UK Premier Theresa May has written to Chief Minister Howard Quayle pledging to take the island’s interests into account during the Brexit negotiations.

The letter comes as the Prime Minister prepares to trigger Article 50 to begin the formal process of the UK leaving the European Union.

And it follows a House of Lords select committee which calls on the Westminster government to ensure the Crown Dependencies remain ’fully involved’ in negotiations.

Mrs May letter states: ’We remain committed to engaging with the Isle of Man as we prepare to exit the EU, to ensure that your interests are properly taken into account.’

She says it is right that the Crown Dependencies are offered the opportunity to contribute ’where it is relevant and appropriate to do so’.

And she offers an assurance that throughout the process of leaving the EU, her government’s actions will be compatible with the ’valued, historical and special’ constitutional relationship between the UK and the Crown Dependencies.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle gave evidence to the House of Lords European Union committee in December last year, alongside Jersey’s Chief Minister Ian Gorst, and Guernsey’s Chief Minister Gavin St Pier.

Its report, which was published last week, concludes that the consequences of Brexit for the Crown Dependencies are significant with potentially conflicting priorities.

Those priorities include the maintenance of our centuries-old constitutional relationship with the UK, retention so far as possible of the benefits of the existing relationship with the EU, and the evolution of our international identities.

’Seeking to keep these priorities in balance during the negotiation process will not be easy,’ the report says.

The committee, chaired by Lord Boswell of Ayhno, says Brexit will have implications on our continued ability to trade freely in goods, including fisheries, agriculture and manufacturing, both with the UK and the EU. There’s also the impact on the financial services sectors and regulation.

And Brexit will also have a bearing on the islands’ ability to continue to attract EU citizens to live and work while at the same time retaining the Common Travel Area with the UK.

The report notes: ’The Chief Ministers expressed their satisfaction at the government’s engagement thus far in relation to Brexit. The real test of this engagement will come as negotiations begin.’

The Lords select committee calls on Westminster to ensure the Crown Dependencies remain ’fully involved’ as negotiations proceed, and that their concerns and priorities are ’properly taken into account’ by the UK negotiators.

Mr Quayle said: ’It has been a week of double reassurance for the Isle of Man in terms of the Brexit negotiations.

’These are very encouraging messages and they show the value of all the hard work that has gone into building relationships and awareness around our position on Brexit.’