The sugar tax is expected to bring in £300,000 to help fund children’s health schemes.

The tax on sugar in soft drinks was originally due to come into effect this year but, just as with the UK, it was deferred until April 2019.

Since the proposals for the levy were first announced, soft drinks companies have been battling to reduce the amount of sugar in drinks.

Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan told the House of Keys on Tuesday: ’A reasonable estimate for the Isle of Man receipts is currently £300,000 per annum.

’All income raised under this duty will be added to the Department of Health and Social Care budget and must be ring-fenced specifically to fund childhood health strategies.

’The fund was initially seeded with £100,000 from general revenue by Treasury in the 2018-19 Budget.’

Mr Cannan was responding to a question from Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew).