Request
What was the total annual salary cost of the financial services unit within the Chief Minister’s department (including pensions and bonuses) for 2014?
What was the annual salary of each individual role within the unit (excluding pension) and what was the annual salary including pension? What bonuses were paid for each role?
Response
The total annual salary cost for seven members of staff (not all are permanent) of the financial services unit in 2014 including salaries, pensions and social security was £598,044. No bonuses were paid.
We would refer you Article 25 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 that states:
“ (1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2005.
(2) Information is absolutely exempt information if
(a) it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2005; and
(b) its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law.”
Individual salary information is considered personal data as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2005 (“DPL”); and (b) the release of such salary information would be in breach of the data protection principles as set-out in the DPL. Therefore the exemption from release of such information applies as specified under Article 25(2)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011.
The Chief Minister’s Department takes the view that disclosure of such personal data would breach the following Data Protection Principles of the DPL:
Data Protection Principle 1:
Personal data shall be processed fairly and lawfully: The release of the salary information on an individual basis, will undermine the expectation of the individual that his personal data would not be released. In particular, the Chief Minister’s Department notes the decisions of the UK Information Commissioner, in which the Information Commissioner has stated that a key factor to consider is whether there would be an expectation of disclosure.
Data Protection Principle 6:
Personal data shall be processed in accordance with the rights of data subjects: The release of personal data would not be in accordance with that individual’s rights to privacy. If the data were disclosed, it would constitute processing for an unspecified purpose.
Data Protection Principle 7:
Appropriate technical and organisational measures shall be taken against unauthorised or unlawful processing of personal data. The release of personal data may breach the requirement to keep such personal data secure.
Data Protection Principle 8:
Personal data shall not be transferred to a country or territory outside the European Economic Area unless that country or territory ensures an adequate level of protection for the rights and freedoms of data subjects: The release of personal data may result in a real risk of his personal data being displayed on the internet and thus viewable outside the EEA.
Pursuant to Article 25(2)(b) of the FOI Law there is an absolute exemption if the disclosure would breach any of the Data Protection Principles of the DPL.
Financial Report and Accounts
The only salaries that are released appear in the annual financial report and accounts and for ease of reference, the link is attached below.
States of Jersey accounts
