DOCSLIB.ORG

Hansard of Oral Evidence

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Hansard of Oral Evidence T Y N W A L D C O U R T O F F I C I A L R E P O R T R E C O R T Y S O I K O I L Q U A I Y L T I N V A A L P R O C E E D I N G S D A A L T Y N (HANSARD) S T A N D I N G C O M M I T T E E O F T Y N W A L D O N S C R U T I N Y B I N G V E A Y N T I N V A A L M Y C H I O N E S C R U T A G H E Y Douglas, Thursday, 5th May 2011 All published Official Reports can be found on the Tynwald website www.tynwald.org.im Official Papers/Hansards/Please select a year: Reports, maps and other documents referred to in the course of debates may be consulted upon application to the Tynwald Library or the Clerk of Tynwald’s Office. PP88/11 TS, No. 2 Published by the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald, Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3PW. © Court of Tynwald, 2011 STANDING COMMITTEE, THURSDAY, 5th MAY 2011 Members Present: Chairman: Mrs B J Cannell, MHK Mr P Karran, MHK Mr E G Lowey, MLC Mr W M Malarkey, MHK Clerk: Mr J King Apologies: Mr R P Braidwood, MLC BUSINESS TRANSACTED Page Procedural ............................................................................................................................................. 23 Evidence of Mr I Thompson, Chief Executive, Department of Infrastructure, with Mrs A Craig, Strategic Planning and Governance Manager, in attendance............................. 23 The Committee sat in private at 4.53 p.m. _________________________________________________________________ 22 TS STANDING COMMITTEE, THURSDAY, 5th MAY 2011 Standing Committee of Tynwald on Scrutiny The Committee sat in public at 3.35 p.m. in the Legislative Council Chamber, Legislative Buildings, Douglas [MRS CANNELL in the Chair] Procedural The Chairman (Mrs Cannell): Good afternoon, everybody. May I welcome you to this sitting of the Standing Committee of Tynwald on Scrutiny. I chair these meetings and I am Mrs Brenda Cannell, Member of the House of Keys. My other 5 Committee Members: to my right, Mr Bill Malarkey, Member of the House of Keys; to my left, Mr Eddie Lowey, Member of the Legislative Council; and my further left, is Mr Peter Karran, also a Member of the House of Keys. We also have one other Member, Mr Braidwood, who has been unable to attend today. Our Clerk for the day is Mr King, who is on my far right and our Hansard reporter is Mrs Callister. 10 If I could ask everybody that if you have a mobile phone on you, if you could please put it off and not just keep it on silent because it can interfere with the electronic equipment and the recording equipment. If I can state for the record the remit of the Committee. It is to consider items of approved or rejected legislation, secondary legislation, which has been referred by Members and other items of 15 secondary legislation, as the Committee sees fit, and report to Tynwald, as and when the Committee sees fit; to examine the Annual Tynwald Policy Decisions Report and consider whether the action taken has adequately responded to Tynwald resolutions; and to consider whether any of the Tynwald resolutions which have not been fully implemented are appropriate for removal from the list; and lay an annual report before Tynwald, with recommendations for 20 action where appropriate. In this remit, ‘secondary legislation’ includes orders made by Her Majesty’s Privy Council, extending to the Isle of Man, the provisions of an Act of Parliament or of any orders, rules or regulations made thereunder. Currently, we are here today to take evidence from the Chief Executive and also his assistant, 25 who I welcome, Mrs Amanda Craig. Mr Ian Thompson is the Chief Executive of the new Department of Infrastructure and all of this, what we are focusing on at the moment, is following on from the Scope and Structure of Government Report, which was then looked at by the Chief Minister and a committee of Ministers, which came forward just over a year ago, with the restructuring of Government. We have taken evidence from all Government Departments, but we 30 have invited Mr Thompson, in particular, today, and we are very pleased that he has agreed to attend because that particular Department seems to have expanded quite significantly and perhaps could be viewed as the largest, if not one of the largest, of Government Departments under the new structuring regime. EVIDENCE OF MR I THOMPSON with Mrs A Craig in attendance Q85. The Chairman: First of all, I welcome you both and I would just like to invite Mr 35 Thompson, if he wishes, to make a statement at this stage. Mr Thompson: I think, first of all, thank you for inviting us along and we are pleased to be here. _________________________________________________________________ 23 TS STANDING COMMITTEE, THURSDAY, 5th MAY 2011 I would like to just add a bit to your comments, Chairman. The first one was, perhaps, no, we 40 are not the largest Department, but we may be the most varied now, inasmuch as Health and Education are clearly bigger than us in numerical terms, but in terms of diversity, probably right, we may even be the most varied and largest. From the old DoT, particularly, perhaps for the record and for members of the public present, the difference between the DoT that everybody knew in the past