Government of Jersey

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

Ministers are individually accountable to the States Assembly, including for the actions of the departments and agencies which discharge their responsibilities.

The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made 20 July 2012:

Decision Reference: MD-HA-2012-0059

Decision Summary Title :

Passport fee decrease in September 2012

Date of Decision Summary:

18 July 2012

Decision Summary Author:

Head of Service

Jersey Customs and Immigration Service

Decision Summary:

Public or Exempt?

(State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)

Public

Type of Report:

Oral or Written?

Written

Person Giving

Oral Report:

n/a

Written Report

Title :

Passport fee decrease in September 2012

Date of Written Report:

17 July 2012

Written Report Author:

Head of Service

Jersey Customs and Immigration Service

Written Report :

Public or Exempt?

(State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)

Public

Subject: Passport Fee Decrease in September 2012.

Decision(s): The Minister decided to decrease the fee for an adult passport by £5 from £77.50 to £72.50; and to decrease the fee for a child’s passport by £3 from £49.00 to £46.00.

Reason(s) for Decision: Passport fees in the UK are decreasing on 3 September 2012 from £77.50 to £72.50 for an adult passport and from £49.00 to £46.00 for a child’s passport. The Minister has previously decided to align Jersey passport fees with those of the UK.

Resource Implications: The decision will result in a £57K shortfall in the budget of the Jersey Customs and Immigration Service between September 2012 and 2014.

Action required: The Jersey Customs and Immigration Service to introduce the new fees from 3 September 2012.

Signature:

Position:

Minister for Home Affairs

Date Signed:

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Passport Fees: Decrease - September 2012

CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION SERVICE

Passport Fee Decrease in September 2012

Background

Passport fees in the UK are decreasing on 3 September 2012 from £77.50 to £72.50 for an adult passport and from £49.00 to £46.00 for a child’s passport.

These decreases are due to efficiencies that have been made including lower unit cost of New Generation Passport (NGP) books and lower cost of centralised printing, both of which have already been introduced in the UK. The NGP is planned to be introduced in Jersey by 2014, after which time Jersey issued British passports will be printed at a central UK site. Until this occurs the Service will not benefit from any similar efficiencies.

Passport fees have not been increased since September 2009 (MD-HA-2009-074 refers). In 2007 the Minister for Treasury and Resources approved the adoption of a formula for all future passport fee increases in Jersey to keep these in line with fees in the UK (MD-TR-2007-0090 refers).

Guernsey remit all their income from the issuance of passports to the UK Government as their defence contribution. They are highly likely to follow the UK’s lead in reducing fees.

The Isle of Man, like Jersey, are concerned about the adverse effect upon their income having, already committed to the purchase of blank passport book stock until the beginning of 2014. Nonetheless the indications are that they will be decreasing their fees in line with the UK

Decreasing fees to UK levels

It is estimated that implementing the UK fee decreases would result in lost income in 2012 of £11K and £46K in 2013. (Note: this is in addition to the £30K CSR savings already accounted for from 2013 for the NGP).

It is anticipated that the loss of revenue will eventually be matched by efficiency savings following the centralised printing in the UK of the NGP from 2014. The impact on the Service budget is therefore expected to be short term and manageable. The principal effect would be that surplus passport income may not be available to be set aside to meet the capital costs of the introduction of the NGP in Jersey.

There is a risk, albeit very difficult to predict, that if Jersey does not reduce its fees unfavourable public opinion may lead customers to apply in UK and not only receive a reduced fee but also an NGP, albeit not a ‘Jersey variant’ type. There is nothing in IPS policy to prevent a British Citizen resident in the Islands posting an application to the UK or applying in person and having the passport delivered to the Islands(s).

Recommendation

It is recommended that from 3rd September the Minister decides to decrease the fee for an adult passport by £5 and the fee for a child’s passport by £3.

Michael Robinson

Head of Service

17 July 2012