HEALTH’S most senior civil servant is facing tough questions about an alleged expense claim for guitar lessons.Allegations have surfaced that Mike Pollard, a keen amateur guitarist, asked for the cost of lessons which he missed because of the Haut de la Garenne inquiry to be reimbursed.
It is not clear how one of the States most highly paid chief officers, thought to earn around £150,000 a year, was involved in the historical child abuse inquiry.
However, Health and Services were involved in protracted discussions about counselling arrangements to victims and Mr Pollard is thought to have been required to attend several ‘emergency meetings’.
The matter will also be raised in the States on Tuesday when Deputy Phil Rondel is due to ask Health Minister Anne Pryke for an explanation. He wants to know whether Mr Pollard claimed cash for the lessons. When asked this morning, Mr Pollard would not say whether the allegation was true or not. ‘The minister will be responding to that as an oral question,’ he said.
Source