Tynwald approved the latest changes to the Council of Ministers’ Programme for Government this week.

After Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas outlined a new document, which details amendments and delays to actions contained with the government’s policy programme, only six Tynwald members - two of those from the unelected Legislative Council - contributed to a debate that lasted less than half an hour.

One reason for this is the design of the document in that it assigns proposed actions not just to ministers but also backbench MHKs, so any criticisms can quickly become personal .

challenges

Mr Thomas said of this latest report: ’The aim has been to address areas of under-achievement and new challenges.’

He praised Tynwald members for participating in the review of actions since the last debate on the Programme for Government and responding to the call for a ’positive and practical approach’.

Targets that had been achieved and were now withdrawn from the PfG included planning reform and the creation of enterprise agencies, while others were designated as ’business as usual’ activity.

New actions included the introduction of a five-year action plan for housing by the end of the year, emissions reductions for the Isle of Man, new facilities at the Sea Terminal, refinancing of the Steam Packet, ultra-fast broadband and a new agricultural policy.

Some amendments included more ’realistic deadlines’ and changes to the political sponsor of an action.

Actions to implement the Equality Act were amendment to make them more ’practical’ to have everything in place by January 2020.

Mr Thomas announced that from now on the annual debate on the Programme for Government would take place in April, rather than November, and would be followed by a progress report in July.

He said the Council of Ministers had picked up this was what Tynwald members wanted.

’The amendments today improve the effectiveness of the programme in delivering the strategic objectives and the outcomes,’ he said.

police

Bill Henderson MLC praised the government for its work to addressing mental health issues in the island and added his support for the police in that area.

He also called for greater focus on environment and biodiversity issues on land, as well as marine areas.

Cabinet Office member Dr Alex Allinson (Ramsey), offering some explanation for the lack of debate in the chamber, said: ’It is working together for a common cause that makes this administration different to others.

’Some may label this compliance but all of us stood for election because we knew there was work to be done.’

However he apologised for not yet having the economic impact assessment for the TT and Festival of Motorcycling ready, but said he aimed to have it before Tynwald next month.

The strongest dissent came from Chris Robertshaw (Douglas East) who, notably, is the only MHK not to belong to a government department.

The former social care minister said the current administration had criticised its predecessor for not acknowledging the needs of the vulnerable, something about which he felt ’sore’ as he did not believe that was the case.

He pointed out a new action to grow awareness of the needs of various vulnerable groups had the target date of March 2021.

’Does that mean effectively that this administration is somewhat late in the day waking up to vulnerability issues?’ he asked.

’It has been in play now for some years and yet we do not get a focus on it until 2021.’

Mr Thomas said, in terms of looking after the vulnerable, saying and doing were two different things.

He said Chief Minister Howard Quayle was keen to identify particular issues within that sphere.

Tim Baker (Ayre and Michael) called for a stronger commitment than merely being ’aligned’ to UN sustainable development goals, while equality champion Jayne Poole-Wilson MLC said such a commitment, along with the Equality Act, would contribute to a caring island.

The only other MHK to contribute to the debate was Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan, to say that the new sea services agreement would play a major role in the refinancing of the Steam Packet thanks to the effect it would have on financial predictions.

Tynwald voted to receive the report.