Government Budget 2026-30 growth bids
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WQ.2/2026
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TREASURY AND RESOURCES
BY DEPUTY M.B. ANDREWS OF ST HELIER NORTH
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 19th JANUARY 2026
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 26th JANUARY 2026
Question
"Will the Minister confirm the total number of growth bids approved in the Government Budget 2026-30 (as amended); and will she advise whether it is her assessment that this total is justifiable, in light of the Government's stated intention to curb public sector growth?"
Answer
The 22 growth bids included in the proposed Budget 2026-29 were set out clearly in Appendix 3 (Pages 110-111) with a total value of £52.7 million in new growth for 2026. These include, among other items, additional funding for nursery fees for 2–3-year-olds (£3 million), the Children's Services improvement programme (£7.6 million) and digital health (£8 million).
During the Budget debate, the Assembly also approved amendments providing additional amounts for the States of Jersey Police and the Environment Department, and these will be treated as additional growth lines. These additional amounts were both offset by additional savings across departments, through Amendment 36, and therefore do not constitute an increase in net growth.
The growth included in the Budget was assessed by the Council of Ministers as necessary to achieve the relative balance struck between the need for immediate investment and the need to balance public finances and I believe the growth to be justified. These considerations were also discussed both in the Budget debate and during several of the debates on the associated amendments. Ultimately the Assembly approved the Budget.
However, it is clear that the recent levels of growth in revenue are not sustainable, and that is why Government has taken steps to curb the growth and reprioritise spending. These measures include an extended recruitment freeze in non-frontline areas and reductions in the use of consultants and temporary staff. The Budget reflects the Council of Ministers' assessment that recent levels of revenue growth are not sustainable and that public expenditure must be reprioritised accordingly.