TYNWALD COURT, TUESDAY, 21st OCTOBER 2003 32 T2003/4 Volume 121, No. 1 ISSN 1742-2256 Revised Edition 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) Douglas, Tuesday, 21st October 2003 Published by the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald, Legislative Buildings, Bucks Road, Douglas, Isle of Man. © Court of Tynwald, 2003 Printed by The Copy Shop Limited, 48 Bucks Road, Douglas, Isle of Man Price Band J 2 T121 TYNWALD COURT, TUESDAY, 21st OCTOBER 2003 Present: The President of Tynwald (The Hon. N Q Cringle) In the Council: The Attorney General (Mr W J H Corlett QC), Hon. C M Christian, Hon. P M Crowe, Mr D F K Delaney, Mr J R Kniveton, Mr E G Lowey, Mr L I Singer and Mr G H Waft, with Mrs M Cullen, Clerk of the Council. In the Keys: The Speaker (The Hon. J A Brown)(Castletown); Mr D M Anderson (Glenfaba); Hon. A R Bell and Mrs A V Craine (Ramsey); MrREQuine OBE (Ayre); Mr J D Q Cannan (Michael); Mrs H Hannan (Peel); Hon. S C Rodan (Garff); Mr P Karran, Hon. R K Corkill and Mr A J Earnshaw (Onchan); Mr G M Quayle (Middle); MrJRHoughton and Mr R W Henderson (Douglas North); Hon. D C Cretney and Mr A C Duggan (Douglas South); Hon.RPBraidwood and Mrs B J Cannell (Douglas East); Hon. A F Downie and Hon. J P Shimmin (Douglas West); Capt. A C Douglas (Malew and Santon); Hon. J Rimington, Mr Q B Gill and Mr P A Gawne (Rushen); with Mr M Cornwell-Kelly, Clerk of Tynwald. TYNWALD COURT, TUESDAY, 21st OCTOBER 2003 3 T121 Business transacted Page Leave of Absence granted ............................................................................................................................................... 5 Tribute to Sir Henry Charles Kerruish ......................................................................................................................... 5 Bills for Signature ............................................................................................................................................................ 6 Papers Laid before the Court ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Questions for Oral Answer ............................................................................................................................................. 7 1. Chief Minister s Questions — Diminution in accountability.................................................................................... 7 2. Rent arrears protocol — Progress by Government Departments and housing authorities....................................... 8 3. Government employment incentives — Discrimination against former Isle of Man residents................................. 9 4. Petition for Redress of Grievance — Helen Margaret Hyde report ........................................................................... 11 5. Health and Safety Inspectorate —Acceptable interview practice ............................................................................. 13 6. Isle of Man Constabulary — Possible legal action over conduct.............................................................................. 14 7. Mount Murray Report — Initial meeting on the proposal......................................................................................... 15 8. Increasing cost of housing — Fiscal or legislative control........................................................................................ 15 9. Waste disposal — Reduction in amounts landfilled................................................................................................... 17 10. Douglas Library — Costs and membership............................................................................................................... 18 11. Douglas Corporation Standing Orders —A vailable only by written application ...................................................... 20 12. Villa Marina employees — Outstanding wages and issues relating to Douglas Corporation................................... 21 13. 1993 Water Pollution Act — Reason for non implementation................................................................................... 22 14. Commercial recycling policy — Cardboard, paper, glass and metals ....................................................................... 23 15. Waste incinerator — Plans for interim storage of bottom ash................................................................................... 24 16. Archallagan landfill facility — Plans for disposal of leachate and value for money................................................. 25 17. Waste collection services — Costs in comparative jurisdictions and legislative process.......................................... 26 18. Mount Murray Inquiry —W eaknesses and failures by Government ........................................................................ 28 19. Mount Murray Inquiry — Deficiencies of the planning system................................................................................ 29 20. Road closures —Applications to be approved by Tynwald ...................................................................................... 30 21. TT Course closure — Cycle racing on two consecutive days.................................................................................... 31 22. IRIS Project — Old Castletown Road problems....................................................................................................... 32 Questions for Written Answer 23. South Barrule Plantation — Landscaping and wild flower planting......................................................................... 34 24. 1993 Water Pollution Act — Effect of non implementation ...................................................................................... 34 25. TT and MGP Races — Standard of marshalling........................................................................................................ 35 26. Public transport to new hospital — Dissatisfaction with frequency.......................................................................... 35 27. New Noble s Hospital — Standard of Prosthetics Clinic.......................................................................................... 36 28. Secure Unit — Remit of Board ofV isitors ................................................................................................................ 37 29. Private nursing homes — Standards of staff and equipment ..................................................................................... 37 30. Willaston Police Station — Planned closure.............................................................................................................. 37 31. Chief Fire Officer — Interviews and candidates....................................................................................................... 37 32. Mount Murray Inquiry — Council of Ministers in breach ofT ynwald Resolution ................................................... 38 33. Mount Murray Inquiry recommendation —Audit Commission not implemented ................................................... 38 34. Company buy-back share schemes — Use of accrued cash reserves........................................................................ 38 35. Failure of endowment mortgages — Repayment of agency commission to alleviate hardship................................ 39 36. Chief Executives — Functions and salaries............................................................................................................... 39 37. Chief Constable —Allegiance at Swearing in........................................................................................................... 43 38. Government capital works contracts —V alue and Method of award ....................................................................... 43 39. Civil Service Act 1990 — Chief Minister as political head....................................................................................... 44 40. Immigration — Pro-active action and compliance.................................................................................................... 44 41. Isle of Man Fire Service — Fitting of automatic door closures in Elderly Persons Complexes............................... 45 42. Isle of Man Post Office — Legal position of abbreviated title.................................................................................. 45 43. Leece Lodge Murders Trial — Cost of delay and reasons..................................................................................... 46 44. Reserve Funds — Book and Market values............................................................................................................... 46 4 T121 TYNWALD COURT, TUESDAY, 21st OCTOBER 2003 45. E-Commerce — Current and proposed use survey.................................................................................................... 47 46. Douglas 2000 and the Douglas Development Partnership —Amount of grant assistance ....................................... 47 47. Direct grant support for town and village centres — Discussions withAuthorities and traders ............................... 48 48. Waste arisings — Impact of the recent increase in charges ....................................................................................... 48 49. Conservation Area grants —Assistance to individual owners of properties ............................................................