Chief Minister Howard Quayle doubts that the government would receive frank and honest advice if they were required to publish it.

Mr Quayle was asked by Speaker Juan Watterson what medical advice was sought and given in respect of that from the Public Health Directorate and the Medical Directorate.

Mr Watterson said that while it ’is absolutely a right for a safe space for policy development, once the policy is made, that excuse then falls away and the advice and information that ministers have rested on at that point should be made public’.

However, Mr Quayle disagreed and said: ’If we ask officers, and you have been a minister yourself of Home Affairs, to give us information that is detailed and may be confidential, if they think that is then going to be shared all over the island, will they be as frank and honest with us in their views when giving us their best advice?

’Now, historically, the Council of Ministers has never shared papers with anyone. It remains confidential. That is not something I have implemented. That is something that was there in your time, Mr Speaker.’

The Chief Minister’s suggestion that doctors and health professionals would not provide their best advice drew puzzled looks in the chamber, particuarly from the Speaker.

Mr Watterson told the Courier: ’I’m surprised that it was the Chief Minister’s view that professional advisors of any sort would not give full and frank advice if they thought it would be published, especially medics who have a duty of candour.

’Tynwald committees often seek this sort of information, it is not new. It is right that ministers need that ’safe space’ to make decisions, but once made, the information should be publicly available.’

During the sitting, the The Chief Minister also stated that Public Health were part of the group involved in developing the borders framework.

However, Clare Barber (Douglas East) said that i an email she had received from the Director of Public Health Dr Henrieta Ewart, relating specifically to stage 4 of the borders plan, ’she stated that the Public Health Directorate was not asked to provide any assessment or advice to inform the decision regarding the borders plan’.

Mr Quayle responded: ’The Director of Public Health sits, not in the chamber, but is online, to discuss with the Council of Ministers, along with the Director of Health and Social Care to give us an update and information, and answer any questions we may have during the Council of Ministers meetings.

’So I am highly surprised that the Director of Public Health should say that they have had no involvement when they actually sit in the CoMin - live, I hasten to add - and give us advice. So it would be interesting to see the information.’