Travel expenses Government of Jersey employees ER (FOI)

​​Request 676086760

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)​

​nd I had a few questions about MER spending. 

MER was the eighth biggest spender on travel in 2023, with a total of 14,867.49. 

In November, 2023, £1,580.36 was spent on a hotel in Muscat marked 'business meeting with off island officials'. Who made this trip, who were they meeting, and for what purpose please? I cannot find any reference to a flight?

On 2/12, £2246.78 was spent on a hotel in Dubai for a conference: Who attended this conference? How many nights were spent in this hotel? Similarly, I can find no reference to a flight? 

On 26/3, £1002.42 was paid for a hotel in Singapore. How many nights were spent in this hotel and who made this trip? It is marked 'business meeting with off island officials' - which officials? 

There were two flights made on 2/11, according to the list, for £778.91 and £981.23 - there is no destination provided. Can I ask who made these flights and where to?

Response

Question 1

Two officers from External Relations travelled to Muscat, Oman, at the invitation of the Sultanate of Oman Tax Authority to participate in a first round of negotiations on a bilateral tax agreement between Jersey and Oman. The officers flew from London Heathrow to Muscat. The costs of the return flight were £778.91 and £981.23, respectively.

Question 2 

An officer from External Relations attended the COP 28 UN Climate Change Conference in the United Arab Emirates, accompanying the former Chief Minister, Deputy Moore, for five days, and former Minister for Environment, Deputy Renouf, for four days. A total of eight nights were spent in a hotel. The cost of the officer’s return flights between London Heathrow and Dubai were £1,567.51.

Question 3

An officer from External Relations, alongside an officer from the Economy department, accompanied the former Minister for Social Security with responsibility for Financial Services. Officers met with the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore Inland Revenue Authority, the British High Commission, the Singapore FinTech Association and the British Chamber of Commerce (Singapore). The officer spent three nights in a hotel.

Question 4

Please refer to the answer provided to Question 1.​