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States Greffe
Deputy Kirsten Morel
Minister for Economic and Sustainable Development
BY EMAIL
28th October 2024 Dear Deputy Morel ,
Proposed Budget 2025 - 2028
We would like to thank you for your time on Friday to attend the Public Hearing regarding the Budget 2025 – 2028. As discussed, following the hearing, there were a few areas that the Panel would be grateful if you could provide further information on.
- Could you confirm if applications for funding can be made from the Agricultural Loans Fund for those who wish to grow and harvest cannabis for medicinal purposes (medicinal cannabis)? If applications can be made from this fund, could you please provide the grounds for including existing and medicinal cannabis growers in this fund where none had existed previously? Could you also inform us of any additional processes, if any, in which government provides funding for the growing of cannabis for medicinal purposes?
- You mentioned that both Arms-Length Organisations (ALO's), Digital Jersey and Jersey Business are due to have a combined decrease in their grants of £571,000. Can you confirm the amounts for each of these ALO's and what discussions you have had with each regarding this reduction. Can you also confirm if you are aware of what changes will be made to each of the business models to accommodate the reduction and what impact this will have on each organisation.
- Can you confirm when you are due to meet the Cost-of-Living Group, which was recently delayed due to the States sitting, to sign off the proposals designed to assist businesses with the implementation of the minimum wage?
- We note that the £20 million in the Technology Accelerator Fund is due to reduce from £14.2 million in 2025 to £10 million in 2026 to £4.2 million in 2027. Can you confirm if funding from the Technology Accelerator Fund will be made to the Consolidated Fund? Can you also confirm the impact of these reductions in funding?
- We understand that 20% of the Channel Islands Lottery Funding is allocated to applied science or research. Can you give examples of how this funding is being spent and who will benefit from this allocation?
- Can you provide an update on the outputs of the Ageing Well Sub Officer Group in line with the Future Economy Programme?
We would be grateful if you could respond to this no later by 4th November in line with the 5 working days approved for responses between Scrutiny Panels and Ministers and in order for us to complete our evidence gathering in relation to our review into the Proposed Budget 2025 – 2028.
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 Karen Wilson
Vice-Chair
Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel