Over £1.5million – that’s how much has been spent so far on Jersey's preparation for Brexit and that figure could more than double by the end of next year.
Replying to a question in the States Assembly from Deputy Robert Ward, the Assistant Minister for External Relations has detailed Jersey’s spend so far on Brexit which could reach almost £3.5million by the end of 2019.
Deputy Ward asked Constable Richard Buchanan the following question in yesterday’s States Assembly: “Given that the draft 2019 budget states that the previous Council of Ministers supported additional recurring expenditure for 2016 to 2019 for the response and preparation in respect of Brexit, will the Minister advise how much of that funding has been spent to date and how much is allocated for spending to the end of 2019; and what the main areas of expenditure have been?”
In response, Constable Buchanan listed the budget allocations and spends to date which were as follows:
Pictured: The issue of Brexit costs was raised in the States Chamber this week by Deputy Rob Ward as it emerged that over £1.5million has been spent on staffing and expenses in preparation for the UK leaving the European Union to date.
This means that a total of £1,545,642 has been spent on Brexit so far, with that figure possibly reaching almost £3.5million by the end of 2019.
For the allocated budget which has been spent, the Assistant Minister itemised where the money went. The Assembly heard that in 2017, £541,000 was spent on staffing and £161,000 was spent on travel expenses, equipment and the use of consultants. It is not clear where the remaining £1,327 was spent.
2018 saw a bigger Brexit budget and a rise in staffing costs to £737,778, but a lower expenses spend at £100,537.
The Assistant Minister then faced a further question from Deputy Ward, asking about the large amounts of the budget allocated to Brexit which have been left unspent and whether they could be put to better use elsewhere.
Deputy Ward asked: “If this money is to be removed from the budget, do we not require more flexibility given the uncertainty of Brexit…? Adding that “there’s nearly £1.5million left there that could be lost at a time when there are recurring costs that could affect members of our society.”
Pictured: Deputy Robert Ward quizzed the Assistant Minister on whether the Brexit underspend could be better used elsewhere.
Constable Buchanan replied: “I have some sympathy with his views on the MTFP [Medium Term Financial Plan] which is proving to be very inflexible. All I can do is take his views back to the Minister and get back to him with a response to it.”
Deputy Montfort Tadier also picked up on the “huge amount of underspends” in the Brexit allowance and asked the Assistant Minister that “given the controversy that’s about to erupt” about the £25 ‘settled status’ charge, whether he agreed that “some of that underspend could be allocated to the Home Affairs Department” in lieu of what he termed “effectively a tax” on EU nationals residing in Jersey.
In response, the Assistant Minister said: “I will have a discussion with the Minister in question and we’ll get back to him on that point. I can’t give him any assurances at this stage unfortunately.”
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