Further Delay To Income Inequality Data Slammed

The Chief Minister has been accused of a shambolic failure to meet his own targets after announcing yet another delay in publishing the Living Costs and Household Income Survey.

Fieldwork to measure income inequality. that started back in 2019, was paused because of the pandemic.

The survey was last completed in 2014/15.

Randomly selected households answered a series of questions and were asked to keep a spending diary to find out what they pay for.

The Chief Statistician set a new target of the end of March 2022 to publish the data - but Senator John Le Fondré has revealed that it will take a few more weeks.

"I have relayed to Statistics Jersey the firm desire of Ministers and (States) members to see this data published and my disappointment at the further delay.

The Chief Statistician has given assurance that these results will definitely be published before the election period.

In addition - the new survey, which will give the data we are all looking for, did commence last year. The preliminary results are expected in August of this year and I anticipate that will inform the next CSP (Common Strategic Policy) and Government Plan as well."

The Chief Minister says he's incredibly disappointed - and the further delay is because the member of staff working on this was diverted to work on the census.

Deputy Geoff Southern, who called that response 'quite incredible', has been offered a meeting with the Chief Statistician and has vowed to push for the results to be published by the end of April.

Senator Le Fondré says he shares Deputy Southern's frustration, but he can't interfere or influence the work of the Chief Statistician - which includes when data is published.

There has also been concern raised over the length of time taken to publish the results of the census.

Deputy Southern then expressed his disappointment and called it a 'shambolic failure to meet his (the Chief Minister's) own targets'.

Senator Le Fondré responded by saying they're not his targets.

"The reason is basically the delays because of the pandemic we've had for the last two years.

I will arrange a meeting between him and the Chief Statistician to understand the issues directly."