Revealed: ministerial expenses claims

Monday 22 September 2014

Ministers racked up well over £100,000 in travel and hospitality expenses in 2012 and 2013 – with three breaking the £25,000 mark over the course of the two years.

Treasury Minister Philip Ozouf was by some distance the biggest spender, with £32,328 worth of expenses, followed by International Relations Minister Philip Bailhache with £25,768 and Chief Minister Ian Gorst with £25,515.

Up until the current Council of Ministers took office, the expenses were published annually in a report to the States – but that came to a quiet end in 2012.

Although Senator Ozouf amassed the most expenses in a single year - £16.977 in 2013 – he would still have some way to go to match the record, which was set by then Senator Freddie Cohen in 2011. As Assistant Minister responsible for international affairs – a post he held before it was made a full ministerial role – he clocked up £25,706 in just 12 months.

Two ministers and three assistant ministers spent nothing in expenses.

A government spokesman said that some ministers’ roles included more travel in terms of negotiations, and representing the Island at international events.

The spokesman said:  “Travel, accommodation and entertainment expenses reflect the differing remits of States departments.

“Some departments engage with other governments and organisations in inward and outbound visits as part of their core business.

“Travel, accommodation and entertainment expenses are also incurred when Ministers represent the Island at key conferences and events around the world.”