Treasury and Exchequer
Ministerial Decision Report
Declaration of immediate threat to the health or safety of any of the inhabitants of Jersey and to the stability of the economy in Jersey
- Purpose of Report
Declaration of immediate threat to the health or safety of any of the inhabitants of Jersey and to the stability of the economy in Jersey by the Minister for Treasury and Resources.
- Background
The Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 includes, at Article 24, a number of provisions that are brought into effect in one of two circumstances:
(a) a state of emergency has been declared under the Emergency Powers and Planning (Jersey) Law 1990; or
(b) the Minister is satisfied that there exists an immediate threat to the health or safety of any of the inhabitants of Jersey, to the stability of the economy in Jersey or to the environment.
The States Assembly has amended the Public Finances Law through P.28/2020 Public Finances (Amendment of Law) (Jersey) Regulations 2020. These Regulations significantly increase the powers of the Minister to take financial measures to support actions to address the consequences in Jersey of the Covid-19 pandemic. In order to invoke use of these powers as and when necessary, the Minister has decided to formally recognise and declare that she considers such an immediate threat exists to the health and safety of the inhabitants in Jersey and to the stability of the economy in Jersey.
- Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to declare that, in her view, there exists an immediate threat to the health or safety of any of the inhabitants of Jersey and to the stability of the economy in Jersey.
- Reason for Decision
The Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 includes, at Article 24, a number of provisions that are brought into effect in one of two circumstances:
(a) a state of emergency has been declared under the Emergency Powers and Planning (Jersey) Law 1990; or
(b) the Minister is satisfied that there exists an immediate threat to the health or safety of any of the inhabitants of Jersey, to the stability of the economy in Jersey or to the environment.
In order to access funding and additional powers following the States Assembly’s approval of P.28/2020 the Minister has decided that, in the light of evidence of the Covid-19 pandemic, she is satisfied that there exists an immediate threat to the health or safety of any of the inhabitants of Jersey and to the stability of the economy in Jersey.
- Resource Implications
There are no financial implications arising directly from this decision. The decision brings into effect a number of Articles of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 as amended by P.28/2020 Public Finances (Amendment of Law) (Jersey) Regulations 2020.
Report author : Head of Financial Governance | Document date : 27th March 2020 |
Quality Assurance / Review : Group Director, Strategic Finance | File name and path: L:\Treasury\Sections\Corporate Finance\Ministerial Decisions\DS, WR and SD\2020-0029 - Declaration of immediate threat |
MD sponsor : Treasurer of the States |