and where we are today is whilst, 45 under the Transfer of Functions Order, we lost the Drainage Division to the new Water and Sewerage Authority, we have taken on board the Health and Safety Inspectorate, the Planning and Building Control Division, Waste Management, the Local Government Unit, the properties element of the Department of Local Government and the Environment and also their architect and engineering function. We have taken on, from what was the Department of Trade and Industry, 50 responsibility for the overview of the Manx Electricity Authority and for the Water and Sewerage Authority. Shortly we will take on board responsibility for properties from Home Affairs, DCCL and Economic Development and, ultimately, we will also be taking on board the Department of Health estates and those from Education. That is a factual statement of what has happened to us since 1st April last year. 55 Q86. The Chairman: Okay. The list that you have just given us, does that include every variation within the Department? I was just wondering if, perhaps, you could list all of the different variations? 60 Mr Thompson: I am not quite sure – The Chairman: Well, first of all you got… These are additional responsibilities – Mr Thompson: Those that we did originally, yes. 65 The Chairman: But the original responsibilities, as well: it would be useful for us to have a whole list of all the responsibilities. Yes. Mr Thompson: Yes, of course, sorry. Sorry for not following you. 70 We still have Highways Division. We have our own Properties Division. We have Operations, which is, of course, quite varied: it has building works; it has civil engineering works; it covers divers; it covers central plant, vehicles. We have got, apart from our own internal management function, in terms of our own internal Health and Safety, the Airport, which is a Division in its own right, Harbours and I think that is about it. It is probably enough, isn’t it? 75 Mr Malarkey: No taxis! Q87. The Chairman: Okay, when you say your own Division of properties that fell under the former Department of Transport, does that still also include animal waste matters? 80 Mr Thompson: That was one of the new areas from Local Government that we picked up, which was Waste, yes. That has now merged into what was the part of the former DoLGE that used to do the Energy from Waste Facility, and that kind of thing. 85 Q88. The Chairman: But Properties within the former Department of Transport were responsible for animal waste by-products, weren’t they? Mr Thompson: We have still got that. 90 Q89. The Chairman: You have still got that? Mr Thompson: Yes, and there is a very good synergy between the Energy from Waste Facility and the Animal Waste Plant being built next to each other. 95 Q90. The Chairman: So that is quite a large portfolio, then, for the Department. Mr Thompson: It is. _________________________________________________________________ 24 TS STANDING COMMITTEE, THURSDAY, 5th MAY 2011 Q91. The Chairman: Have you been given an increase in staffing levels in order to cope with 100 all of this? Mr Thompson: Obviously, the general sections that we took over, we took responsibility for, such as Health and Safety, we inherited – if that is the right word – or the establishment of those areas was devolved to us. Just talking about Health and Safety, there is essentially a need for a 105 senior officer and three officers. In addition, what we actually inherited was only two posts: one had retired and the current situation is one is off sick, and there was not a senior post. We have now been successful in obtaining that post. I have selected and appointed and, in fact, we are on our way to the Work Permit Committee shortly. So that is the kind of a model of the kind of thing that we picked up.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Manx Gaelic and Physics, a Personal Journey, by Brian Stowell
    keynote address Editors’ note: This is the text of a keynote address delivered at the 2011 NAACLT conference held in Douglas on The Isle of Man. Manx Gaelic and physics, a personal journey Brian Stowell. Doolish, Mee Boaldyn 2011 At the age of sixteen at the beginning of 1953, I became very much aware of the Manx language, Manx Gaelic, and the desperate situation it was in then. I was born of Manx parents and brought up in Douglas in the Isle of Man, but, like most other Manx people then, I was only dimly aware that we had our own language. All that changed when, on New Year’s Day 1953, I picked up a Manx newspaper that was in the house and read an article about Douglas Fargher. He was expressing a passionate view that the Manx language had to be saved – he couldn’t understand how Manx people were so dismissive of their own language and ignorant about it. This article had a dra- matic effect on me – I can say it changed my life. I knew straight off somehow that I had to learn Manx. In 1953, I was a pupil at Douglas High School for Boys, with just over two years to go before I possibly left school and went to England to go to uni- versity. There was no university in the Isle of Man - there still isn’t, although things are progressing in that direction now. Amazingly, up until 1992, there 111 JCLL 2010/2011 Stowell was no formal, official teaching of Manx in schools in the Isle of Man.
