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A decision made 25 February 2011.

Decision Reference: MD-TR-2011-0023
Decision Summary Title:	Comments on P15/2011: Electoral Commission - Establishment		Date of Decision Summary:	23rd February 2011
Decision Summary Author:	Head of Decision Support		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Comments on P15/2011: Electoral Commission - Establishment		Date of Written Report:	23rd February 2011
Written Report Author:	Head of Decision Support		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Comments on P15/2011: Electoral Commission - Establishment
Decision(s): The Minister approved the comments on P15/2011: Electoral Commission - Establishment to be presented to the States at the earliest opportunity.
Reason(s) for Decision: To enable the Minister’s comments on P15/2011: Electoral Commission - Establishment to be presented to the States.
Resource Implications: Other than those detailed in the comments there are no further financial or manpower implications.
Action required: Greffier of the States to be requested to present attached comments to the States at the earliest opportunity and prior to debate of P15/2011 at the sitting commencing 1st March 2011.
Signature:		Position: Senator P F C Ozouf Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed:		Date of Decision:

Electoral Commission Establishment (and Amendment) P.15/2011 - Comments of the Minister for Treasury and Resources

Comments on P15/2011: Electoral Commission: establishment and P15/2011 - Electoral Commission: Establishment - Amendment

The Minister for Treasury and Resources wishes to comment for the benefit of States Members on the financial and manpower implications of this proposition and its amendment.

Main proposition

The Minister for Treasury and Resources considers that Members should weigh up very carefully whether such an undertaking represents best use of financial resources.

In the event that the Assembly approves this proposition unamended, the Minister believes that funding should, in the first instance, be sought from the cash limit of the States Assembly – which falls under the political control of the Privileges and Procedures Committee. The States Assembly had an underspend of approximately £130,000 in 2010. Its cash limit for 2011 is £5.2 million.

Amendment

The Minister for Treasury and Resources is supportive of the more prudent approach put forward by Senator Shenton in his amendment. This requires further work on costs and the source of funding to be carried out and a final proposal to be included in the Annual Business Plan 2012 if that detailed proposal is approved by the States. The Minister believes that this amendment, if approved, would permit a more well-informed debate on the main proposition. This comment should not be taken as an indication of the Minister’s support, or otherwise, of such an amended proposition as it is likely still to represent a substantial cost at a time when funding is scarce.

Minister for Treasury and Resources