Printed (by Authority) by The Copy Shop Ltd., 48 Bucks Road, Douglas, Isle of Man. REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS OF HOUSE OF KEYS Douglas, Tuesday, 13th March 2001 at 10.00 a.m. Present: in science and technology which, if applied sensibly, can The Speaker (Hon J D Q Cannan) (Michael); help people achieve a more fulfilling life. Mr L I Singer and Hon A R Bell (Ramsey); Mr R E Quine `Despite all these opportunities, we still seem transfixed OBE (Ayre); Mrs H Hannan (Peel); Hon W A Gilbey by our differences. This is where our young people are so (Glenfaba); Hon S C Rodan (Garff); Hon D North important. They know there are so many problems which (Middle); Mr P Karran, Hon R K Corkill and can only be resolved when people in different countries Mr G T Cannell (Onchan); Messrs J R Houghton and work together. I hope we can persuade them that the R W Henderson (Douglas North); Hon D C Cretney Commonwealth, whose very strength is in its diversity, (Douglas South); Mr R P Braidwood and Mrs B J Cannell has much to offer them in charting a path across the barriers (Douglas East); Mr J P Shimmin and Hon A F Downie of race and religion, distance and economic circumstance. (Douglas West); Hon J A Brown (Castletown); Making our Commonwealth matter to its younger Hon D J Gelling (Malew and Santon); Sir Miles Walker members is the task for those of us who have lived through CBE LLD (hc) and Mrs P M Crowe and Mr J Rimington its development over the last fifty years or so. I hope that (Rushen); with Mr R B M Quayle, Acting Secretary of the when the ten Commonwealth leaders who have been House. charged with conducting a review of our association's future report to the Summit in Brisbane in six months' time they will bring with them a message of hope and The Chaplain took the prayers. renewal. For what the Commonwealth becomes will depend on its success in addressing itself to the new Apologies for Absence generation; capturing their imagination; firing their vision; and enlisting their energy and commitment to an The Speaker: Hon. members, I have apologies for association which I believe can be as important to the absence from the hon. member for South Douglas, Mr twenty-first century as it has been to the twentieth. Duggan. `Elizabeth R. `12th March 2001' Commonwealth Day Message Government Employees — Remuneration - The Speaker: Now, hon. members, before we turn to Question by Mr Karran our order paper you may recall that yesterday was Commonwealth Day and I have a message from Her The Speaker: Hon. members, we will now turn to the Majesty the Queen: order paper. Question number 1, the hon. member for `A New Generation Onchan, Mr Karran, to ask the Chief Minister. The theme this year - A New Generation - captures the reality of a young Commonwealth. More than half of our Mr Karran: Vainstyr Loayreyder, I beg to ask the Chief 1.7 billion people are under the age of twenty-five. They Minister: • are the future of the organisation. `These young people face a world of challenge and Will you request the Treasury to provide, for the information of all members of Tynwald, a report on the ► change. Many must cope with a life where even the basics of human existence - food, shelter and clean water - are remuneration of government employees, including an far from guaranteed or in very short supply. Others have analysis of rates of pay? had their lives blighted by war, disease or environmental damage. Far too few enjoy the prospect of a decent The Speaker: The Chief Minister. education, or work which can give expression to their talents and energies. Mr Gelling: Yes, thank you, Mr Speaker. Any report `Yet for all its ills and difficulties the world of the new on remuneration of government employees must have a generation also offers opportunities: instant remit which is clearly defined and understood. Now, Mr communication, the transfer of knowledge, and advances Speaker, can I take this opportunity to invite the hon. Apologies for Absence Commonwealth Day Message • Government Employees — Remuneration — Question by Mr Karran K636 HOUSE OF KEYS, TUESDAY, 13th MARCH 2001 member for Onchan to discuss his requirements in detail The Speaker: A supplementary, Mr Singer. with my hon. colleague the Treasury minister, because I am confident that the Treasury will be happy to provide Mr Singer: Thank you. I thank the hon. member for the hon. member with whatever information he does his answer. First of all is he aware that some of the research require, sir. has actually been concluded and secondly would he agree with me that there is a great technological difference