The relationship between the two branches of Tynwald will once more come under scrutiny in the House of Keys today.

Not for the first time this session, the House of Keys will receive back legislation it had already scrutinised - with significant changes having been made by the Legislative Council.

It has already happened with the Charities Bill, when MHKs begrudgingly accepted alterations made to their own amendment - although in that instance the bill began its process in the upper chamber.

This time the Communications Bill, which began in the House of Keys, comes back from LegCo with major changes that still require Keys approval.

They include the stipulation that the chairman of the Communications Commission should be a non-political appointment, and the broadening of the definition of public service broadcasting so that it could apply to more businesses than merely the owner of Manx Radio.

Rating appeal

On this occasion, however, some of those who have expressed concern at MLCs wielding too much sway in the legislative process, were at least in favour of making the commission chairman a non-political role.

That said, not all MHKs take kindly to the implied suggestion that other people might have a better idea than them collectively.

One other piece of legislation will make its first appearance, the Property Service Charges (Amendment) Bill. It will give the owners of freehold homes who have to pay a service charge the right to refer such a charge to the rent and rating appeal commissioners.

It is down for a first reading, so will not be debated.

There are plenty of questions tabled for the first sitting after the TT.

The row about Saudi military pilots training out of Ronaldsway will be raised - but not on the floor itself.

Clare Bettison (Douglas East) has questions tabled for written answer, asking Chief Minister Howard Quayle what agreements are in place for the Isle of Man to allow foreign air forces into Ronaldsway and which air forces have done so.

Other subjects down for written questions include school staff levels, the Sefton Group’s repayment of a tourism grant, off-island treatment for Isle of Man patients and a request for the number of horse tram passengers during the 2019 TT.

However low, the head count will still probably be more impressive than minutes spent on board, given how short the track is.

In oral question time, issues covered include Brexit, the number of graduates returning to the island, when the 1995 Licensing Act is due to be updated and, from Ann Corlett (Douglas Central) whether the government will bring forward a law to create a domestic abuse disclosure scheme.

Tim Baker (Ayre and Michael) has more questions about the running of the Post Office.

This follows the rather surreal discourse in Tynwald last month in which Post Office bosses went on the offensive and hit out at the scrutiny from parliamentarians, presumably deciding that it was this that was responsible for the well-documented money problems, sub-post office closures and strike.

At least he won’t get told off by vice-chairman Tanya August-Hanson MLC for daring to table questions this time - mainly because this will be in the House of Keys.

That said, the Legislative Council isn’t sitting today, so she may still come in and glare at him.