The Programme for Government comes under the spotlight in Tynwald today (Tuesday).

A month has passed since Howard Quayle gave his State of the Nation address and, given we have had everything from the Paradise Papers to sweeping - and not universally popular - changes to aspects of the health service, it is fair to presume that the mood may not be as upbeat among members as it was following the Chief Minister’s message to his troops, which at times veered dangerously close to self-congratulation from Tynwald members.

For the Programme for Government, the cornerstone of Mr Quayle’s administration, it is down to Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas, who has been a key architect of this Policy Document (copyright Miles Walker), to present the mid-year report and a provisional programme of legislation.

Revised ’policy statements and actions’ will have to wait until January, for consideration, however.

Mr Thomas is also due to give a statement on public sector pensions legacy funding.

David Cretney MLC will seek Tynwald to support the recommendations of the Social Affairs Policy Review Committee on personal capability assessments, which among other things calls on the Council of Ministers to report back next year with recommendations about how to help people back to work after a long0term illness.

When he sits down, he will no doubt take a great interest in the next item on the agenda: parliamentary reform.

Postponed from last month, due to the unavailability of Juan Watterson, chairman of the select committee on the functioning of Tynwald, it includes recommendations on a job description for MLCs and the process of electing them.

There is also a recommendation that Chief Minister should only appoint an MLC as a minister in ’exceptional circumstances’ and should have to explain such to Tynwald.

And Tynwald will be asked to vote on whether MLCs should be barred from being government department members.

Some of the other recommendations include yet more reports to Tynwald, something that no doubt will cause great rejoicing in the queues at the Foodbank.

Parliamentary reform was Tynwald’s hottest topic a little over a year ago. Whether it is still regarded as such, especially by those outside, is another matter, especially in the light of Department of Health and Social Care cuts, possible prescription charge increases, Brexit and the attack on the Isle of Man’s offshore status.

We must not forget, of course, the Vision 9 debacle that has made recent headlines. The official report into that has provoked plenty of comment but, although it has been laid before Tynwald, it is not subject of any motion, so will not be debated.

Two government departments are set to undergo name changes, if Tynwald gives its blessing.

The Department of Economic Development’s switch to Department for Enterprise has already been widely covered. Given this name changing order comes just as the Vision 9 report has been released, unkind souls might mention Windscale and Sellafield.

Additionally, the Department of Education and Children is set to become the Department of Education, Sport and Culture, in a bid to reflect its changes in responsibilities.

Question time will see Health Minister Kate Beecroft need to be on her toes with changes at Noble’s Hospital and Ramsey Cottage Hospital coming under the spotlight.

Naturally , Meals on Wheels service is also in there - although, despite Mrs Beecroft repeatedly telling MHKs that service users would be informed, before the end of November, of their alternatives once government funding has ended, no one has yet actually managed to ask either why it takes nearly a month, from the initial announcement that Age Concern’s contract was being cut, to send out that information, or why the DHSC could not wait until the information was readily available before making the announcement in the first place.

Maybe today will be that day.

Other issues to be raised include VAT, investment at Manx Radio and ’plurality’ of media outlets, national income, the economic benefit of motorsport rallies and when Chris Thomas intends to produce his white paper on population trends.