The Speaker: A supplementary, Mr Karran. between the digital and the standard hearing aid and is it the department's view that there is a great cost benefit to Mr Karran: Vainstyr Loayreyder, a supplementary. be gained for those deaf or partially deaf in our community Would the Chief Minister not agree, whilst thanking him by the issue of digital hearing aids? for his reply, that it is important that we do have a true picture of the information as far as wages are concerned? The Speaker: Mr Karran to reply. Would he also agree that it is no use being able to say about bumper budgets if we have got one in eight employed Mr Karran: Vainstyr Loayreyder, the department's on less than £5 an hour and the latest revelation from the viewpoint is that at the present time until all the DLGE that they want first-time buyers houses should be investigations have been done they are waiting until they in the region of £120,000? This issue is important. see the reports as far as this issue is concerned and they will do it as far as that is concerned. The Speaker: The Chief Minister to reply. The Speaker: A further supplementary, Mr Singer. Mr Gelling: Yes, Mr Speaker, I can accept that the issue is important. I can accept that also the information that is Mr Singer: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Is the hon. member gleaned is correct and proper and I think we can see from other questions that have been answered in written form aware that in Leeds all hearing aids issued are digital that each department has tried their best to answer the whether or not the recipient takes part in the scientific question that was put to them and I would suggest to the research and that whereas a private purchase of a digital hon. member that if he perhaps speaks with the Treasury hearing aid may be be a thousand pounds, the local NH minister and makes it more clear in the definition of what trust there, by buying in bulk, has negotiated the price down he is looking for, I am quite sure the Treasury will assist, sir. to £176. Would the the department consider joining with an NHS trust such as Leeds to be able to purchase a digital hearing aid at this advantageous negotiated price? Digital Hearing Aids - Question by Mr Singer The Speaker: Mr Karran to reply. Mr Karran: Vainstyr Loayreyder, the department is The Speaker: Question number 2, the hon. member always happy to take on ideas from hon. members and for Ramsey, Mr Singer, to ask the member for Health and members of the general public as far as ways of improving Social Security. the health services, but my advice is that we are told that it Mr Singer: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I beg leave to ask is questionable whether these hearing aids are as effective a member for Health and Social Security: as they are being made out to be. Does your department intend to permit the issue of digital hearing aids under the National Health Service? MMR — Refusal of Vaccination — Question by Mr Singer The Speaker: Mr Karran, member for Health and Social Security. The Speaker: Question number 3, sir. The hon. member for Ramsey, Mr Singer, to ask a member for Health and Mr Karran: Vainstyr Loayreyder, this department is Social Security. aware that the United Kingdom's Department of Health, in collaboration with the Royal National Institute for the • Mr Singer: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I beg leave to ask Blind and the Medical Research Council and the National a member for Health and Social Security: Health Service's Purchasing and Supply Agency, is currently carrying out research into the provisions of digital hearing aids as part of the National Health Service. This (1) Is your department aware of any parents refusing research has been monitored and assessed by the to allow their children to have the MMR vaccine department so that we can learn from the experiences of due to the worries of serious side effects; and those health trusts that are taking part in this pilot scheme. It is envisaged that the plans will be brought forward to (2) if so - develop an audiology service within the Isle of Man hospitals, based on the findings of the research, for the (a) how many parents have refused the benefit of patients on the Island at a later date. vaccination, and Digital Hearing Aids — Question by Mr Singer MMR — Refusal of Vaccination — Question by Mr Singer HOUSE OF KEYS, TUESDAY, 13th MARCH 2001 K637 (b) what advice is the department giving to those recommendations of the United Kingdom's Department parents? of Health on these issues. I did not know it was 90 per cent that the hon.