Tuesday Tynwald Questions round-up

Onchan MHK, Peter Karran, was in his usual belligerent mood, for the opening day of this month's sitting of Tynwald, and was warned, by the President, Noel Cringle, that he would be asked to leave the chamber, again, if he continued interrupting proceedings.

Mr Karran responded later by cheekily reminding Mr Cringle that he was there as the Presiding Officer not as a member of the 'executive'!

Earlier in Question Time, the Chief Minister, Mr Brown, MHK, had, in response to a question by North Douglas MHK, John Houghton, informed the Court that a working group had been established, this month, chaired by the Director of Public Health, to consider issues in respect of the safety of mobile phone transmitters. A report will be prepared and submitted to the Health Minister, Eddie Teare, MHK, in due course.

George Waft, MLC, asked if a stop on installing new base stations was possible until the report was published. Mr Brown wouldn't give this assurance.

In a related question, Mr Karran asked the Attorney General about the liability of landowners, and phone companies, who allowed mobile phone transmitters to be erected near to residents and suffered damage to their health. Mr Attorney replied that it was difficult to see what liability would arise, but that if, on the "balance of probability", injury to health could be proven then they could be open to claims for damages.

He suggested that it was perhaps prudent for landowners to talk to their insurers.

However, he stated that his chambers couldn't find any cases where such rulings have been made; therefore, his answer had to be "tentative".

Mr Karran also asked the Chairman of the Communications Commission, Martin Quayle, MHK, a question about the number, location and output from mobile phone transmitters.

Mr Quayle, said the Commission didn't hold this information but the phone companies had supplied some answers. Mr Quayle pushed what he, presumably, considers to be the economic benefits of the increase in competition in this area, and wouldn't be drawn in to responding to questions about any health impacts.

Mr Karran had several questions down about the Manx Electricity Authority and its financial affairs.

There was a reluctance to answer some of the questions, which irritated Mr Karran, however, the Treasury Minister, Allan Bell, MHK, confirmed that the MEA would need a government subsidy, amounting to many millions of pounds, for many years to come.

Michael MHK, David Cannan and Mr Bell crossed swords over whether a member of the Jersey government had given evidence, in person, to a US Senate Finance Committee. Mr Bell said they hadn't, Mr Cannan said they did and why hadn't the Isle of Man sent somebody? Mr Bell had his officials check out Mr Cannan's claims and, prior to breaking for lunch, he informed the Court that the answer was, no they hadn't been. Mr Cannan, apologised and said he had obviously been misinformed.

Mr Cannan also quizzed local government Minister, John Shimmin, MHK, about the draft, Island Strategic Plan. Mr Shimmin confirmed he was satisfied that the Department had carried out all it needed to do to progress the plan. He said that it was still the Department's intention to bring the modified plan to Tynwald for approval in July.

During the exchange he had to offer an unreserved apology to local authority members after he started to describe them as "a bunch of" but never completed the sentence.