THE Office of the Children’s Commissioner has warned that the requirement for it to save £61,000 next year as part of the government’s newly-approved spending plans will “restrict” its ability to champion the rights of children and young people.
It follows a failed bid by the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel to amend the government’s Budget to reinstate the funding.
The panel had raised concerns over the impact the savings requirement could have “on the nature and extent of the work that could be undertaken by the Children’s Commissioner”, arguing that the role was of “critical importance”.
But the amendment was defeated by 26 votes against to 14 votes in favour, with four abstentions.
An OCCJ spokesperson described the Assembly’s decision “to allow a £61,000 cut to our office’s budget” as “deeply disappointing”.
They stressed that it would not only affect the Commissioner’s work, but also “the independence of an office that the Assembly itself created in response to the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry”.
“A situation in which the Council of Ministers now controls resources that we may need in order to scrutinise government itself can only undermine the independence that the Care Inquiry considered to be so essential, and which the Commissioner’s Law requires Members to protect,” the spokesperson said.
“We will, of course, continue to champion the rights of children and young people with determination.
“But it is important for the Island to understand that this decision will restrict our ability to do so, and it sends an unfortunate signal about the value placed on children’s rights and their strong, independent oversight.”
