The Minister for Treasury and Resources, Senator Alan Maclean, has allocated an additional £440,000 to the Ministry for External Relations to continue its essential work to prepare Jersey for Brexit.
This increases the Brexit budget from £3.7 million to £4.1 million.
In 2016, the Economic Policy Political Oversight Group (EPPOG) recommended £3.7 million as a first round of funding for Brexit preparations across government, for the period of MTFP 2016-2019. Departments have prudently managed this resource, drawing on it only once the demands created by Brexit reached the point where increased staffing became necessary. To date, £3 million of the original £3.7 million Brexit budget has been spent.
Now that the Brexit negotiations have progressed, and the UK’s likely post-exit position is better understood, it is clear that Brexit’s impact on Jersey will be greater than could have been foreseen when the first round of funding was agreed.
The Ministry has identified the additional activities and resources required to ensure an orderly transition to Jersey’s future relationship with the EU, and the Minister for Treasury and Resources has agreed to allocate an additional £440,000 to supplement the £0.7 million that remains unspent from the original Brexit budget.
This funding will support an additional nine fixed-term appointments in the Departments for Community and Constitutional Affairs, EDTSC, the Ministry for External Relations and the Law Draftsman’s Office – with focus on on the development of the Island’s post-Brexit policy and necessary legal changes.
The Treasury Minister, Senator Alan Maclean, commented:
“It is imperative that the Government of Jersey is fully prepared for Brexit, and that sufficient funds are identified and allocated to meet the developing needs across government departments.
“Much complex contingency work has already been done and it is a testament to the prudence of departmental officers that we are able to re-allocate £700,000 of the funds originally assigned to meet emerging requirements. The Government will continue to assess the resource and staffing needs presented by Brexit and allocate funding appropriately to ensure that the interests of the Island are protected.”
Senator Sir Philip Bailhache, the Minister for External Relations, said:
“I thank the Treasury Minister for allocating these funds which are critical to the work necessary to prepare the Island for Brexit. The roles supported by these funds will provide policy development for post-Brexit security and law enforcement, immigration and migration, and our global markets strategy.”
