Local authorities should concentrate on serving their ratepayers, according to Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer.

Responding to queries in the House of Keys this week from Lawrie Hooper (LibVannin, Onchan) about whether commissioners were allowed to tender commercially, Mr Harmer urged him to come forward if he had a specific issue.

But he added: ’Local authorities have their own functions to do and they have a number of different acts and vires on that.

’Obviously it is up to them to decide what is in the best interests of their constituents, and I would urge them to concentrate on that.’