    [Show full text]
  • Brenda Cannell for an Open and Responsible Government
    Representation of the Peoples Act 1995 HOUSE OF KEYS GENERAL ELECTION - EAST DOUGLAS THURSDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 2006 OTE V BRENDA CANNELL FOR AN OPEN AND RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT THE ISSUES PAGE Dear Constituents, 2. Policies for the Future A new Government will be formed following the Quality of Life • Law & Order General Election on 23rd November 2006. The Police • Care of Young People One of the very first tasks for the newly elected 3/4. Health & Social Issues House of Keys will be to select a new Chief Mounting Costs • Health Service Complaints Procedures. Minister, someone whose leadership combines the Cost of Nursing & Residential Care. strength, decisiveness and fairness necessary to Choice for those with learning determine a secure, sustainable, and buoyant disabilities • The Coughlan Judgement. economy for the Island’s people. He or she will The Manx Pension Supplement. select a Council of Ministers who will each head up 4. MEA Financial Crisis & a Government Department. Energy Issues This ‘Cabinet’ will need to work as a dynamic Manx Electricity Authority crisis. team, restoring the public's confidence through Fuel Poverty • Energy Conservation. their readiness to be fully accountable for the 5. The Youth of today working of Departments, ensuring greater scrutiny Politics at 16 • Youth Commission. of public expenditure, policies and procedures. Student Rates • Nursery Education. They will need to work together effectively and efficiently in defence of the Islands reputation in a 6. Healthy Environment competitive, even hostile, economic world. More Waste Charges • Kerbside collection. proactive, positive action is required, employing the Environmental Monitoring. lessons learned through past mistakes and making 6.
    [Show full text]
  • COT REPORT 2008 Revised A4 4.11.Indd
    HOW TO GET IN TOUCH We hope you will find this document useful. If you would like to make any comment on any aspect of it, please contact: The Clerk of Tynwald Office of the Clerk of Tynwald Finch Road Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PW telephone: (+44) 1624 685500 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.tynwald.org.im Tynwald Annual Report 2007-08 1 Contents Foreword .......................................................................... 2 Tynwald of today: structure and functions ................... 3 Legislation ........................................................................7 Committee work .............................................................. 9 Tynwald Day 2008 ...........................................................15 Engagement at home and abroad ................................16 Offi ce of the Clerk of Tynwald .......................................18 Appendices 1. List of Members with constituency and parliamentary appointments and parliamentary Committees as at 31st July 2008 ....................................................... 21 2. Offi ce of the Clerk of Tynwald staffi ng as at 31st July 2008 ......................................... 23 3. Expenses of the Legislature Budget 2007/08 and 2008/09 (Pink Book) ................... 24 Published by © the President of Tynwald and the Speaker of the House of Keys, 2008 2 Tynwald Annual Report 2007-08 Foreword Welcome to this, the fi rst Annual service that supports the work Report on the operation of the of Members of Tynwald in their world’s oldest parliament in parliamentary (as opposed to continuous session. governmental) capacity, and also offers a range of services direct to Residents of the Isle of Man, the public. and many who have visited the Island, will be aware of our ancient We are proud of our parliament. parliamentary tradition, which We want to make it easy for people stretches back over 1,000 years in the Isle of Man, and elsewhere, and is still very much part of the to see what it does and to fi nd out Manx way of life.
    [Show full text]
  • House of Keys 18 Mar 2013 Act As a Revising Chamber for Bills
    ELECTION OF FOUR MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Procedural 1. Election of four persons to serve as Members of the Legislative Council for a period expiring on 28th February 2018 in place of Mr David Callister; Mr Edmund Lowey; Mr Juan Turner; and Mr Tony Wild. Nominees Proposers Mrs Linda Bowers-Kasch Mr Peter Karran MHK Mr Michael Coleman Hon. David Cretney MHK Mr Geoff Corkish Hon. Juan Watterson MHK Mr Peter Hill Mr Peter Karran MHK Mr Nigel Malpass Hon. Allan Bell MHK Mr Juan Turner Hon. Tim Crookall MHK Mr Tony Wild Mr John Houghton MHK The Speaker: Hon. Members, we turn to the single Item on our Order Paper and this is to elect a person to the Legislative Council for a term expiring on 28th February 2018. There are seven nominations on the Order Paper for the four places. The nominations were all accompanied by statements of qualification and reason and support as required and the papers were circulated to Hon. Members by the Secretary on 28th February. Under the Isle of Man Constitution (Elections to Council) Act 1971, as amended by the Constitution (Amendment) Act 2008, once the elections have begun, they must be completed, though they may be adjourned to the next day once only. Notwithstanding any other provisions of Standing Orders, I have discretion to determine the time at which a sitting of the House of Keys to elect Members of the Legislative Council shall adjourn. Once the elections have been called, no other business may be taken by the House of Keys sitting alone, until the elections have been completed.
