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The island's annual defence contribution – which funds the Jersey Field Squadron – is going up by 50%.
The Government has paid the UK Ministry of Defence around £1m a year for several years to cover the costs of Jersey’s own unit of reservists.
Next year, however, that contribution rises by £454,000 and then incrementally to approximately £1.5m a year by 2025.
The hike is revealed in the latest Government Plan, which was released last week and covers spending from next year until 2025.
The UK is responsible for Jersey’s defence and international relations, and the island has made a contribution to the former since the early 1980s.
After much debate at the time over what form that contribution should take, with a minesweeper and search-and-rescue helicopter in the mix, the Jersey Field Squadron was formed in 1988.
It is the modern incarnation of the Jersey Militia, which can trace its roots back to 1337, allowing it to claim to be the oldest sub-unit in the British Army still in existence.
Pictured: The defence contribution pays to maintain the Jersey Field Squadron, which is based on Mount Bingham.
Explaining why the contribution is going up, the Government Plan says: “Jersey’s defence contribution covers all costs incurred for and by the Jersey Field Squadron Royal Engineers (Militia).
“This arrangement is governed by the Inter-Governmental Agreement that was established in 1981 between the then States of Jersey and the UK Home Office.
“The IGA splits Jersey’s contribution into two core areas: the first is for all costs associated with the Jersey Field Squadron incurred through the MoD system and covers elements such as staff costs, equipment costs, and training.
“The second element covers all ‘on-Island’ costs and includes elements such as maintenance of on-Island premises, administration staff costs and utilities. Since 1981, inflation and costs have increased and therefore the defence contributions costs have also increased.
“The £1m budget for the JFS has remained static for several years and not kept pace with the evolving MoD equipment costs, changes to overhead allocation, changes to the Armed Service’s Pension Scheme, and increasing costs to maintain the Field Squadron’s historically significant heritage assets.
“A detailed review of the financial position has identified a requirement for additional funding over the period of the Government Plan 2022-25 to ensure the Island is able to continue meeting its commitments to UK defence and to maintain the Squadron’s on-island premises."
Specifically, additional funding is required to deliver the following:
The JFS is part of the Corps of Royal Engineers and is now a squadron within the Wales-based Royal Monmouthshire Regiment. It is based on Mount Bingham and its barracks includes a Napoleonic-era round tower which overlooks Havre des Pas and La Collette.
A Government spokesperson said: “Costs for the Jersey Field Squadron have been increasing gradually over a number of years and it is no longer sustainable for Justice and Home Affairs) to pay the total costs from their current budget.
"JHA has requested additional funding over the period of the Government Plan 2022-2025 to ensure the Island is able to continue meeting its commitments to UK defence. As the military personnel of the Jersey Field Squadron are employed by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), salaries and other costs (such as training and equipment) are paid by the MOD and then invoiced annually to the Government of Jersey."
There are currently 81 personnel in the Jersey Field Squadron.
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