Confidential tax review paper found in public "not sensitive" says Ferbrache

Friday 27 January 2023

A confidential Policy & Resources paper has been found in a public recycling bin at Waitrose, it has been claimed, with Deputy Peter Ferbrache’s name associated with the bundle.

Copies were anonymously sent to Express with a note saying where it was discovered, although Express cannot verify that was the case.

A photocopy of what appears to be an envelope in which they were contained has in handwriting Deputy Ferbrache’s name, confidential and P&R 23/11 Additional Paper written on it.

“I have spent today in the States Chamber focused on the Tax Review, and without having time to look back in more detail I cannot be certain if or how I disposed of these specific papers and I have not yet seen any evidence that they genuinely were found in a public place,” said Deputy Ferbrache.

Pictured: Deputy Peter Ferbrache.

“That said, if I did dispose of them in this way, it would have been an unintentional error," he told Express in a statement late this afternoon.

The paper shows how P&R was revising its tax review report right up to the last minute to take account of committee concerts over publishing details of potential cuts they had been asked to compile and a request by Employment & Social Security President Deputy Peter Roffey that the contribution rate for pensioners was drop from 4.4% to 4%.

Pictured: The papers were delivered to Express this morning. 

Deputy Ferbrache said: “While these papers were marked as confidential, the content was not sensitive. 

"The same information is included in the Policy Letter which is publicly available, with only very small changes from this earlier version.  

"The suggested change by Deputy Roffey referenced by the paper was made, following analysis, and small changes of this kind are a normal part of the finalising any Policy Letter.”

Read more...

Confidential paper shows late tax review changes