One of the final steps towards modernising the island’s abortion laws will be taken in the House of Keys today.

Dr Alex Allinson will seek the House of Keys’ consent to the amendments made to his Abortion Reform Bill by the Legislative Council during the upper chamber’s deliberations on the bill last term.

It will not quite be a formality, in part because the Keys will be asked to consider some further amendments to those amendments.

They have been lodged by Chris Robertshaw (Douglas East) and Chief Minister Howard Quayle but are largely technical.

They aim to tighten certain parts of the bill in relation to counselling services available for women after a termination, the definition of ’treatment’, which clarifies the extent of conscientious objection, and a strengthening of the position on any possible sex selective abortions.

Dr Allinson has indicated to both Mr Robertshaw and Mr Quayle that he is prepared to accept their additional amendments.

After the Bill as amended is ratified today, then the final step is to go to Tynwald for signature - supporters hope that will be at next month’s sitting - and then it can become law.

Once that happens, abortion will be permitted upon request up to 14 weeks, under specified circumstances including ’serious social grounds’ during the 15-24-week period, and in certain emergency or serious situations after 24 weeks.

Provision has also been included to create ’access zones’ around medical centres to protect women and medics from harassment.

The Bill is the only piece of legislation due to be considered by MHKs today.

For reasons that will become clear shortly, we shall look at House of Keys questions in reverse order, but only after first noting the Legislative Council is due to consider the Criminal Evidence Bill for a third and final reading today.

In the Keys, there are plenty of questions tabled for written answer. They cover the Steam Packet, breaches of planning law, road safety and public safety advice on log-burners.

Meanwhile, Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) plans to be quite vocal during oral question time. He will ask about security at Manx National Heritage sites, efforts by the Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture to reduce plastic use, and how much money is held in dormant bank accounts in the island and what happens to these funds when a banking licence is terminated.

As valid as these questions are - much as some people like to find fault, his queries seem reasonable - they are almost certain to be overshadowed by the latest performance of the Kate Beecroft/Howard Quayle circus.

Fresh from last week’s spat during the debate on the Brexit Bill, Mrs Beecroft returns to her concerns about the functions and responsibilities of the chief secretary and under whose authority he acts. This follows on from questions in Tynwald earlier this month, relating to correspondence between governments.

It is possible that discussion will stick to sensible questions and measured answers, without any of the point-scoring and name-calling of recent weeks. But nobody is holding their breath.

After the latest exchange between the adversaries, Mr Quayle in particular should steer clear of high horses today. But, rather like a dispute between reception class pupils, it has not been entirely one-way traffic.

If MHKs and ministers don’t lift the level of discourse above that of a primary school playground, it won’t be long before someone asks the Department of Education to produce a league table based on their performance.