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19-21 Broad Street | St Helier Jersey | JE2 3RR
Connétable Mike Jackson
Chairman, Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel
By email only 25 March 2022 Dear Chairman,
Draft Carbon Neutral Roadmap (CNR) – Written Questions
Thank you for your letter of 17th March with a range of questions on the draft CNR which I am happy to answer below.
General
- What involvement, if any, have you had regarding the development of the proposed policies in the Carbon Neutral Roadmap which fall within your remit of responsibility?
I have been updated on the development of the CNR through briefings at the Council of Ministers and have been involved in separate discussions specific to the COP26 pledge.
Developing Supply Chains and On-Island Skills for a Sustainable Economy
- Policy EN3 intends to ensure the local market supply chain and skills base has resource and capacity to compliment carbon reduction policies. The Carbon Neutral Roadmap notes that the Minister for Children and Education will progress this policy in Delivery Phase One of the Roadmap, for implementation commencing in 2022, should approval be reached by the Assembly. Has any initial consideration been given to this workstream and, if so, can you provide a brief outline in that regard and on any concerns that have been identified?
To better understand the skills gaps and programmes needed to tackle these the following actions are planned:
• Questions in planned JeCC / skills jersey skills survey to be launched in Q2 2022
• Improved Labour Market Information (LMI) reports being commissioned to give greater detail no skills gaps
The draft Further Education and Skills white paper includes a proposal to work closely with Jersey Employer Group to review LMI and design and deliver relevant training programmes to support closure of these skills gaps. This is to be coupled with the proposed skills fund to support short term training to close skills gaps and support Jersey's employers to move towards a carbon neutral economy
Delivering COP26 Education Pledge
- Policy EN4 intends to deliver the COP26 Education Pledge through embedding high quality climate education into education and learning. The Carbon Neutral Roadmap notes that the Minister for Children and Education will progress this policy in Delivery Phase One of the Roadmap, for implementation commencing in 2022. Has any initial consideration been given to this workstream and, if so, can you update us in that regard and on any concerns that have been identified?
Yes, CYPES officers worked closely in collaboration with staff in SPPP in advance of the COP26 pledge and subsequently to have input into the CNRP objectives.
This partnership working will continue to support developments going forward.
There may be some challenges in relation to the ambitious deadlines set against objectives and because of the multiple agendas currently being addressed in CYPES, however the department remains committed to achieving the objectives as laid out in the COP26 Education pledge.
Capacity and Resourcing
- Should the Carbon Neutral Roadmap be approved by the Assembly in April 2022, what consideration, if any, has been given to the workstreams that will be delivered by your department over the next four years, and its available capacity and resourcing to deliver the identified workstreams in a timely and efficient manner?
- Do you envisage any issues in that regard and, if so, how might the issues that you have identified be addressed?
The development of Policy EN4 has been done in collaboration by CYPES and IHE staff and as mentioned above the ambitious deadlines may present some challenges which officers will work to overcome as far as possible. Policy EN3, skills gaps analysis and development of targeted training are part of normal BAU for Skills Jersey and Highlands College so I do not envisage any issues.
- How might any competing priorities be addressed?
There are always competing priorities and my team of officers across CYPES are experienced at managing these as part of their work. We have an experienced team of senior advisors and school leaders who routinely develop and advance the Jersey Curriculum offer across schools and working together I am confident they will deliver on Policy EN4.
Long term Governance and Oversight for Delivery of the Roadmap
- Considering the impending involvement of the department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills regarding this workstream, in your view, how could governance, oversight and commitment in respect of the delivery of the Roadmap over the long term be improved, particularly as workstreams will impact both the private and public sectors, will depend on cross-department collaboration and will expand multiple Government terms?
The CNR sets out a revised governance structure and proposes the establishment of a new ministerial portfolio for energy and climate change and standing scrutiny committee. It will be the role of the future Chief Minister to set out this portfolio if the proposal is accepted. The portfolio will be managed in compliance with reporting and monitoring requirements and standards.
Yours sincerely,
Deputy Scott Wickenden
Minister for Children and Education
D +44 (0)1534 440152 E S.Wickenden@gov.je