    [Show full text]
  • P R O C E E D I N G S
    T Y N W A L D C O U R T O F F I C I A L R E P O R T R E C O R T Y S O I K O I L Q U A I Y L T I N V A A L P R O C E E D I N G S D A A L T Y N HANSARD S T A N D I N G C O M M I T T E E O F T Y N W A L D O N S O C I A L A F F A I R S P O L I C Y R E V I E W B I N G V E A Y N T I N V A A L M Y C H I O N E A A S C R U T A G H E Y P O L A S E E Y N E R C O O I S H Y N K I A R A I L Y T H E A Y DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Douglas, Monday, 9th July 2012 PP103/12 SAPRC-H, No. 1 All published Official Reports can be found on the Tynwald website www.tynwald.org.im/Official Papers/Hansards/Please select a year: Published by the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald, Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3PW. © High Court of Tynwald, 2012 STANDING COMMITTEE, MONDAY, 9th JULY 2012 Members Present: Chairman: Mrs B J Cannell MHK Hon.
    [Show full text]
  • Manx Marine Nature Reserve Stakeholder Workshop
    Manx Marine Nature Reserve Stakeholder Workshop Photo: IOM 2008: Phil Roriston Held on the 28th November 2008 Villa Marina, Douglas, Isle of Man Workshop Outputs 1 2 Outputs typed by: Laura Hanley Isle of Man Government Sorted by: Fiona Woolmer dialogue matters Diana Pound dialogue matters Workshop Facilitators: Diana Pound dialogue matters Lisa Chilton dialogue matters Support Facilitators: Emily Curphey Sian Christian Laura Hanley Stephanie Halsall Natasha Johnston Phil North Alice Quayle Emma Rowan Richard Selman Hannah Short Eleanor Stone Rachel Storey Aline Thomas Maggie Young Marine Nature Reserve Fiona Gell Isle of Man Government Project Manager: 3 Contents About the workshop and this report ............................................................................ 6 . Purpose of the workshop ................................................................................................... 6 . About this report. ............................................................................................................... 6 . Why sort the outputs? ........................................................................................................ 6 . Terms and acronyms used in the workshop and report ...................................................... 7 1 Starting activities ................................................................................................... 9 1.1 Imagine it is 2020 and you are standing on the shores of the Isle of Man, really pleased with what you see. What do you see? .....................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • P R O C E E D I N G S
    H O U S E O F K E Y S O F F I C I A L R E P O R T R E C O R T Y S O I K O I L Y C H I A R E A S F E E D P R O C E E D I N G S D A A L T Y N HANSARD Douglas, Tuesday, 3rd November 2015 All published Official Reports can be found on the Tynwald website: www.tynwald.org.im/business/hansard Supplementary material provided subsequent to a sitting is also published to the website as a Hansard Appendix. Reports, maps and other documents referred to in the course of debates may be consulted on application to the Tynwald Library or the Clerk of Tynwald’s Office. Volume 133, No. 3 ISSN 1742-2264 Published by the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald, Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3PW. © Court of Tynwald, 2015 HOUSE OF KEYS, TUESDAY, 3rd NOVEMBER 2015 Present: The Speaker (Hon. S C Rodan) (Garff); The Chief Minister (Hon. A R Bell) (Ramsey); Mr G G Boot (Glenfaba); Mr L I Singer (Ramsey); Hon. W E Teare (Ayre); Mr A L Cannan (Michael); Mr R K Harmer (Peel); Mr P Karran, Mr Z Hall and Mr D J Quirk (Onchan); Hon. R H Quayle (Middle); Mr J R Houghton (Douglas North); Mrs K J Beecroft and Mr W M Malarkey (Douglas South); Mr C R Robertshaw (Douglas East); Hon. J P Shimmin and Mr C C Thomas (Douglas West); Hon.
