07 Mar 1995 House of Keys Hansard Printed
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Printed (by Authority) by CORRIE Ltd., 48 Bucks Road, Douglas, Isle of Man. REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS OF HOUSE OF KEYS Douglas, Tuesday, 7th March 1995 at 10.00 a.m. Present: He was a conscientious and loyal member of the The Speaker (the Hon J C Cain) (Douglas West); departments of which he was appointed, and I am sure Mr A R Bell and Hon T R A Groves (Ramsey); Mr R E that his contribution and indeed responsibility for the IRIS Quine OBE (Ayre); Mr J D Q Cannan (Michael); Hon H project will be missed by the Department of Transport, as Hannan (Peel); Mr W A Gilbey (Glenfaba); Dr E J Mann will his membership of the Department of Education. He (Garff); Hon D North (Middle); Messrs P Karran, R K was a conscientious member of a number of committees Corkill and J R Kniveton (Onchan); Hon B May (Douglas including the Public Accounts Committee, and his political North); Messrs A C Duggan and D C Cretney (Douglas contribution to all these and related activities will be sorely South); Messrs D F K Delaney and P W Kermode (Douglas missed. East); Mr A F Downie (Douglas West); Hon J A Brown As an individual, as I have said, he was quiet and (Castletown); Hon D J Gelling (Malew and Santon); Hon unassuming, and he bore his painful fight against cancer M R Walker CBE LLD (hc), Hon J Corrin and Mr N Q with dignity and determination which we all admired. I Cringle (Rushen); with Prof T StJ N Bates, Secretary of am sure that we will extend to his wife Sheila and indeed the House. to his whole family our deepest sympathy at this sad time. I am sure that, quite apart from his work as a politician, his presence as a family man will be sorely missed. TRIBUTE TO THE LATE It is my personal view that it might well be appropriate WILLIAM DAVID CORLETT MHK for this House to adjourn at this time as a mark of respect to our late colleague and to resume the business detailed The Speaker: Hon. members, before we commence on our agenda at, say, 2.30 p.m. this afternoon. However, our formal business today, it is my sad duty to inform the this is a matter for the House and now I would ask all hon. House of the death of the hon. member for Douglas North, members to stand for a moment in silent tribute to our late William David Corlett. colleague. As you will no doubt all be aware, David Corlett was educated at Victoria Road School, Castletown, and The House stood in silence. subsequently at Liverpool University, and was thereafter commissioned into the 1st Battalion The Loyal Regiment The Speaker: Thank you, hon. members. during his National Service. He spent 17 years with the Unilever group in various parts of the world and returned Mr Walker: Mr Speaker, further to your suggestion I to the Isle of Man at the conclusion of that service in 1974. would formally propose, as a mark of respect to our late He was on the board of directors of a number of local colleague and to his family: companies and was elected to the House of Keys at the last general election in November 1991. That this House adjourn to 2.30 pm as a mark of So much for the facts. But the question must arise, how respect to our late colleague, the hom member for Douglas will we remember him? He was a quiet, unassuming man North, William David Corlett. who was diligent in his application to the work that he was asked to undertake and who rarely spoke, either in Mr May: Mr Speaker, it is entirely fitting that the House this House or indeed in Tynwald, unless he had carefully should indicate its respect for our former colleague in this thought out not only his own views but the way in which fashion, and I would respectfully second, sir. he was going to present them. As a consequence, in a period of nearly 31/2 years, he gained a reputation within this House which in my opinion reflected the standing and The Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. If no member regard in which he was held by us all. Almost his last wishes to speak I will put the motion to the House. Will all parliamentary action was to move successfully those in favour please say aye; to the contrary say no. The amendments to the Representation of the People Bill, the ayes have it. The ayes have it. Accordingly the House will consequence of which will be that the voting system at the now adjourn until 2.30 this afternoon. next general election will revert to the first-past-the-post system. The House adjourned at 10.05 a.m. Tribute to the Late William David