Loans made to Charities (FOI)

Request 

A

Since 2012 how many loans have made to charities.

B

If the departments have loaned money then to which charities? Money outstanding? How much outstanding and over what period of the loan. 

C

How many debts have written offs? 

D

I understand the JSPCA had two loans between 2018 to now were these repaid?

E 

Please provide the terms of the agreement

Response 

A to C

In line with Article 27 of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law responsibility for lending money rests with the Minister for Treasury and Resources.

As part of our record keeping, we do not identify the status of each individual loan, i.e., if it is a registered Charity.  Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

D

It can be confirmed that a loan was approved to the JSPCA in accordance with the Ministerial Decision which is publicly available in the following link. It is noted that the JSPCA is a registered charity. Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Provision of a Secured Loan (gov.je)

E

The loan to the JSPCA is now fully repaid. The terms of the loan agreement in relation to this facility are confidential between the lender and the borrower. Article 26 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

Articles applied

Article 3 - Meaning of "information held by a public authority"

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a) it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b) it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.

Article 23 - Information accessible to applicant by other means

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.

Article 26 - Information supplied in confidence

Information is absolutely exempt information if –

(a) it was obtained by the scheduled public authority from another person (including another public authority); and

(b) the disclosure of the information to the public by the scheduled public authority holding it would constitute a breach of confidence actionable by that or any other person.