Changes in the Programme for Government to dovetail with the Department of Health and Social Care’s established strategy were questioned on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle moved the amendments ahead of the main debate on the Delivering the Programme for Government document.

Although they were approved by Tynwald and welcomed by Health and Social Care Minister Kate Beecroft, her Liberal Vannin Colleague Lawrie Hooper was unconvinced.

Mr Quayle said: ’As departments have begun to align their service delivery plans to the document, it has become clear that some minor adjustments are necessary. The main body of amendments are to the policy statements which support the outcome "We live longer, healthier lives."

’We have replaced the original policy statements with the five pillars of the Department of Health and Social Care’s strategy for health and care.’

This meant the department’s strategy was ’seamlessly integrated’ with the Programme for Government.

Mr Hooper (Ramsey) said he was ’concerned’ that Tynwald had no input into the changes and the programme was ’supposed to be a collaborative effort’.

However, Mr Quayle said the five-year health strategy was debated and endorsed by the previous Tynwald.

Responding to a claim by Mr Hooper that one minister had ’point blank’ refused to commit to the Programme for Government, Mr Quayle said he had not heard any minister say they were not in favour.

He added there were two further amendments.

’The two new policy statements support public sector reform and, in particular, the role of leadership from both officers and politicians in driving the reform agenda.’