Current yearly Government deficit (FOI)

Request

What is the current, yearly governmental deficit? 

Response

Governmental deficits are reported in the States of Jersey Annual Report and Accounts which are published on the Government of Jersey website. The 2021 accounts can be accessed via the link below: 

States of Jersey Annual Report and Accounts 2021 (gov.je)

Forecast deficits are reported in the Government Plan which is published on the Government of Jersey website. This can be accessed via the following link: 

Government Plan 2023 to 2026.pdf (gov.je)

Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 1011 has been applied.   

The 2022 accounts are due to be published in April 2023. Article 36 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2023 has been applied. 

Articles applied 

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 36 - Information intended for future publication

(1) Information is qualified exempt information if, at the time when the request for the

information is made, the information is being held by a public authority with a view to its being published within 12 weeks of the date of the request.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground

must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant –

(a) of the date when the information will be published;

(b) of the manner in which it will be published; and

(c) by whom it will be published.

(3) In this Article, “published” means published –

(a) by a public authority; or

(b) by any other person.

Public Interest Test 

Article 36 is a qualified exemption, which means that a public interest test has to be undertaken to examine the circumstances of the case and decide whether, on balance, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.  

Public interest considerations favouring disclosure  

• disclosure of the information would support transparency and promote accountability to the general public.

Public interest considerations favouring withholding the information

• It is intended to publish the Annual Report and Accounts on www.gov.je within 12 weeks of the receipt of this request Publishing the draft document in such close proximity to the final version could potentially lead to confusion.