Education Minister Graham Cregeen was lost for words in the House of Keys on Tuesday.

He had been due to answer questions from Jason Moorhouse about the Department of Education, Sport and Culture’s plans to help school students ’achieve their potential’.

But Deputy Speaker Chris Robertshaw explained: ’I have to tell you that, through sign language, the Minister for Education has indicated to us that he has lost his voice.’

As some of his colleagues cheered, Mr Moorhouse opted to defer the questions until next week’s sitting.

It was not the only disruption to question time however.

Lawrie Hooper (LibVannin, Ramsey) - who along with Tim Baker (Ayre and Michael), was caught up in tailbacks arising after accidents closed the Mountain Road - did not reach the Keys in time to ask his questions at the normal point.

Although he arrived before the end of the sitting, he also opted to defer his questions, which were about improvements to Ramsey bus and tram station and the EU settlement scheme.