St Lawrence Deputy Kirsten Morel has lodged a proposition calling for Island-based suppliers, or companies which employ staff in Jersey, to be given preferential weighting.
He said: ‘The government can significantly enhance its support for Islanders’ livelihoods through the short-, medium- and long-terms by prioritising the spending of taxpayers’ money on goods and services procured in Jersey.
‘The value of locally focused procurement cannot be underestimated at any time, but the case for concentrating government spending on-Island is strengthened enormously during a time of economic crisis, such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
‘With the Government Plan 2020-23 having been rendered redundant by the Covid-19 crisis, it is no longer possible to confirm the value of government spend this year, or next, on capital projects or the procurement of goods and services; but we can be sure that regardless of the precise figures, the government will spend tens of millions and, most likely, hundreds of millions of pounds via central and departmental procurement.
‘The aim of this proposition is to ensure that the vast majority of that spend is focused on-Island, supporting Islanders by keeping them in work and able to provide for themselves and their families.’
Deputy Morel has also called for a detailed annual procurement report to be published no later than 31 September, and has requested Economic Development Minister Lyndon Farnham to undertake an analysis of Jersey’s principal business sectors to show the economic impact of spending government funds within Jersey’s economy through the purchase of goods and services from Island companies.
If approved by Members, the Chief Minister would be required to return to the States with an updated procurement policy by 1 August.
The proposition is due to be debated on Tuesday 2 June.
