First comparable detailed public spending report for Jersey

The government said it goes beyond traditional financial reporting

The government has published Jersey's inaugural Classification of the Functions of Government (COFOG) report.

The report gives detailed information about the use of public funds that can be compared to other countries.

The COFOG classification was developed as an international standard, and has been adopted by most large economies.

COFOG reports analyse total public sector expenditure by specified categories including health, education, welfare and public order and safety.

Spent on health

Jersey was compared to the UK because Guernsey and the Isle of Man do not apply the COFOG framework and the UK was "broadly aligned".

In 2021, the island had a population of 103,000 and spent £1,420m on public sector services compared to the UK's 67,000,000-strong population and a £1,010,000m spend.

Based on total government spending that year, Jersey spent 28.5% of its budget on health while it was 20.5% in the UK due to economies of scale. This was also thought to be behind the island's 5.3% public order spend compared to the UK's 4.3%.

Financial services accounted for the largest single share of Jersey's economic output, 38% of Gross Value Added in 2021 whereas, public administration, education and health was the largest sector in the UK for the same period with financial services accounting for 12%.

Jersey parishes were included in the report due to their role being similar to those normally undertaken by local or central government and funded by compulsory payments on residents.

Deputy Ian Gorst, Minister of Treasury and Resources, said: "By providing detailed analysis of public expenditure, the COFOG report goes beyond traditional financial reporting, allowing us to benchmark our expenditures against those of other countries."

The report covers public spending in 2022 and 2021, highlighting resource allocation trends and government expenditures.

The government said the UK's COFOG figures for 2022 were not expected to be available before the end of the year so it would not be possible to provide a 2022 comparison.

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