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Review: Proposed Government Plan 2024 - 2027 Review - Health and Social Security Panel

Committee/Panel: Health and Social Security Panel
Launch Date: 4 October 2023 Close Date: To be advised
Submissions Deadline: To be advised Ministerial Response Date: To be advised
Review Status: Comments published

​The Panel has launched its review and is requesting views and comments from targeted stakeholders and members of the public to inform its review. The Panel will also be holding public review hearings with the Minister for Health and Social Services and the Minister for Social Secuirty in November 2023. The Panel intends to report on its findings and recommendations ahead of the States' debate on the proposition scheduled for 12th December 2023.

About

The Government Programme

The Government Programme incorporates the Common Strategic Policy 2023-26, Ministerial Plans, Government Plan and Delivery Plans. These aim to link the Council of Ministers' high-level priorities with their delivery facilitated by individual Ministers and departments.

The Common Strategic Policy 2023-26 was approved by the States Assembly on 23rd November 2022, which defines seven strategic priorities for delivery including:

  1. Housing and Cost of Living
  2. Economy and Skills
  3. Children and Families
  4. Ageing Population
  5. Health and Wellbeing
  6. Environment
  7. Community

Following the approval of the Common Strategic Policy in 2022 and the implementation of the Government Plan 2023-26, the Proposed Government Plan 2024-27 [P.72/2023] is the second Government Plan lodged by the current Government. It intends to build on the objectives of the previous year, and is supported by the individual Ministerial Plans for 2024, which set out Ministers' priorities for 2024. More detailed supporting information for the Proposed Government Plan 2024-27 is published in a separate Financial Annex to the Government Plan 2024-27.

The Government Plan

The Government Plan explains the financial context in which Ministerial priorities will be delivered and also outlines the financial approvals that Ministers are proposing to ensure that taxpayers' money is focused on delivering both their priorities and existing services, whilst ensuring the ongoing sustainability of Government and States' finances. It is a rolling four-year plan that is revised and updated each year to reflect changes in the Island's economic outlook.

The Council of Ministers is required to "prepare a Proposed Government Plan and lodge it for debate and approval by the States Assembly before the start of the next financial year" (Art. 9 PFL19). The Proposed Government Plan was lodged on 19th September 2023 for debate by the States Assembly commencing on 12th December 2023.

Details of the Proposed Government Plan include:

  • Estimated income and expenditure of the Consolidated Fund.
  • Amounts to be internally transferred between States Funds.
  • Any other proposed financing.
  • Revenue Expenditure Growth and Projects and their proposed costs.
  • Estimated income and expenditure from States Trading Operations to be paid into the States Trading Operations Fund.
  • Amounts to be appropriated from the Consolidated and States Trading Operations Funds for the next financial year.
  • Estimated amounts in States Funds at the start and finish of each financial year.
  • Borrowing and Debt Management Framework.

Key Issues to consider include:

 

  • The impact of the Proposed Government Plan proposals on departmental budgets and staffing levels. 
  • Whether the Proposed Government Plan aligns with the objectives of the Common Strategic Policy to deliver on the priorities and aligns with the aims of the Ministerial Plans. 
  • Whether the proposed Revenue Expenditure Growth and Projects are appropriate and deliverable within the timeframes specified. 
  • Whether the resources allocated to Revenue Expenditure Growth and Projects are sufficient and demonstrate the best use of public funds.

The main funds that fall under the Panel’s remit, which the Government Plan 2024-27 is seeking approval for, are:
  • Health Insurance Fund 
  • Social Security Fund
  • Social Security (Reserve) Fund
  • Long-Term Care Scheme

 

Each Scrutiny Panel has been allocated various revenue expenditure growth and capital and other projects specific to its remit included in the Proposed Government Plan 2024. For a list of new revenue expenditure growth and capital and other projects allocated to the Health and Social Security Panel, please see the document published under Research.

Terms of reference

1. To review components of the Government Plan 2024-2027 Proposition [P.72/2023] which are relevant to the Health and Social Security Panel to determine the following: 

a) The impact of the Government Plan proposals on        departmental budgets, savings and staffing levels.
b) Whether the revenue expenditure growth, capital and other projects are appropriate and likely to have a positive impact on Islanders and Island life. 


c) How the proposed revenue expenditure growth, capital and other projects align with the Common Strategic Policy to deliver on the priorities, and with the objectives of the Ministerial Plans. 

d) Whether the resources allocated to revenue expenditure growth and capital and other projects are sufficient, ensure value for money and demonstrate best use of public funds. 

e) The impact of the Government Plan proposals on the Health Insurance Fund, Social Security Fund, Social Security (Reserve) Fund and the Long-Term Care Fund.