The new single-tier Manx station pension will be much simpler and easier to understand and plan for retirement.

That was the view of Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan as he outlined details in Tynwald of the flat rate £180-a-week state pension that will come in next year.

Proposals were approved by Tynwald in July 2016 but last week the court voted through the orders that will allow the reforms to be applied from April 2019.

State pensioners will have to have paid NI here for 35 years to qualify for the full amount.

But Mr Cannan insisted transitional provisions will ensure people do not lose out in the switchover to the new scheme.

He also announced the state pension age will rise to 67 - eight years earlier than planned - for people born after March 5, 1961.

But some members raised concerns. Speaker Juan Watterson called for the planned reforms to the referred to a select committee.

’I’m not aware that the public has seen the detailed proposals before now,’ he said, adding that he was surprised the reforms were being implemented by order, which didn’t allow for much parliamentary scrutiny.

’This is incredibly complex and will have an impact on the lives of every Manx citizen,’ he said.

’It basically needs more scrutiny, not least so the public don’t have any more surprises when it comes in next year.’

Mr Watterson queried whether the NI Fund was in such a bad state as claimed. ’Are we being unduly harsh to future Manx pensioners? he asked.

And he questioned who would lose out in the long term compared to the current rules. ’I think the answer is probably most people,’ he said.

The Speaker also warned people who had worked in the island on a temporary basis may be ’dialled out’ of a pension.

But Mr Cannan pointed out that as a previous Minister, Mr Watterson was one of those who had forced the situation into being.

’He has sat merrily in CoMin since 2014 supporting this whole scheme in its entirety and never once has he done anything,’ the Minister said.

The reforms won’t affect the 19,500 existing state pensioners. These won’t also lose out from the planned phasing outof the Manx pension supplement from next year.

The supplement is being reduced by 5% each year so that someone who reaches state pension age in 2029 will get only half the supplement they would currently be entitled to.

Tynwald was told that if the current state pension scheme were retained the NI Fund would be exhausted by 2055 but the proposals coming in next year will ensure it will stay in the black for at least the next 70 years.

Mr Cannan accepted the transitional arrangements are quite complex.

He said: ’I expect in the short term most people reaching state pension age will be awarded a pension based on what they would have accrued under the existing scheme. It is probable only those individuals who have been low earners or self-employed for lengthy periods would be awarded a pension based on the single tier amount.

’However, as we move forward an increasing proportion of people will be awarded a pension based on the single tier amount.’

Mr Cannan said he recognised that some members had concerns about the proposed increases in the state pension age and the ability of certain groups to continue to work up to that date.