Guernsey's top committee spends £71,000 on travel

Policy and Resources say publishing this level of detail of travel expenses on a regular basis is not a good use of staff resources or taxpayers’ money

Guernsey's most senior political committee has spent £71,000 on travel since it came into office in 2020.

Alongside this, Policy and Resources (P&R) has spent £21,000 on travel related expenses including airport parking, taxis and meals.

The figures have been released following questions from Deputy Chris Le Tissier.

P&R said publishing "this level of detail" on travel expenses is "not a good use of staff resources or taxpayers’ money".

In its response to the questions P&R said putting this data together had been "time consuming" including 35 hours of work from an officer in the external relations team.

"The estimated officers’ time across the Policy & Resources Committee to generate this information response is just under 80 hours. In order to meet the Rule 14 timelines, which the Bailiff agreed to extend to 30 clear days."

P&R has suggested publishing the detail of long-haul flights and "any instances where travel expenditure has clearly exceeded £1,500 per person."

Part of P&R's role as a committee includes "defending and promoting the island's interests, developing economic links and promoting international trading relationships as well as asserting Guernsey’s international identity."

The most expensive trip paid for by Policy and Resources was to Dubai for COP-28 and was taken by Deputies Jonathan Le Tocq and Lindsay de Sausmarez, alongside two civil servants, costing £12,235.70.

P&R lead for external relations, Mr LeTocq defended the need to travel, adding it is important Guernsey is properly represented.

"If we'd have said no [to attending COP-28], then Guernsey wouldn't have had an opportunity to sell its wares as it were on the world stage.

"Part of our industry is very globally facing, it's facing towards countries elsewhere, and we've got a message unique to be there for that.

"You can't do that sort of thing on Teams or Zoom," he said.

Mr Le Tissier said the need for committee members to travel needs to be properly assessed.

"In my past employment in finance, going out and shaking hands is useful," he said.

"But I don't think that applies to every single trip that deputies go on.

"So there has to be a cost-benefit analysis before these trips are booked."

What have other committees spent since 2020?

Mr Le Tissier asked every committee within the States of Guernsey for the cost of its travel expenses since they came to office in 2020:

• The Committee for Employment and Social Security spent £822.

• The States Assembly and Constitution Committee spent £838.92.

• The Committee for Home Affairs spent £1873.40.

• The States Trading Supervisory Board spent £800.75.

• The Committee for Education, Sport and Culture spent £4891.63.

• The Development and Planning Authority spent £335.94.

• The Committee for Economic Development spent £9,395.18.

• The Committee for Environment and Infrastructure spent £829.80.