Letter - to Chief Minister re Follow-up queries - 18 November 2021

States Greffe: Scrutiny

Senator John Le Fondré Chief Minister

19-21 Broad Street

St Helier

JE2 3RR

18th November 2021 Dear Chief Minister

Government Plan 2022 – 2025

Following the Government Plan Review Panel's Public Hearing with you on 10th November 2021, the Panel has a number of follow up queries.

These questions are listed below and the Panel would be grateful for your earliest response which should be received no later than close of business on Thursday 25th November 2021.

1. In the Joint Ministerial Response to the Panel's review of the Government Plan 2021- 2024 it was stated that an agreed Memorandum of Understanding between Scrutiny and the Chief Minister supported improvements in co-ordination and co-operation over the process for the Government Plan'. It is the Panel's understanding that you made the decision that no MoU was necessary for the Government Plan 2022 – 2025. Please explain the changed circumstances which make this agreement unnecessary?

1. Please detail the support and resource which has been put in place to ensure that Scrutiny's requests for information will be dealt with in a timely manner and within the code of practice for engagement?
2. What directions have been provided to Ministers and officers to ensure their availability to standing Panels during the course of their Reviews of the Government Plan?
3. What consideration was given to extending the lodging period of the Government Plan 2022 - 2025?

2. Throughout the Government Plan, there are references to a Sustainable Wellbeing Impact Assessment' as a critical aspect of assessing proposals. It is the Panel's understanding that the assessments are a response to the requirements outlined in paragraph 9 of the Public Finance Law. Please can you explain:

1. The level of assessment on projects varies quite widely and there does not appear to have been a consistent approach taken to producing them. Please can you explain the direction given to accountable officers on how the assessments are done to ensure that they are meaningful?
2. How are they monitored over time?

3. On p87 of the Government Plan it states that: Over 2020 and 2021 £123 million has been injected into the Government of Jersey across many initiatives and projects, including significant investment in capabilities (technology and people). It has been assumed that these investments should drive increases in productivity including, but not

States Greffe: Scrutiny | Morier House | St Helier | Jersey | JE1 1DD

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limited to, increasing automation, streamlining processes and improving the quality of data and information provision/compilation.'

a.  The Panel would therefore like to understand the rate of progress of the Technology Transformation Programme for the investment made and intended over the life of the Government Plan and how its impact on the increases in productivity outlined in this paragraph are being measured.

4. Please provide the minutes of the Council of Ministers meeting(s) at which the Future Hospital Review Panel's amendment to P80/2021 – Our Hospital Budget, Financing and Land Assembly was discussed and also any discussion on:

1. an amendment to that amendment
2. any amendment to the budget envelope for the project.

Yours sincerely

Senator Kristina Moore

Chair, Government Plan Review Panel