    [Show full text]
  • CEÜCIC LEAGUE COMMEEYS CELTIAGH Danmhairceach Agus an Rùnaire No A' Bhan- Ritnaire Aige, a Dhol Limcheall Air an Roinn I R ^ » Eòrpa Air Sgath Nan Cànain Bheaga
    No. 105 Spring 1999 £2.00 • Gaelic in the Scottish Parliament • Diwan Pressing on • The Challenge of the Assembly for Wales • League Secretary General in South Armagh • Matearn? Drew Manmn Hedna? • Building Inter-Celtic Links - An Opportunity through Sport for Mannin ALBA: C O M U N N B r e i z h CEILTEACH • BREIZH: KEVRE KELTIEK • CYMRU: UNDEB CELTAIDD • EIRE: CONRADH CEILTEACH • KERNOW: KESUNYANS KELTEK • MANNIN: CEÜCIC LEAGUE COMMEEYS CELTIAGH Danmhairceach agus an rùnaire no a' bhan- ritnaire aige, a dhol limcheall air an Roinn i r ^ » Eòrpa air sgath nan cànain bheaga... Chunnaic sibh iomadh uair agus bha sibh scachd sgith dhen Phàrlamaid agus cr 1 3 a sliopadh sibh a-mach gu aighcaraeh air lorg obair sna cuirtean-lagha. Chan eil neach i____ ____ ii nas freagarraiche na sibh p-fhèin feadh Dainmheag uile gu leir! “Ach an aontaich luchd na Pàrlamaid?” “Aontaichidh iad, gun teagamh... nach Hans Skaggemk, do chord iad an òraid agaibh mu cor na cànain againn ann an Schleswig-Holstein! Abair gun robh Hans lan de Ball Vàidaojaid dh’aoibhneas. Dhèanadh a dhicheall air sgath nan cànain beaga san Roinn Eòrpa direach mar a rinn e airson na Daineis ann atha airchoireiginn, fhuair Rinn Skagerrak a dhicheall a an Schieswig-I lolstein! Skaggerak ]¡l¡r ori dio-uglm ami an mhinicheadh nach robh e ach na neo-ncach “Ach tha an obair seo ro chunnartach," LSchlesvvig-Molstein. De thuirt e sa Phàrlamaid. Ach cha do thuig a cho- arsa bodach na Pàrlamaid gu trom- innte ach:- ogha idir. chridheach. “Posda?” arsa esan.
    [Show full text]
  • House of Keys 2006 General Election Results
    House of Keys 2006 General Election Results Constituency Total votes and candidates received AYRE (1 seat) William Edward Teare Unopposed Elected CASTLETOWN (1 seat) James Anthony Brown 915 Elected Roy Redmayne 335 No. voters voting (not including rejected ballot papers) 1250 Rejected ballot papers 7 Total registered voters 2022 % turnout (including rejected ballots) 62.2% DOUGLAS EAST (2 seats) Robert Philip Braidwood 777 Elected Brenda Josephine Cannell 728 Elected Carol Ann Jempson 189 Stephen Alan Osborne 194 William Edward Platt 252 Christopher Roy Robertshaw 574 No. voters voting (not including rejected ballot papers) 1540 Rejected ballot papers 8 Total registered voters 3035 % turnout (including rejected ballots) 51.0% DOUGLAS NORTH (2 seats) Mark Atherton 290 Michael Ronald Coleman 688 Robert William Henderson 1627 Elected John Ramsey Houghton 1615 Elected No. voters voting (not including rejected ballot papers) 2248 Rejected ballot papers 9 Total registered voters 4149 % turnout (including rejected ballots) 54.4% Constituency Total votes and candidates received DOUGLAS SOUTH (2 seats) David Buttery 829 Rodney Clarke 361 David Clifford Cretney 1873 Elected Philip William Kermode 399 William Mackay Malarkey 873 Elected Frank Schuengel 219 No. voters voting (not including rejected ballot papers) 2504 Rejected ballot papers 12 Total registered voters 4372 % turnout (including rejected ballots) 57.5% DOUGLAS WEST (2 seats) Roland Stanley Arden-Corris 518 Geoffrey Thornton Cannell 692 Charles Geoffrey Corkish 1248 Elected John Philip Shimmin 1009 Elected No. voters voting (not including rejected ballot papers) 1945 Rejected ballot papers 9 Total registered voters 3440 % turnout (including rejected ballots) 56.8% GARFF (1 seat) Nigel Anthony Dobson 524 Stephen Charles Rodan 1400 Elected No.