Corlett MHK K496 HOUSE OF KEYS, TUESDAY, 7th MARCH, 1995 The Chaplain took the prayers. the People Act 1951 as amended. Thank you, Vainstyr Loayreyder. PROCEDURAL Mr Downie: A supplementary, Mr Speaker. I would The Speaker: Before we commence our business this like to ask the hon. minister, what reduction in delegated afternoon, I would call upon the hon. member for Rushen, authority has the board seen since the hon. member was the Chief Minister, to move a motion which I understand appointed minister? has been circulated. Mrs Hannan: None, Vainstyr Loayreyder. Mr Walker: Thank you, Mr Speaker. As we adjourned our business this morning shortly after 10 o'clock it is Mr Quine: Could the Minister for Education advise necessary to suspend our standing orders to allow us to this hon. House as to what discussions there have been to continue the business as it is written on the agenda paper, date with the members of the Board of Education in relation and the motion that has been circulated in my name does to the consideration that is now being given to their role? just that. I beg to move: Have they been consulted and, if they have not, will they be consulted? (i) Standing Order 43(2) be suspended; and Mrs Hannan: Vainstyr Loayreyder, members will be (ii) no questions shall be taken after 3.00 pm. aware that in the legislative programme there is a new Education Bill. It is in the process of being drawn up but it Mr Brown: I beg to second and reserve my remarks. will be some time before it is available for consultation. However, it will be out for consultation. The rules relating The Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. Does any to the operation of the Board of Education, committees, member wish to speak? If not I will put the motion to the managers and governors, were approved following House. Will all those in favour please say aye; to the consultation with the board members in 1992. Full contrary say no. The ayes have it. The ayes have it. consultation does take place with the board members. I meet them jointly on a termly basis. Other members of the department meet them more frequently even than that. We BOARD OF EDUCATION — ELECTIONS - have a good working relationship and we do consult with QUESTION BY MR DOWNIE them on a regular basis. The Speaker: Now we have eight questions for oral Mr Quine: The minister has indicated that a Bill is answer this afternoon and I call upon the hon. member for either in draft form or being drafted. Will she confirm that Douglas West, Mr Downie, to ask the first of those the members of the board will be consulted before that questions. Bill is finalised and printed? Mr Downie: Mr Speaker, I beg leave to ask the Minister Mrs Hannan: I can confirm that, Vainstyr Loayreyder. for Education: Question 2, in the name of the late hon. member for Does your department continue to find the role of Douglas North, Mr Corlett, was omitted and method of election to, the Board of Education to be satisfactory? The Speaker: The Minister for Education to reply. IRIS SCHEME — ESTIMATED QUANTITY OF SEWAGE SLUDGE - Mrs Hannan: Vainstyr Loayreyder, I thank the hon. QUESTION BY MR DOWNIE member for his question. Since the introduction of the The Speaker: departmental and ministerial system of government the role We move on to question number 3 and of members of the Board of Education has caused some again I call upon the hon. member for Douglas West, Mr concern, not only to myself and members of the department Downie. but to board members themselves. Indeed, it may well be that the number of candidates at the last election reflected Mr Downie: Mr Speaker, I beg leave to ask the Minister the uncertain role of the Board of Education. However, I for Transport: am conscious of the valuable work undertaken by the board members. They serve on many committees, act as What are the estimated quantities of sewage sludge governors and managers of schools, college and youth to be produced when the IRIS scheme is running at full organisations and in that role they are a valuable contact working capacity? between communities and schools. At the moment members of the Board of Education are elected in The Speaker: I call upon the Minister for Transport to accordance with the provisions of the Representation of reply. Procedural Board of Education — Elections — Question by Mr Downie his Scheme — Estimated Quantity of Sewage Sludge — Question by Mr Downie HOUSE OF KEYS, TUESDAY, 7th MARCH, 1995 K497 Mr North: Mr Speaker, the estimated quantities per provide an assurance to hon.