The wait is over: Tynwald will today debate the Lisvane Report on parliamentary reform.

The debate on the report, which looked in particular at the role of Legislative Council, was delayed by three months, which means, helpfully, it is now taking place after the election of a new MLC, rather than before it.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle is merely asking Tynwald to ’further note’ the recommendations of the peer’s report, which include MLCs not being appointed to government positions, a nominations commission putting forward LegCo candidates, but MHKs not being eligible to be elected to the upper chamber and a minister and only one member at each department.

Members may table amendments, which could range from proposing further measures, to seeking that Tynwald does more than just ’note’ those recommendations and actually acts upon them.

Whether the debate is an important examination of the parliamentary process or just an example of unnecessary navel-gazing is a matter of opinion, although that opinion may be swayed by what actually happens.

The following item on the agenda will not help dispel the notion of navel-gazing, as members will be discussing the recommendations of the Tynwald Standards and Members’ Interests Committee, which came out against extending the list of reasons for which a member could be expelled.

There is also a report and recommendations on the organisation of House of Keys elections due to be discussed, just to keep the insular theme going.

Later on in the sitting, Julie Edge (LibVannin, Onchan) is scheduled to make another attempt at setting up an examination of the public sector workforce, calling for a look a structural review from executive officer upwards.

Although the government last week announced £100,000 in funding for the Family and Mobile Libraries, Clare Bettison is planning to push ahead with her motion seeking Tynwald support for the view that the government should assure their ’safe future’. It is expected that an amendment will be placed to allow a select committee to investigate library provision in the Island.

The question paper is relatively modest. At least, in most respects.

When Chris Thomas was appointed Policy and Reform Minister, he probably did not expect to end up facing a query about escort agencies. But he would have been wrong.

Following revelations of an escort agency touting for trade in the Isle of Man, Mr Thomas will be asked by Speaker Juan Watterson what plans he has to regulate such businesses.

Perhaps the biggest challenge Mr Thomas faces with his answer will be to not give the headline writers a field day.