Positive Action Group members and guests got three for the price of one this week as Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan delivered a talk on the Budget.

Mr Cannan was joined by political members of the Treasury Ralph Peake MHK and Bill Shimmins MHK as he outlined the Budget in brief before taking questions from the public who gathered at the Manx Legion in Douglas.

During his presentation, Mr Cannan spoke of the Budget and potential external risks to the island’s economy which include a USA recession, a China versus USA trade war, EU countries debt, Brexit along with external scrutiny and internally the future price of healthcare.

However he said the economy is strong and built on solid foundations.

Mr Cannan was quizzed on topics including Brexit, when he was asked what would happen to the island in the event of a no deal Brexit, in particular reference to World Trade Organisation rules and tariffs affecting the cost of living.

Mr Cannan said that Brexit is full of ’ifs, buts and maybes’ but added that the island ’is ready to deal with the impact of Brexit’.

He said: ’Some areas of the economy will be impacted ... but the island is well geared for its post Brexit future.’

When asked if the public purse gets value for money on capital projects, Mr Cannan deferred to Mr Shimmins.

Mr Shimmins said: ’We obviously need to make sure we get value but we also have to prioritise our planning.

’Peel sewage for example is important to the area, and so is the development of a new science and maths block at Queen Elizabeth II High School as there is a tsunami of children in the area following the construction of the new estates.’

The need for the island to appoint someone to the role of auditor general was also raised.

Mr Cannan repeated his Tynwald response that if members want to appoint someone to the role, they can do, but it will be up to Tynwald members to explain how to pay for it.

Meanwhile, Mr Shimmins said ’a number of options’ are being explored for how Douglas is to cope with the demand for new parking. He expressed his personal preference to see new mutli-storey car parks being built in the capital.

This could include the potential for private investment rather than the taxpayer footing the bill.

In respect of the island’s involvement in the film industry, Mr Cannan said that while the media development fund in terms of Pinewood deals is dead, the Department for Enterprise is ’discussing’ how the island can play a role.