A new law aimed at stopping government ministers attempting to influence the justice system will be debated for the first time in the House of Keys today (Tuesday).

The Council of Ministers (Amendment) Bill is due a second reading - when its principles can be discussed.

Its main aim is to underline the independence of the judiciary and spell out that the Council of Ministers must not attempt to influence judicial decisions.

The Bill also places an obligation on ministers and anyone else responsible for matters relating to the judiciary to defend its independence.

Now we all know that politicians would never interfere with things they should not for political gain but it does seem quite a good idea. Defining in a meaningful way what constitutes attempting to influence judicial decisions, however, may not be so straight forward.

The Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill, is also due a second reading and includes proposals for a community infrastructure levy and the introduction of ’national policy directives’.

Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas is at the helm for that Bill, as he is for Charities Registration and Regulation Bill, which is at the clauses stage.

He and his old sparring partner Lawrie Hooper (LibVannin, Ramsey) will resume their often entertaining interactions, as the latter has numerous amendments tabled.

Mr Hooper will also be seeking permission from the House of Keys to introduce a private member’s bill to amend current housing legislation and reform leasehold rules.

Ahead of the legislative work, MHKs will hear a Commonwealth Day message from the Queen. It will probably bear a striking resemblance to what is read out at many other parliaments (as well as the Legislative Council).

Question time will cover issues including pension forecasts, gambling supervision and the annual canvass of information for the electoral register. We can probably expect that to lead to follow-up questions asking why some people who had already filled in and submitted their electoral register forms later received stern reminders telling them to fill in and submit their electoral register forms.

The Legislative Council, if MLCs can contain their excitement at hearing from the Queen, is due to give the Dormant Assets Bill a third reading. That will not be the end of it for the bill, as it was amended by MLCs last week, so will need to go back to the House of Keys for approval.

The Income Tax Legislation (Amendment) Bill, giving permanent effect to some temporary changes, and the Highways (Amendment) Bill, rectifying an anomaly in planning law, both arrive from the Keys for a first reading.