THE Chief Minister has denied that his deputy breached the ministerial code by announcing proposals to invest £350 million in infrastructure and health projects in a media interview – and rejected assertions there is a rift in the Council of Ministers over the upcoming Budget.
Deputy Lyndon Farnham also appeared to cast doubt on whether the significant sum floated by Health Minister Tom Binet this week for the so-called “Project Breakwater” would be approved “simply because of the financial challenges”.
Appearing before Scrutineers, Deputy Farnham admitted that Deputy Binet felt “very passionately” about Project Breakwater but stressed that there were ongoing “challenging discussions” among ministers around the Budget and that there were “no hard lines”.
“He wasn’t announcing anything as a fait accompli,” he said.
The Chief Minister said he would not be able to provide specific figures until the Budget had been finalised at the end of August.
Scrutiny panel members reacted with “surprise” after details of the project they had been requesting were given in a media interview, with Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel chair Deputy Hilary Jeune saying they had been “repeatedly told that we will have to wait until all is unveiled in the Budget”.
Deputy Jeune described it as “concerning when we are waiting to scrutinise the spending of hundreds of millions of pounds of public money which is being used for key infrastructure projects such as Fort Regent and the revitalisation of the town centre”.
In the TV interview, Deputy Binet said details of potential funding – which he said could involve drawing on savings – would appear in the Budget, which ministers are finalising.
He said £220m would go towards infrastructure projects, including the regeneration of Fort Regent, and £130m would be used on health measures and updating the department’s digital systems.
Deputy Farnham denied that Deputy Binet breached the ministerial code on a “no surprises approach regarding announcements”, including informing ministerial colleagues and States Members first, with his interview, when asked by Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel chair Deputy Helen Miles on Friday.
Deputy Farnham said he did not agree with the “rhetoric that’s being peddled” and argued that Deputy Binet’s statement was instead a sign of “open government”.
Deputy Miles said Deputy Binet had made “significant comments about infrastructure projects” which she said were “completely contrary” to comments from Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan.
“What is the use of the ministerial code if ministers can operate with impunity?” asked Deputy Miles.
The Chief Minister responded that it was “not realistic” to expect Scrutiny to be briefed regarding every ministerial announcement.
Deputy Farnham said they were a “discussive” Council of Ministers that were having “robust discussions” as part of the Budget process.
Deputy Jonathan Renouf pressed the Chief Minister on whether he was “confident” that the Council of Ministers were “all happy” with the Deputy Chief Minister’s statement.
Deputy Farnham said while he had not spoken to all ministers, he knew some agreed and others did not.
Deputy Renouf asked: “So you haven’t picked up any signs of dissatisfaction from other ministers about the Deputy Chief Minister’s statement?”
Deputy Farnham said: “Not directly no.”
“That’s strange as we certainly have,” said Deputy Renouf.
