Test and Tracing Programme Phase II Contact Tracing Digital App: Allocation of Reserve Funding to Justice and Home Affairs

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While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.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 on 30 July 2020

Decision reference: MD-TR-2020-0097
Decision Summary Title:	Allocation of Reserve Funding to JHA in 2020 for the Test and Tracing Programme Phase II – Contact Tracing Digital App		Date of Decision Summary:	29th July 2020
Decision Summary Author:	Specialist – Business Cases		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Allocation of Reserve Funding to JHA in 2020 for the Test and Tracing Programme Phase II – Contact Tracing Digital App		Date of Written Report:	29th July 2020
Written Report Author:	Specialist – Business Cases		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Exempt (Article 33)
Subject: The allocation of up to £244,420 in 2020 from the General Reserve to JHA (Justice & Home Affairs) to fund the Test & Tracing Programme (T&TP) Phase II – Contact Tracing Digital App.
Decision(s): The Minister approved the allocation of up to £244,420 in 2020 from the General Reserve to JHA (Justice & Home Affairs) to fund the Test & Tracing Programme (T&TP) Phase II – Contact Tracing Digital App.
Reason(s) for Decision: Article 15(3) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that the approval by the States of a government plan authorises the Minister 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 current Policy for Allocations from the Reserve agreed by the Minister for Treasury and Resources on Friday 17th July 2020 sets the requirement for all allocations from the General Reserve (Covid-19) once approved by the States Treasurer to be referred for review to either the Council of Ministers or the relevant Competent Authorities Ministers and to seek comments from the Principal Accountable Officer prior to submission to the Minister for approval. Individual business cases for the 6 elements of the Test & Tracing Programme Phase II are being prepared and reviewed individually. The Contact Tracing Digital App business case has been received and reviewed. The Investment Appraisal Team has recommended this request for approval and further to these reviews the States Treasurer recommends this allocation to the Minister for approval on the basis of: - Procurement exemptions to be agreed with Commercial Services and provided to T&E; and Launch and communication plan is required to support the new App – these costs should be met from the funding provided including the Internal Comms team budgets where possible and any additional costs will require a separate business case. The Principal Accountable Officer has also been consulted. The Minister previously signed MD-TR-2020-0053 for up to £5.5 million for the Test & Tracing Programme Ph I, MD-TR-2020-0033 to purchase Serology Testing Kits for up to £1.7 million and MD-TR-2020-0039 for up to £718,000 for the Healgen Rapid Test Cassettes. As part of T&TP Ph II, the Minister has previously signed MD-TR-2020-0089 for £756,000 for On Island Testing.
Resource Implications: The General Reserve head of expenditure to decrease by up to £244,420 and the JHA head of expenditure to increase by an identical amount in 2020.
Action required: The Head of Financial Governance to advise the Specialist – Business Cases and the Head of Finance Business Partnering of JHA that this decision is approved.
Signature:		Position: Deputy S J Pinel Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed:		Date of Decision: