Reserve funding for Covid-19 Response

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A decision made on 4 May 2022

Decision Reference: MD-TR-2022-341		Public
Subject: Reserve funding for Covid-19 Response
Report Title: Reserve funding for various COVID-19 Response		Public
Decision(s): The Minister for Treasury and Resources approved the allocation of up to £700,000 in 2022 from the General Reserve (Covid-19 Contingency) for a PCR laboratory and up to £22,643,484 for the testing programme, including technology. These are the responsibility of the Accountable Officers for the Health and Community Services and Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance Departments respectively.
Reason for Decision(s): Whilst Jersey has exited the 'emergency phase' of the Covid-19 pandemic, the virus remains a risk to public health and testing will continue to play a key role. The annual cost of testing for 2022 is estimated at £22.6 million, with a further £700,000 for laboratory facilities within the Health and Community Services Department. Article 15(3) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that the approval by the States of a Government Plan authorises the Minister for Treasury and Resources to direct how an approved appropriation for a reserve head of expenditure in the Plan may be spent (including on another head of expenditure) in the first financial year covered by the Plan. The Investment Appraisal Team within Treasury and Exchequer has reviewed the business cases for these requests. Following these reviews, the Treasurer has recommended that the Minister allocates funding from the General Reserve (Covid-19 Contingency), having taken into account comments from the Principal Accountable Officer.
Resource Implications: The General Reserve (Covid-19 Contingency) to decrease by up to £23,343,484 and the Covid-19 response head of expenditure to increase by an identical amount. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States in the Government Plan 2022-25.
Action Required: The Head of Financial Governance, on behalf of the Treasurer of the States, to notify the Accountable Officers for the Health and Community Services Department and the Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance Department, that these funds are available for release to the Covid-19 Response Head of Expenditure.
Signature:	Signed By: Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed:	Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):