The Minister for Treasury and Resources, Senator Alan Maclean, has allocated an additional £440,000 to the Ministry for External Relations to continue its work to prepare Jersey for Brexit. This increases the Brexit budget from £3.7 million to £4.1 million.
In a statement, the States said: "In 2016, the Economic Policy Political Oversight Group recommended £3.7 million as a first round of funding for Brexit preparations across government, for the period of Medium Term Financial Plan 2016-2019.
"Departments have prudently managed this resource, drawing on it only once the demands created by Brexit reached the point where increased staffing became necessary. To date, £3 million of the original £3.7 million Brexit budget has been spent.
"Now that the Brexit negotiations have progressed, and the UK’s likely post-exit position is better understood, it is clear that Brexit’s impact on Jersey will be greater than could have been foreseen when the first round of funding was agreed."
The Ministry has identified additional activities and resources required to ensure an orderly transition to Jersey’s future relationship with the EU. Senator Alan Maclean has agreed to add £440,000 to the £0.7 million that remains unspent from the original Brexit budget.
This will support an additional nine fixed-term appointments in the Department for Community and Constitutional Affairs; Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture; the Ministry for External Relations; and the Law Draftsman’s Office – with a focus on developing the island’s post-Brexit policy and necessary legal changes.
Senator Alan Maclean commented: “Much complex contingency work has already been done and it is a testament to the prudence of departmental officers that we are able to re-allocate £700,000 of the funds originally assigned to meet emerging requirements.
"The government will continue to assess the resource and staffing needs presented by Brexit and allocate funding appropriately to ensure that the interests of the island are protected.”