Ministerial Support Unit staffing (FOI)

Request

For the period 24 September 2022 to 24 February 2023, could you please confirm the following:

A

How many individuals have been recruited for the Government’s Ministerial Support Unit (MSU)?

B

Of those recruited into the MSU, how many have been put forward by a Minister?

C

Please list all the Ministers which have successfully put forward individuals for recruitment into the MSU.

D

Please list the Ministers which are supported by individuals which have been put forward by Ministers.

E

Please confirm the number of individuals which have been successfully put forward by Ministers but had not to go through the regular civil service recruitment and interview process.

F

Please confirm the rationale for exempting those individuals from the regular civil service recruitment and interview process.

G

Please list the Ministers which are supported by individuals which had not to go through the regular civil service recruitment and interview process. 

H

Please confirm whether the employment in the MSU normally requires any minimum qualifications.

I

Please confirm the number of individuals which have been successfully put forward by Minister but do not meet the MSU’s minimum qualification requirements.

J

Please confirm the rationale for exempting those individuals from the MSU’s minimum qualification requirements.

K

Please list the Ministers which are supported by individuals which do not meet the MSU’s minimum qualification requirements.

Response

A

Information is publicly available in response to a written question posted in the States Assembly. Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied. Please see the following link:

wq.52-2023.pdf (gov.je)

B

All appointments to positions in the last 12 months have been based on an open and competitive process, with a selection panel of civil servants considering applications on their merits. Selection panels do not seek or consider the views of Ministers. 

C

Not applicable – please see response to B.

D

Not applicable – please see response to B.

E

Not applicable – please see response to B.

F

Not applicable – please see response to B.

G

Not applicable – please see response to B.

H

Recent advertisements in the last 12 months relate to Private Secretaries and Research and Administration Officers. Those Job Descriptions are attached. 

I

Not applicable – please see response to B.

J

Not applicable – please see response to B.

K

Not applicable – please see response to B.

Article applied

Article 23 - Information accessible to applicant by other means

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.