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, 25th February 2014 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 on application to the Tynwald Library or the Clerk of Tynwald’s Office. Supplementary material subsequently made available following Questions for Oral Answer is published separately on the Tynwald website, www.tynwald.org.im/Official Papers/Hansards/Hansard Appendix Volume 131, No. 10 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, 2014 HOUSE OF KEYS, TUESDAY, 25th FEBRUARY 2014 Present: The Speaker (Hon. S C Rodan) (Garff); The Chief Minister (Hon. A R Bell) (Ramsey); Hon. D M Anderson (Glenfaba); Mr L I Singer (Ramsey); Hon. W E Teare (Ayre); Mr A L Cannan (Michael); Hon. T M Crookall (Peel); Mr P Karran, Mr Z Hall and Mr D J Quirk (Onchan); Mr R H Quayle (Middle); Mr J R Houghton and Mr R W Henderson (Douglas North); Hon. D C Cretney and Mrs K J Beecroft (Douglas South); Hon. C R Robertshaw and Mrs B J Cannell (Douglas East); Hon. J P Shimmin and Mr C C Thomas (Douglas West); Mr R A Ronan (Castletown); Hon. G D Cregeen (Malew and Santon); Hon. J P Watterson, Mr L D Skelly and Hon. P A Gawne (Rushen); with Mr R I S Phillips, Secretary of the House. ________________________________________________________________________ 598 K131 HOUSE OF KEYS, TUESDAY, 25th FEBRUARY 2014 Business transacted Leave of absence granted ........................................................................................................ 601 Welcome to visitors from the Swiss Embassy .......................................................................... 601 1. Questions for Oral Answer ................................................................................................. 601 1.1. Vulnerability in the population – Definition for policy guidance ................................. 601 1.2. Physically disabled persons – Government policy and employment ........................... 603 1.3. Breast cancer treatment – Assessment and use of Kadcyla ........................................ 606 1.4. Wet age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) – Accelerating treatment regime ..... 609 1.5. Peel sewage outfall – Effect on bathers’ health .......................................................... 614 1.6. Peel bathing water – Achieving EU excellent standard ............................................... 617 1.7. Area Plans – Revision ................................................................................................. 620 1.8. Douglas Harbour traffic statistics – Collection and publication ................................... 622 Suspension of Standing Order 3.5.1(2) to continue Question Time – Motion lost..................... 623 Procedural – Question 10 deferred to next sitting ................................................................... 623 2. Questions for Written Answer ............................................................................................ 624 1.9. Licensing scheme for airline routes – Estimated cost of drafting ................................ 624 2.1. Manx Electricity Authority – Performance related pay and bonus policy .................... 624 2.2. ICE 2014 Gaming event – Cost of attending; tangible benefits ................................... 625 2.3. Douglas Harbour – Monthly traffic figures, 2013 ........................................................ 626 2.4. New bus ticketing system – Procurement, delivery, installation schedule .................. 627 2.5. Waste water – Statement .......................................................................................... 628 Order of the Day ..................................................................................................................... 629 3. Consideration of Clauses .................................................................................................. 629 3.1. Control of Employment Bill 2013 – Consideration of clauses commenced .................. 629 The House adjourned at 1.00 p.m. and resumed its sitting at 2.30 p.m. ................................... 661 3.1. Control of Employment Bill 2013 – Consideration of clauses concluded ..................... 661 3.2. Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill 2013 – Clauses considered .............. 672 The House adjourned at 5.44 p.m. ........................................................................................... 