The war of words between a government minister and a backbencher over rates reform was stepped up in the House of Keys last week.

Lawrie Hooper (LibVannin, Ramsey) and Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas traded verbal blows once more during a series of questions.

A claim, from Mr Hooper, that Mr Thomas had ’form’ for not giving meaningful statements was branded ’shocking’ by the minister.

A week earlier, Mr Thomas had refused to give explanations for delays in bringing forward rates reform proposals that Mr Hooper had claimed were promised for last October.

So, the MHK tried again, with a series of questions, asking for confirmation of when Mr Thomas would make a statement to Tynwald and what the problems were that had resulted in the project being flagged as ’red’ within the Programme for Government.

Mr Thomas - who earlier explained a red coding in the Programme for Government indicated there was a risk a deadline would not be met, so help was required - said he would make a statement on rates modernisation next month.

In response to the other questions, he said the government had set out an ’ambitious Programme for Government designed to deliver real and positive outcomes for this island’.

At the same time, it was having to deal with challenges such as Brexit and population growth.

Of rates modernisation, Mr Thomas said: ’It is unfortunate, therefore, that this piece of work has fallen behind schedule and I will make a further statement in June as to how these plans should be progressed.’

Mr Hooper accused the minister of not answering the questions he had placed.

’I am just trying to ensure that we get a meaningful statement in June, because the member clearly has form in this respect,’ he said.

Mr Thomas retorted: ’It is quite shocking to talk about form, because what this government has form in is delivering action and legislation to arrive by 2021 in a timely basis and an effective basis, with the strategic objectives turning round the local economy, increasing the economically active population, making sure that we are fully compliant with all of the international frameworks that the Chief Minister outlined and important things like GDPR and so on.

Meaningful

’So, the only form that this minister accepts is the form on delivery of an action plan.’

Mr Hooper hit back saying he feared the June statement would be about problems encountered rather than what the plan would be to modernise the rates system.

’Can the minister please confirm that when he sets out his statement in June he will be setting out to this exactly what his plan is to deal with rates and when he is going to be delivering some actual actions?’ he asked.

That led Mr Thomas to accuse Mr Hooper of not understanding ’what a full plan for rates modernisation means’.

The minister said: ’I do not have a full plan for rates modernisation.

’I am part of a government and I am part of a Tynwald that has to collectively agree exactly what is going to happen for a full plan for rates modernisation and I will be making a statement in June about where we are in terms of the issues.’