Plans to overhaul the island’s employed person’s allowance and income support have been dropped from next week’s Tynwald.

The two amendments, brought forward by Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan MHK would see people who receive benefits having to increase their hours to receive the same benefits they currently do.

However, Mr Cannan has now withdrawn the amendments from the order paper citing an oversight of sharing the relevant information.

Mr Cannan said: ’This withdrawal is in the light of the oversight of not publishing the consultation response and the requirement to provide for some further impact assessment data to honourable members.

’It is my intention to provide much more detailed information to honourable members in due course and subsequently to return with appropriate measures in this parliamentary term.’

The proposed changes to Employed Person’s Allowance would mean lone parents with children over 13 will have to work almost twice as long - rising from the current 16 hours to 30 - before they are eligible to apply.

And lone parents with their youngest child aged over six will no longer be able to claim income support.

Up to 90 lone parents and 35 couples could be impacted by the changes to EPA and about a third of the 300 lone parents on income support could lose benefits.

Earlier this week, Mr Cannan told Isle of Man Newspapers that the Treasury believes that lone parents whose youngest child are now in school should be taking steps to get a job.

He added: ’I’m confident we have made appropriate exemptions for carers and disabled workers and where family members are disabled.

’We are taking steps to make sure that the benefits system is appropriate for those who receive benefits and those who are paying for them.’

However, others criticised the plans and questioned the timing including Garff MHK Daphne Caine who said it is curious time to be changing benefits given that committees are currently investigating poverty in the island and zero hours contracts.

And Former Transport and General Workers’ Union leader Bernard Moffatt said: ’The attack on benefits flies completely in the face of what the Chief Minister said in his New Year’s message.

’Evidence from the UK shows cutting benefits leads to the poorest in society being further impacted.’