Travel expenses Government of Jersey employees I&E (FOI)

​R​equest

As you may know, these stats just came out

(https://opendata.gov.je/dataset/cost-of-travel-over-500-gbp/resource/79878b9b-8c55-41c9-be7b-f5037101256f)​

and I had a few questions about I&E spending. 

I&E was the third biggest spender on travel in 2023, with a total of 35,142.60. 

1

On 13 June, 2023, the department spent £2,143.68 on flights to Jersey, can you explain the reason for this trip? It just says 'other' in the field. 

2

On 13 September 2023, there are two entries for flights to Durban and Johannesburg marked 'recruitment and relocation of staff': Can you explain what this means? 

3

On 24, 26 and 27 June, 2023, there are entries for three flights, to Honolulu , Atlanta, and Florence. Who made these trips and for what reason? 

4

On 8 February, there are five flights to Riyadh at £2611 a piece marked 'recruitment and relocation of staff': Who made these trips and for what reason? 

5

Given the government's commitment to reducing spending, can we expect the bill for travel to be lower in 2024 and 2025?

Response

The Government of Jersey have identified that there are some inaccuracies in the published flight figures for Infrastructure and Environment (I&E) as per amendments below.

1

The flight information for 13 June 2023 was £535.92, instead of £2,143.68, for 4 flights for members of the Solid Waste Team to meet with the Government of Guernsey and their contractors to discuss Guernsey’s current waste disposal and recycling processes.

2

A candidate was required to undertake a practical assessment, under controlled conditions, as part of the recruitment process for a civil engineering role.

3

An international expert was flown to Jersey to provide advice to the Biosecurity team regarding actions required for invasive species in the Channel Islands. 

4

The flights were for the relocation of a new recruit and their family in accordance with the Government of Jersey’s relocation policy, the correct cost for these flights is £2,276

5

The Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 gives a right to request information that is held in recorded form, unless exempt, and this part of the request poses a question rather than seeking information held in a recorded form. 

This information is not held; therefore, Article 10 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

Article applied

Article 10 - Obligation of scheduled public authority to confirm or deny holding Information

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), if –

(a) a person makes a request for information to a scheduled public authority; and

(b) the authority does not hold the information, it must inform the applicant accordingly.​