States accounting 'doesn't follow international standards'

Deputy Soulsby said the States accounting system did not follow international recognised standards

The States' accounting system has been criticised by its own spending watchdog for not following international standards.

The chairwoman of the Public Accounts Committee wants the States to approve improvements when a new system of government is debated next week.

Deputy Heidi Soulsby said "nothing" had been done in the past three years and "now is the time" to move.

The treasury department has been unavailable for comment on the issue.

Next week States members will debate proposals to reform Guernsey's government including cutting the number of departments and the number of deputies.

Deputy Soulsby has laid an amendment to the States Review Committee plans to update the accounting system.

'Interests of transparency'

She said: "I think now that it's given we'll have a new system, new departments and new machinery of government, now is the time we ensure it does actually move.

"How can we be making evidence-based decisions when we have accounts that don't follow recognised accounting standards? I'll give you one clear example we don't account on our balance sheet for fixed assets, that's any of our properties.

"Really in the interests of transparency and people understanding how money is spent in the States this is very important."