PP 2014/0160 Tynwald Annual Report 2013-2014 Parliamentary year Published by: Clerk of Tynwald’s Office Printed by: Mannin Printing www.tynwald.org.im Date: December 2014 Tel: +44 (0) 1624 685500 TYNWALD ANNUAL REPORT ON THE YEAR 1ST OCTOBER 2013 TO 30TH SEPTEMBER 2014 CONTENTS Foreword by the Presiding Officers ........................................................................................... 2 2013/14 - Members ................................................................................................................... 4 Primary Legislation etc. .............................................................................................................. 4 Bills introduced in the 2013-14 legislative year ..................................................................... 5 Committee Work........................................................................................................................ 7 Tynwald Day 2014 ...................................................................................................................... 8 Tynwald Day Guests ............................................................................................................... 8 Tynwald Day 2014 Awards ..................................................................................................... 9 Tynwald Day 2014 Enhancements ......................................................................................... 9 Reaching out to young people and the wider community ...................................................... 11 Inter-Parliamentary Engagement ............................................................................................ 16 Activities within the Isle of Man .......................................................................................... 16 Activities in the UK and further afield ................................................................................. 18 Clerk of Tynwald’s Office ......................................................................................................... 20 Appendix 1: Members at 30th September 2014 ...................................................................... 22 Legislative Council ................................................................................................................ 22 House of Keys ....................................................................................................................... 23 Appendix 2: Committees of Tynwald and the Branches at 30th September 2014 .................. 25 Appendix 3: COT Officers 2014 ................................................................................................ 31 Appendix 4: Expenses of the Legislature 2014-2015 Budget .................................................. 32 Photographic Credits Paul Dougherty, Tynwald Seneschal 1 PRESIDENT OF TYNWALD THE HON. CLARE MARGARET CHRISTIAN BSC AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF KEYS THE HON. STEPHEN CHARLES RODAN BSC MR PHARM S SHK FOREWORD BY THE PRESIDING OFFICERS Failt erriu, welcome, to the Tynwald Annual Report for 2013-2014. Tynwald has had another eventful year. This Report is a collection of the highlights as well as an overview of the business of Tynwald as an organisation. It seeks not to comment on the politics of the organisation but to demonstrate who we are and what we do. This year we were proud of the interest that Westminster has shown in our Hansard voice recognition system. We welcomed the House of Commons Hansard deputy editor to Tynwald and appreciated the praise received for the system as well as our live Twitter feed. Both the Tynwald Hansard team and the House of Commons Hansard team found the experience to be mutually beneficial as we look to embrace developments in technology. Mr Speaker attended the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly conference in Dublin. The British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly meets in plenary session twice yearly, alternating between venues in Britain and Ireland. Our ties with Norfolk Island were recognised some more this year. Our Manx flag was raised on 9th June, Bounty Day, outside their Legislative Buildings and here in the Isle of Man their flag was raised outside our Legislative Buildings. Tynwald also strengthened its links with Switzerland and was delighted to welcome His Excellency Mr Dominik Furgler, Ambassador of Switzerland to the United Kingdom and Ms 2 Rebecca Benesch, First Secretary for Financial and Fiscal Affairs on their visit to Tynwald to sign the Tax Information Exchange Agreement between the Island and Switzerland. Through cooperation and shared involvement our relationships with other parliaments go from strength to strength and we look forward to forging equally productive links with other jurisdictions in the future. We were pleased to host the annual British-Irish Parliamentary Reporting Association Symposium which was hailed a great success as officers from the parliaments and assemblies of Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, the United Kingdom and Wales joined with Tynwald’s Hansard team to discuss best practice and innovation in parliamentary reporting. Tynwald also hosted the 2014 Inter-Parliamentary Research and Information Network Conference this year, another invaluable experience for all those involved. Mention must also be made of the portrait we received on long-term loan from former Clerk of Tynwald, Professor St John Bates, which was presented in recognition of the time he served here as Clerk and can be viewed in the Tynwald Library. President of Tynwald Speaker of the House of Keys The Hon. Clare Margaret Christian The Hon. Stephen Charles Rodan 3 2013/14 - MEMBERS The last year has seen the membership of the legislature remain the same with the re-appointment of Mr John Quinn MLC as Her Majesty’s Acting Attorney General in March 2014. PRIMARY LEGISLATION ETC. During the past year 17 Government Bills but no Private Members’ Bills were brought before the House of Keys. Most remarkably, however, three Government Bills were introduced first in the Legislative Council this year. The last Government Bill introduced first in the Legislative Council was the Church Bill brought on the 28th January 1992 by Rt. Rev. Noel Debroy Jones. All of the Bills are listed below together with their status at the 30th September 2014. Permission has been sought to introduce two Private Members’ Bills this year. Firstly, in November in the Legislative Council, Mr Turner MLC sought and was given permission to introduce a Bill to amend the Road Races Act 1982 to make provision for the prohibition of persons with certain convictions of being appointed as marshals. Then, in February in the House of Keys, Mr Watterson MHK sought and was given permission to introduce a Bill to make fresh provision about war memorials. As yet, neither has been read for the first time. Notably, and unusually, this year saw leave to introduce a Private Member’s Bill refused on two occasions in the House of Keys. The first was in February when Mr Gawne was refused leave to introduce a Bill to abolish the Legislative Council; the second, in June, when Mr Thomas was refused leave to introduce a Bill to amend the Town and Country Planning Act. In July, Tynwald debated a private petition regarding compulsory purchase of land for Arbory graveyard, with Advocate Fletcher Craine appearing at the Tynwald Bar to answer questions on behalf of the Church Wardens of the ecclesiastical parish of Arbory and Castletown. 4 BILLS INTRODUCED IN THE 2013-14 LEGISLATIVE YEAR Cabinet Office (Legislative Amendments) – To make amendments to enactments consequential upon renaming the Chief Secretary's Office as the Cabinet Office. (Awaiting Royal Assent) Control of Employment – To re-enact with amendments the Control of Employment Act 1975. (Awaiting Royal Assent) Copyright etc. (Amendment) – To amend the law relating to copyright, design right and rights in performances. (Royal Assent announced) Criminal Justice, Police Power and Other Amendments – To make new provisions relating to criminal law, criminal justice and the police. To amend enactments relating to those matters, and for connected purposes. (Royal Assent announced) European Union (Amendment) – To amend the European Communities (Isle of Man) Act 1973. To enable the Council of Ministers to amend the list of treaties set out in section 1(1) of the Act. To change the Tynwald procedure for the purpose of applying EU instruments. To make further provisions in respect of order under section 2A of the Act, and for connected purposes. (Royal Assent announced) Health Care Professionals – To prescribe the manner in which certain health care professionals are required to be registered, and for related purposes. (Royal Assent announced) Interpretation – To assist in interpretation and shortening of the Island’s legislation and non-legislative public documents. To consolidate and re-enact the Statutory Time et cetera Act 1883, the Interpretation Act 1976 and the Fees and Duties Act 1989. To make consequential and minor amendments to other Acts, and for connected purposes. (Before the Legislative Council) Landlord and Tenant (Private Housing) – About Landlord registration and minimum standards for privately-rented tenancies, and for connected purposes. (Referred to Committee) Law Officers – To make further provision about the discharge of the functions of the Attorney General, and for connected purposes. (Before the House of Keys) Legislation – About general provisions for Manx