The Abortion Reform Bill is set to dominate proceedings in the House of Keys again today (Tuesday).

Dr Alex Allinson’s bill, two weeks after being granted a second reading, is back for the start of the clauses stage.

But it will not be the normal process for the bill, which aims to relax the strict laws that currently exist on abortion in the Isle of Man.

It is understood that once the first clause - covering the title of the bill - has been tabled, a move will be made to deal with the bill as a ’committee of the whole House’.

This is fairly uncharted territory, but what it will mean is that, instead of MHKs only being allowed to speak once to any amendment or clause, they will be able to speak multiple times and also ask questions.

The possibility of witnesses being called to give evidence directly to the House of Keys is also likely.

It is understood that, if the plan to move to a committee of the whole House is approved, then the clauses stage will carry over onto March 6.

This should allow for proposed amendments to be published and shared and for anyone to invite expert witnesses.

The mechanism became the clear favoured option during the second reading debate, when MHKS rejected a move by Chris Robertshaw (Douglas East) to send the bill to a select committee, to report back by the end of June.

A select committee would have probably consisted of three or five MHKs, who would have taken evidence from a variety of experts, politicians and pressure groups, before reporting back.

Mr Robertshaw said it was crucial to have this level of scrutiny, but opponents feared it would delay any reform until next year and argued it was hard to imagine any new evidence being produced.

The committee of the whole House should, in theory, allow a similar level of scrutiny, but via a faster process.

The Airport and Civil Aviation (Amendment) Bill, designed to enable the island meet international obligations, is also down for the clauses stage, but it is expected to follow the traditional path of scrutiny.

Prior to that, there are only three questions tabled for oral answer.

Julie Edge (Onchan) wants to know if there are plans to replace David Ashford in the Cabinet Office, following his promotion to health minister.

Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) will ask Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot how he plans to encourage food producers to not use plastic packaging.

And Mr Boot will also be asked, by Lawrie Hooper (LibVannin, Ramsey) for a statement on progress on the new operating structure for the meat plant at Tromode.

Written questions will cover the locations of government departments, a health regulator and funding of nursing and residential care.

The Legislative Council has two bills down for third readings: the Credit Unions (Amendment) Bill and the Safeguarding Bill.