Independent economic panel filled six months after member was dropped

Monday 13 January 2025

Policy & Resources has filled the third slot on the island's Fiscal Policy Panel six months after it went on the hunt for a new member.

The committee “rotated out” former States economist Andy Sloan in July, saying it believed the panel would benefit from expertise in infrastructure investment for the coming period.

It has now announced Frontier Economics Director Matthew Bell OBE will be the new member.

When asked why its appointment announcement made no mention of infrastructure investment, a P&R spokesperson said: "'This was covered as part of the recruitment process and Matthew ably demonstrated his experience in the area of public infrastructure investment.

"This includes advising the UK Government on the interdependency of infrastructure systems in the UK and publishing articles about the role of infrastructure investment in lean growth.

"The Panel is currently compiling its 2025 report, which will specifically focus on the role of infrastructure investment in the States Fiscal Policy Framework.'

The Fiscal Policy Framework is the high level policy that guides States' policy.

It includes targets on how much should be spent on major public building projects, how much taxation should be limited too, the level of any deficit and debt.

The panel last reported in October 2023 to review proposals around GST and borrowing contained in the Funding and Investment Plan.

Mr Bell was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2018 for services to combating climate change.

He has more than 25 years' experience "in supporting the design of effective policies, including cost-benefit analysis, impact assessment, policy design, behavioural research and quantitative modelling".

P&R said that he has worked extensively on healthcare, climate change and environmental issues; as well as on industrial policy, education, housing and criminal justice. His work has focused on the UK but he has offered expert advice to Governments in more than 20 countries.

Frontier Economics has been commissioned by the States and Guernsey Finance in the past.

Mr Bell joins Prof. Matthew Agarwala and Prof. Francis Breedon on the panel.