    [Show full text]
  • Liberal Vannin Party National Manifesto
    Manifesto Liberal Vannin Party National Manifesto Liberal Vannin Manifesto Dear Voter I am pleased to present the Liberal Vannin Party Manifesto which has been developed by our Party in recent years as the problems with our Government have been getting worse. I am delighted that we are contesting nine constituencies in this election and in my constituency of Onchan I am joined by Zac Hall making the number of Liberal Vannin candidates ten in all. I have been engaged in politics on the Island for over 30 years and I am delighted with the values, skills, and experience of all the Liberal Vannin candidates. With your support, we can face the national challenges head-on, bring about democratic reform and protect our prosperous and caring society. Each of our candidates has developed a manifesto to reflect the interests and challenges of their particular constituency. But at this election we have all been surprised, and pleased, that most voters are much more concerned about national issues rather than the issues on their doorstep. We have therefore developed this manifesto to address the national issues that are country is facing and I commend it to you. Yours Peter Karran Liberal Vannin Party Leader Liber Bringing Politics Back to the People LIBERAL VANNIN PROGRAMME FOR GOVERNMENT There is a widespread feeling of disappointment in our politicians: we need change. If the same politicians are elected it won’t change - more of the same gets more of the same, and that isn’t good enough for the Isle of Man. A Liberal Vannin Government will get a grip on spending and international affairs, and involve the public with the difficult choices ahead to build on our success and secure our future.
    [Show full text]
  • 04 June 2013
    3.1 ODC 03.06.13 IN PUBLIC Minutes of the ordinary meeting of the ONCHAN DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS (focus group Environmental and Technical Services) held in the Boardroom, Willow House, Main Road, Onchan, on Monday 3rd June 2013 at 7.00 p.m. Present: Mr R. Callister (Chairman) Mr D. Crellin (Lead Member for Environmental and Technical Services) Mrs J. Kelly (Lead Member for Properties and Amenities) Mr J.F.J. Quaye (Lead Member for Finance and General Purpose) Miss K. Williams Mr R. Turton Apologies: Mr D.A. Scambler (Vice-Chairman) Ms A.S. Dentith (Personal Assistant) In Attendance: Mr P.M. Hulme (Chief Executive) Mr T.R. Craig (Deputy Clerk) Mr B.T. Price (District Surveyor) C13/06/01/01 TO CHOOSE A PERSON TO PRESIDE IF THE CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN BE ABSENT Not necessary. C13/06/01/02 BUSINESS REQUIRED TO BE DEALT WITH BY STATUTE BEFORE ANY OTHER BUSINESS None. C13/06/01/03 MINUTES 1. Ordinary meeting held on 20th May 2013 The minutes of the public section of the ordinary meeting held on 20th May 2013, copies of which having previously been circulated, were considered. Members noted that Mr Scambler was shown as being in the list of attendees twice, and the second entry was struck out. Subject to the above amendment, it was proposed by Mr Quaye, seconded by Mrs Kelly, and it was unanimously RESOLVED that the minutes be signed as a correct record of proceedings and were signed by the Chairman. C13/06/01/04 BUSINESS ARISING NOT REFERRED TO IN THE MINUTES OF ANY SPECIAL COMMITTEES 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Celtic League Halts Dangerous Weapons Tests
    Celtic News Archive 1996 - 2002 Celtic League halts dangerous weapons tests - 24-05-96 This week, the Celtic League successfully frustrated secret UK MOD attempts to start tests on countermeasures for so called "smart weapons". We argued the tests would pose a danger to ships and aircraft in the Irish sea area. The MOD initially would neither confirm nor deny our claims (then good sense appears to have prevailed). The tests at Aberporth missile range in mid Wales have now been deferred for a month. The League argued that the technology aimed at disabling Global Positioning Systems, on which the smart weapons depend, could pose a danger to others such as commercial ships, fishing craft and aircraft which use the systems. We set out below (in lay man's terms) detail to back up that argument. GPS is a vital component of modern navigation: It aids accurate navigation, geographic measurement of islands in the ocean, life saving and the control of rockets. Its pinpoint accuracy makes it a vital component of so called smart weapon technology which was demonstrated to such devastating effect during the Gulf War. GPS was originally a project of the US military which built the system of 24 satellites which span the world. Since 1990 the technology has been available for civil use and this enables a wide range of users to determine accurately the position of ships, land vehicles or aircraft. The GPS satellites rotate around the the earth in an elliptical orbit at an average height of 20,000 km. Eight satellites are "visible" at any one time in an intersecting orbital pattern.
    [Show full text]