A grand total of 1,311 suggestions have been made on an ideas website offering ways the government can save money.

The scheme, launched by Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan in April, was a novel way for the public to put forward their views on how £25 million can be saved in the next five years.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle said the contributions made were a great credit to the Manx public.

’We were overwhelmed by the response, which was far more than we had envisaged. Most were positive and only a very few had to be removed because they were abusive,’ he said, adding the suggestions were wide ranging, some of them simple but sensible, like putting thermostatic radiator valves on the heating system at Castle Rushen school.

The site can be found at www.iomgov.dialogue-app.com/your-services-your-money-your-future-your-ideas and a quick perusal confirms the ideas to be wide-ranging, to say the least.

’Legalising euthanasia: a side effect is the amount of money that can be saved in medical and care costs for the sick and elderly,’ announces one contributor, who adds in the ’’why is this important’’ section: ’The money saved will be substantial. Further a euthanasia service could be marketed and sold abroad by bringing people from off island to end their lives here for a fee, raising much needed revenue for the treasury.’

Other suggestions include a cheaper crowdfunding option in place of the current MEA loans, saving, it’s suggested, rather over £3 million per year; ending the subsidy to Manx Radio, turning street lights off, streamlining government staffing, cutting the number of MHKs and abolishing MLCs and the Lieutenant Governor.

Licensing cats, legalising cannabis, stopping child benefits, ending Manx currency, an amnesty on returning hospital equipment, introducing an all-island rate and reducing the number of local authorities are all put forward for consideration, as is means-testing council tenants and, ’providing small food portions for elderly patients’. Suggestions range from interesting to plainly bizarre, but some clearly have greater money-saving potential than others.

Further offerings include abolishing overseas aid, stopping immigrants ’coming in and claiming benefits’, limiting cyclists on the mountain road, replacing mail vans with mopeds ’like in Tasmania’ and ’stop flushing wet/baby wipes down the toilet’.

Another offering suggests a speed camera could raise £160,000 per day, assuming drivers don’t see it and brake.

The ideas now have to be collated and decisions will be made this summer by the Council of Ministers on which will be adopted.