721 ________________________________________________________________________ 599 K131 HOUSE OF KEYS, TUESDAY, 25th FEBRUARY 2014 PAGE LEFT DELIBERATELY BLANK ________________________________________________________________________ 600 K131 HOUSE OF KEYS, TUESDAY, 25th FEBRUARY 2014 House of Keys The House met at 10.00 a.m. [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] The Speaker: Moghrey mie, Hon. Members. 5 Members: Good morning, Mr Speaker. The Speaker: The Chaplain will lead us in prayer. PRAYERS The Chaplain of the House of Keys Leave of absence granted The Speaker: Hon. Members, I have granted leave of absence to the Hon. Member for Onchan, Mr Hall, for this afternoon. Welcome to visitors from the Swiss Embassy 10 The Speaker: It is my great pleasure to welcome to the Public Gallery the Ambassador from Switzerland, His Excellency Mr Dominik Furgler, and his wife, Mrs Hayam Furgler. They are accompanied by First Secretary for Financial and Fiscal Affairs at the Swiss Embassy, Ms Rebekka Benesch. You are very welcome to the Isle of Man. 15 Members: Hear, hear. 1. Questions for Oral Answer CHIEF MINISTER 1.1. Vulnerability in the population – Definition for policy guidance The Hon. Member for Onchan (Mr Hall) to ask the Chief Minister: 20 ________________________________________________________________________ 601 K131 HOUSE OF KEYS, TUESDAY, 25th FEBRUARY 2014 What analysis he has made as to what constitutes and defines vulnerability in the population, to guide policy-making of the Government; and if he will make a statement? The Speaker: Hon. Members, we turn to Item 1 on the Order Paper, Questions for Oral Answer. I call the Hon. Member for Onchan, Mr Hall. 25 Mr Hall: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name. The Speaker: I call the Chief Minister, Hon. Member for Ramsey, Mr Bell. 30 The Chief Minister (Mr Bell): Mr Speaker, the Council of Ministers have discussed the importance of having a workable definition of ‘vulnerable’ within which to set policy-making parameters for protecting the vulnerable – one of the Government’s core objectives. The Social Policy and Children's Committee have discussed this issue, and have agreed that ‘vulnerable’ is impossible to define accurately, not least because it is subjective and individual 35 circumstances change, with people requiring support at different times and at differing levels. Consideration is being given to using the triangular model, where people will move between support levels as their needs change. Most people will access universal services, moving up to additional needs, then complex needs, with acute and statutory needs at the top. This model defines people based on their needs and recognising that not everyone that is or 40 feels vulnerable actually needs support. I am very happy to distribute this model to Hon. Members, if Hon. Members would like that. The Speaker: Supplementary, Mr Hall. 45 Mr Hall: Thank you, Mr Speaker and I thank the Chief Minister for his reply. Notwithstanding the fact that this is an extremely large agenda, but does the Chief Minister not agree with me that vulnerability must be defined relative to some benchmarks, with of course the natural benchmark being relative to poverty and deprivation, which should be considered in various dimensions? I am wondering why this has been largely absent to date, and 50 is the Chief Minister tackling this? Would he further not agree that data and information needs are going to be especially helpful, almost essential, I would have thought, if the Government is to genuinely deliver on its commitment to protecting the vulnerable in the population? 55 The Speaker: Chief Minister. The Chief Minister: Yes, I completely agree with the Hon. Member. Council has been grappling with this issue now for some time, as with the Department of Social Care. As I have said in my Answer, it is not an easy straightforward definition to draw up, but we are working 60 hard to actually try and find an acceptable level of description, which as far as possible would capture our overall understanding of what ‘vulnerable’ actually means, because it is very much at the forefront of our strategic objectives. In terms of more data, again I would agree with the Hon. Member. I think we have more work to do to ensure that we have the requisite level and breadth of data to enable our policies 65 to move forward. The Speaker: Hon. Member for Douglas South, Mrs Beecroft. Mrs Beecroft: Thank you, Mr Speaker. ________________________________________________________________________ 602 K131 HOUSE OF KEYS, TUESDAY, 25th FEBRUARY 2014 70 Could the Chief Minister clarify, then, how he knows when his policies are conforming with one of the three main commitments, which is protecting the vulnerable, if there is no definition or benchmarking?