVA per FTE since the millennium continues over

(i) the next 5 years and the (ii) next 10 years, assuming the new healthcare facilities are fully funded within that timeframe?

Barriers to Business

1. How is the Barriers to Business project progressing?
2. What oversight as Minster are you undertaking to the work being undertaken by Jersey Business?
3. The Panel understands a survey has been conducted as part of the work by Jersey Business; have you reviewed the findings of this?
4. What are the key points highlighted from the survey?
5. When do you envisage actions will have been identified and undertaken to reduce barriers to doing business in the Island, as based on this workstream?
6. Will other Ministers and departments be involved in forming or undertaking these actions?
7. What are the Top 5 barriers to business that you believe need to be addressed and how will this be achieved?

a.  What do you regard as likely to be the most impactful change towards achieving increased productivity sought in terms of “red tape” removal?

ALO’s

1. Why did the last Ministerial Delivery plan suggest a review of the review the accountability and funding structure for Arms’ Length Organisations (ALOs) would be delivered by the end of this year when this was not achievable?

2. Why was Jersey Sport out of all ALOs selected as the first ALO to have a deep dive review? Which is expected to be next?

The Panel is grateful for the Governance checklists forwarded earlier this year to which you refer to in your letter of 5th July 2023. Please can you identify how these checklists require demonstration of how any grant requests meet your policy objective of increasing economic productivity through the work of the relevant ALOs?

Heritage and Antiquities Law

1. In your letter of the 1st September 2023, you outline the that development of the Heritage and Antiquities Law is being undertaken; can you update the Panel as to its purpose of the law?
2. Your Delivery Plan indicated that a consultation would take place by this month; is this being carried out?
3. Your letter highlights the delay of lodging any proposition to Q1/2024 to allow for inclusion of subordinate legislation. What will be included in this subordinate legislation?

Construction

1. We corresponded earlier in the year regarding the construction industry; can you update us on this work?
2. What were the key findings of the indicated report?
3. Will you be requesting a Market Study in this area be carried out by the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority?
4. Have you had any representations from industry regarding the activities of the States of Jersey Development Company regarding unfair competition or inequitable government support in the context of the construction industry as a whole?

Mail Plane

1. We discussed the cessation of the Mail Plane in our last hearing, in which you indicated that there would be potential economic impact upon the online retail sector. Has this impact now been realised and have any other areas of the Island’s economy been impacted also?
2. There have been media reports of Islanders waiting up to 8 days for mail to be received; do you accept that swift and reliable mail delivery supports businesses and what actions is the Government of Jersey undertaking to confirm the situation and decrease the time in the provision and delivery of mail?
3. Why has Government left it to the private sector to provide a mail plane, given its ownership of Jersey Post, and will consideration be given to the use of this service to speed the delivery of mail?

Business Tendency Survey

1.  Can you confirm if regular tracking questions have yet been agreed with Statistics Jersey for inclusion in their Business Tendency Survey, including those concerning exports? If so, what are these additional questions please?

We would be grateful if you could respond to this no later by 16th November 2023 which is an extension of the 5 working days approved for responses between Scrutiny Panels and Ministers.

If you have any questions regarding this or our work in general, please do not hesitate to contact me. Please note that unless otherwise stated, all letters will be uploaded to the Scrutiny website as a matter of course.

Yours sincerely,

Deputy Moz Scott

Chair

Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel