A ’white paper’ to spark debate on the ideal population size for the Isle of Man will be completed next month.

But it is not clear exactly when all the information will be published.

Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas said his paper Meeting Our Population Challenges, would be completed, and the collated information ’in the open’ by December 21. But, he said, the ’hard deadline’ for publication of all the information was next May, ahead of the draft Eastern Area Plan.

’This is an early stage policy development paper, similar to the documents referred to as white or green papers across,’ he said.

’The intention is that this paper will encourage debate about the information, and proposals are still at a relatively formative stage. Firmer policy statements could come next.’

He said the paper would have three main sections to ’inform and shape’ debate.

They would be focussed on population projections, possible policy challenges and background ’contextual’ information.

Earlier this year, the Census Report revealed a drop in population of more than 1,000 between 2011 and 2016 - from 85,716 to 84,599 - leading to calls for the government address the economic risk if the decline continued.

But figures based on the first quarter of this year, showed the population was growing again, at about 300 per annum.

The issue was raised in Tynwald last week by Bill Shimmins (Middle).

He said: ’We have been eagerly awaiting the government’s proposals for meeting our population challenges since March. How can the government develop insightful policies without first understanding the profound impact that demographic changes will have on our island?’

Mr Thomas said the government’s policy responses had begun in April, after the previous population ’blip’ had been highlighted.

’We have our policy response in the Programme for Government and in the Medium-Term Financial Strategy,’ he added. ’More information is available after the census than has ever been published before.’