Just how much disruption will be caused by the multi-million-pound redevelopment of Douglas promenades will be focussed on in the House of Keys today (Tuesday).

Earlier this month, the Department of Infrastructure submitted a planning application for the £20 million scheme, due to start in September if it gets the go-ahead.

It is expected to take three years to complete.

Bill Shimmins (Middle) has tabled a question for Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer asking why it would be necessary to close the prom for three years to allow the construction works. It could be an opportunity for Mr Harmer to assuage fears, if that is not the case, or to give a very good justification, if it is.

Mr Shimmins also has a question for Education and Children Minister Graham Cregeen, wanting to know what the department’s policy is on religious schools.

There one other question tabled for oral answer, with Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) wanting to know if Enterprise Minister Laurence Skelly has considered a minimal annual charge for companies registered in the Isle of Man, to create a social fund ’for the benefit of all island residents’.

There are more written questions and they cover subjects including de-icer stock at the airport, road traffic casualty rates in the island and why there is now a shop selling Manx National Heritage products in the Sea Terminal.

Kate Beecroft (LibVannin, Douglas South) appears to be biding her time after being ousted as health minister, but it would be a surprise if she did not become more active during question time as the year goes on.

No prizes for guessing one of the three bills down for a first reading at today’s sitting.

The Abortion Reform Bill will not be debated, however. The first reading is a formality.

Expect, in the weeks to come, however, attempts to send it to a select committee for deeper scrutiny.

The other two bills down for first readings are the Airports and Civil Aviation (Amendment) Bill, to enact rules that will enable the Isle of Man to meet its international obligations, and the Central Registry Bill which would establish a ’central registry’ in the island, with some of the current functions of the General Registry transferred to it.

The sitting will finish with the third reading of the Credit Unions (Amendment) Bill, which will bring regulations under the umbrella of the 2008 Financial Services Act.