Ozouf expenses: four month delay in repayment

Thursday 06 July 2017

Further details have emerged about Senator Philip Ozouf’s use of his States' purchase card, confirming that he was finally issued with an invoice by the States for up to £11,455, four months after he was first asked to repay the money, following an internal review.

The invoice, which was then promptly paid, was for money spent on his States card for items such as books, flights, taxis, clothes, medical expenses and an iPad, which were deemed by the Chief Minister's Department not to be acceptable States expenses. Senator Ozouf still maintains they were all legitimate.

The Chief Minister's Department has confirmed that disciplinary action under the ministerial code of conduct is unable to be taken, as he is a no longer a minister. 

A spokesman for the Department confirmed to Express that the 'personal' expenses originally came to light when Senator Ozouf's Accounting Officer - the civil servant responsible for his budget - changed to the States Chief Executive John Richardson in September 2016.

Pictured: Chief Executive John Richardson - the States' most senior civil servant - ordered a review of Senator Ozouf's expenses after becoming his Accounting Officer.

Mr Richardson immediately instigated a review of the 'personal' expenses, which apparently continued until around December. “On completion of that review, Senator Ozouf was given an itemised list of the expenses that were still outstanding and was asked to review the list and make the necessary reimbursement to the States,” a States spokesperson told Express.

But after no payment was made, the States then issued an invoice for the money, which was settled: "In early April 2017, when no reimbursement had been received, Senator Ozouf was issued with an invoice, which he then promptly paid. No interest was accrued."

Information published in an Express Freedom of Information (FOI) request showed that the expenditure had included more than £1,000 of media subscriptions, an opticians visit worth £430, £130 of clothing, a haircut, and a number of books including David Cameron’s biography, and 'The Joy of Tax'.

The notice to pay the money was given in January, prior to the damning Innovation Fund revelations in the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report, for which Senator Ozouf “stepped aside” from his Ministerial role.

The news about Senator Ozouf’s expenditure, have given rise to a number of questions on ministerial accountability.

Pictured: A selection of books Senator Ozouf bought using his States purchase card.

Senator Ozouf was sacked from his ministerial role just minutes before the recent Vote of No Confidence in the Chief Minister, with his colleagues known to be aware of the potential issue with his purchase card at that time.  

Had the same rules for civil servants applied to Senator Ozouf, he could have been found in breach of government regulations governing credit card use, which state: “Misuse of the card will result in the card holder facing disciplinary action, e.g. cardholders must not under any circumstances use their purchase card to fund personal expenditure.”

While it has been confirmed that there are no similar rules that apply to Ministers, a States spokesperson commented: “However, the ministerial code of conduct, which is general and not specifically targeted at spending, makes particular reference to upholding the ‘highest standards of propriety’.” 

Chief Minister Ian Gorst said last week that he would look to draft new rules as a matter of urgency.

Meanwhile, the Public Accounts Committee, who say that it is not in their remit to discuss ministerial expenditure, are considering if they can investigate why tighter controls were not in place.