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 January 2020 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 137, No. 8 ISSN 1742-2256 Published by the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald, Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3PW. © High Court of Tynwald, 2020 TYNWALD COURT, TUESDAY, 21st JANUARY 2020 Present: The President of Tynwald (Hon. S C Rodan OBE) In the Council: The Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man (The Rt Rev. P A Eagles), The Attorney General (Mr J L M Quinn QC), Miss T M August-Hanson, Mr D C Cretney, Mr T M Crookall, Mr R W Henderson, Mrs M M Maska, Mrs K A Lord-Brennan, Mrs J P Poole-Wilson and Mrs K Sharpe with Mr J D C King, Deputy Clerk of Tynwald. In the Keys: The Speaker (Hon. J P Watterson) (Rushen); The Chief Minister (Hon. R H Quayle) (Middle); Mr J R Moorhouse and Hon. G D Cregeen (Arbory, Castletown and Malew); Hon. A L Cannan and Mr T S Baker (Ayre and Michael); Hon. C C Thomas and Mrs C A Corlett (Douglas Central); Mrs C L Barber and Mr C R Robertshaw (Douglas East); Hon. D J Ashford and Mr G R Peake (Douglas North); Miss K J Costain and Hon. W M Malarkey (Douglas South); Mr M J Perkins and Mrs D H P Caine (Garff); Hon. R K Harmer and Hon. G G Boot (Glenfaba and Peel); Mr W C Shimmins (Middle); Mr R E Callister and Ms J M Edge (Onchan); Dr A J Allinson and Mr L L Hooper (Ramsey); Hon. L D Skelly (Rushen); with Mr R I S Phillips, Clerk of Tynwald. ________________________________________________________________________ 786 T137 TYNWALD COURT, TUESDAY, 21st JANUARY 2020 Business transacted Welcome back to Members ......................................................................................................... 791 Greetings from the Parliament of Canada ................................................................................... 791 Papers laid before the Court ........................................................................................................ 791 Bill for signature ........................................................................................................................... 793 Question of Urgent Public Importance ................................................................................ 794 Dispute with teaching unions – Statement ........................................................................... 794 Questions for Oral Answer ................................................................................................. 801 Procedural – Question 4 to be answered in writing; Question 42 to be answered on 31st January .............................................................................. 801 1. Derestricted roads – Policy basis ...................................................................................... 801 2. Pensioners – Number living solely off state pension ........................................................ 803 3. Closure of all sub-post office branches – CoMin discussion ............................................. 805 5. Zero-based budgeting at DESC – Progress with project .................................................... 806 6. Manx pension supplement – Plans to bring back ............................................................. 807 7. DEFA and Bangor University– Contract regarding Manx waters; reports received .......... 808 8. Fisheries Management Agreement following Brexit – Renegotiating control of Island’s waters ....................................................................................................................... 809 9. KM&T report about Hospital theatres – Action taken ...................................................... 813 10. Hospital consultants’ pay review – Progress................................................................... 814 11. Home carers looking after relatives – Help and support available ................................. 816 12. Affordable housing – Improving access and availability ................................................. 817 13. Peel Marina – New plans for dredging and silt disposal; project cost ............................ 821 14. Peel Marina dredging – Consultants’ cost ...................................................................... 824 15. Public Services Commission – Employee groups to be transferred ................................ 825 16. Sub-post offices becoming mini Welcome Centres – Discussions held with Post Office ............................................................................................................................. 828 17. 2020 TT Schedule – When consultation decision was made .......................................... 831 18. Potential decline in post office counters – DfE concerns raised ..................................... 832 19. Retail sector – Plan to protect and enhance; assessment of significance ...................... 834 20. Pupils receiving free school meals – Number by school in last 10 years; budget allocated ................................................................................................................... 838 21. In-house teacher training – Schools’ employment of graduates .................................... 839 22. Sub-postmasters – Why roles not advertised since 2016 ............................................... 840 23. Ballasalla sub-postmaster – Why role not advertised .................................................... 842 ________________________________________________________________________ 787 T137 TYNWALD COURT, TUESDAY, 21st JANUARY 2020 Questions for Written Answer ............................................................................................ 846 4. Benefit payments – Number and frequency paid, by type .............................................. 846 24. Ballasalla Post Office – External assessment of alternatives to existing services .......... 847 25. Potential Ballasalla Post Office closure – CoMin assessment of environmental impact ................................................................................................................................... 847 26. Resignation of Transformation team CEO – Effect on transformation process ............. 847 27. Central Projects Unit – Proposal progress ...................................................................... 848 28. Payment of pensions and benefits– When Post Office option removed ....................... 848 29. MiCard – Need to re-enrol after three years; future of service ..................................... 849 30. Health Service transformation – Progress ...................................................................... 850 31. DHSC waiting lists – Letters asking if appointments still required ................................. 851 32. Patient transfer service – Contingency plans ................................................................. 852 33. Peel Marina silt testing – Publishing results ................................................................... 852 34. Commercially viable post offices – Determination by Isle of Man Post Office .............. 853 35. Clinical Recommendations Committee – Meetings in last five years; drug approval process; changes planned..................................................................................................... 853 36. Independent regulation of health and social care – Progress ........................................ 854 37. MiCard customers – Number using each post office ..................................................... 854 38. Citizenship applications through immigration channels – Details for last five years ..... 855 39. Local authority rates – Details of increases for last 10 years ......................................... 856 40. TT VIP tickets – Details of issue by DfE since September 2016 ...................................... 862 41. MNH kiosk at Sea Terminal – Formal review outcome; costs and profits; future plans ........................................................................................................................... 863 42. Transfer of DESC staff to PSC – Publishing communications .......................................... 864 43. Teachers employed on 1st January 2020 – By school type, contract and take-home pay ...................................................................................................................... 864 44. Housing support for new teachers – Access for Manx residents, teachers appointed and cost for all teachers ....................................................................................................... 865 45. Housing support for teachers – Teachers recruited since revising policy ...................... 866 46. Teacher pay scales – Compared with neighbouring jurisdictions .................................. 866 47. DHSC-funded operations in Oswestry – Number of patients in last five years .............. 868 48. Registered Nurses – Current and predicted vacancies; recruitment ............................. 869 49. Registered Nurses – Number leaving service in last two years and length of service ... 870 50. Relocation of nurses – Amount paid in last