A CAR window was smashed in the early hours of Sunday in Peel.

The red Mercedes that was targeted was parked in a lane off Glenfaba Road and police say that the incident would have made a loud noise.

At a similar time in the same area attempts were made to break into other vehicles on the Glenfaba Road.

Peel police are asking members of the public if they have heard anything at the time or if they have any information to these incidents then they are asked to contact Peel police station or any police officer.

Anyone with information to this incident is asked to contact Peel police station on 842208, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

HIGHER education provision is to be extended at Isle of Man College from September 2014.

It will provide a much cheaper way for students to gain a degree – with no plans in place to charge tuition fees.

At last month’s Tynwald sitting, members voted in favour of introducing tuition fees for students attending UK universities.

College principal professor Ronald Barr said: ‘We think these courses will appeal to people because the range of courses that is going to be expanded would allow people to come to the college to do their first year.

‘It would save them living expenses off-island for the first year so there would be fewer costs that families would have to meet.

‘Students would still get the chance to go off-island in their second and third years.’

He added: ‘We had been planning this on the basis that at some point government was going to have some means of asking people to pay [tuition fees].’

The Douglas college has an associated college status with the University of Chester for the next five years.

Professor Barr said that proposed new courses included Bachelor of Arts degrees BA (Hons) in fine art – with options in photography and multimedia – English, geography, hospitality management/tourism management, and law, policing and criminology.

And there would be Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree courses in agriculture/horticulture, and motorsports.

Mr Barr said it was envisaged that students would study the first one or possibily two years in the island and then transfer to a UK university, not necessarily Chester, for the remainder.

He said that universities would be happy to admit students on to their courses because they don’t count towards universities’ head count set by the UK government.

‘They are additional income to those universities.’

He said the plan was to provide a dedicated area at one of the college sites, which also includes The Nunnery site, for higher education students.

The college has offered higher education courses for 10 years, primarily through the University of Chester, as well as Liverpool John Moores.

Existing courses include BA (Hons) courses in business studies, and history and heritage with Manx studies. HND courses include art and design, and hospitality. HNC courses include computing and construction.

Mr Barr said island students tended to achieve higher grades than their Chester counterparts due to smaller class sizes.

SIX out of the seven candidates for this month’s Legislative Council election have never secured a public mandate.

Four seats are up for grabs in the LegCo elections that take place on March 18.

Seven nominations have been received.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/legislative-council-nominations-announced-1-5458160|Click here to see how iomtoday.co.im reported the nominations on the day they were announced}

They include two MLCs who are seeking re-election - Juan Turner (nominated by Education Minister and Peel MHK Tim Crookall) and Tony Wild (nominated by Douglas North MHK Johh Houghton). Neither have been directly elected by the public.

Douglas West MHK Geoff Corkish is the only candidate who has won a public vote. He has been nominated by Juan Watterson, the Home Affairs Minister and an MHK for Rushen.

The other nominees have all stood unsuccessfully for election to the House of Keys.

They are Linda Bowers-Kasch, nominated by Liberal Vannin leader Peter Karran MHK (Onchan); Michael Coleman, nominated by Infrastructure Minister and Manx Labour Party MHK for Douglas South David Cretney; former police officer Peter Hill, nominated by Mr Karran and Nigel Malpass, nominated by Chief Minister Allan Bell (Ramsey).

Mrs Bowers-Kasch stood unsuccessfully for Lib Vannin in Ramsey in the 2011 general election. Mr Hill was the party’s candidate in Douglas North. Nigel Malpass is the chairman of Ramsey Commissioners. He stood unsuccessfully as a candidate for Liberal Vannin in 2006. Mr Coleman stood unsuccessfully for the Manx Labour Party in Douglas North in 2006

Two of the four MLCs whose term of office ended on February 28 have now retired – veteran politician Eddie Lowey and David Callister, the latter always saying he would sit for just one term but who failed to achieve his goal of reforming LegCo to make it a directly elected chamber.

Candidates have to secure 13 votes to be elected to the upper house. Following changes to the voting system, a series of ballots can be held in one sitting until all vacancies have been filled. MHKs can nominate from the floor after the first ballot. If all vacancies have not been filled at the end of the sitting, the Speaker can call for fresh nominations and a further election would be held six weeks’ later.

Chief Minister Allan Bell said he thought it unlikely the four vacancies will be filled after the first ballot – and he suspected other MHKs may put their names forward in subsequent rounds.

He said: ‘To be successful a candidate needs to get 13 votes out 24 - it is not sufficient just to have a majority. With seven candidates coming forward, those votes are clearly going to be split. I think it’s unlikely the four seats will be filled in the first round because members vote tactically.

‘Some MHKs will not put their names forward now as they will not want to risk losing on the first round. They will want to see the lie of the land on the second or possible third ballots. I am not aware of particular MHKs but as happened in the past we might well see a slightly different line-up in subsequent ballots.’

EXTERNAL CCTV cameras on buses have been defended by the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure, following an accusation by the Data Protection Supervisor that the use of these cameras could be a breach of privacy laws.

Iain McDonald revealed his office has issued an enforcement notice against the department, with an initial hearing before the Data Protection Tribunal scheduled for late April.

Mr McDonald said that the cameras can capture images as far as 45 metres away and 15 metres either side of the bus, meaning people may have had their images recorded while in the privacy of their own property.

He said that these ‘extensive recordings of the Manx public as they go about their daily business’ contravened people’s fundamental right to know who is processing their personal data, and why.

However, the DCCL has argued that CCTV is vital for public and passenger safety, and the footage is destroyed after 56 days and is only viewed in response to specific incidents.

The department said that although it didn’t tell the public of its plans, other agencies were consulted in advance.

Michael Cartwright, Head of Operations for Public Transport, said: ‘Buses are generally fitted with internal and external CCTV, it’s standard these days. Any built in the last 10 years will have them installed, anywhere in the world.It’s hard to buy a bus in today’s market without them.

‘They are fitted for crime detection purposes, and for insurance claims, insurance companies like to see the footage.’

He referred to a recent BBC documentary featuring cases in Liverpool and York where insurance fraud had been detected after external CCTV footage from a bus had been reviewed.

Mr Cartwirght said: ‘The hearing centres around our compliance with data protection. Quite clearly we need to comply with the act and put in the public domain the fact that the buses have external CCTV.’

He added: ‘The footage is retrievable as and when required, but is not stored.’

The department is appealing against the enforcement notice, and will continue to use the cameras while the issue is resolved.

TODAY’S bus strike will be no laughing matter for anyone.

With reports of bendy buses breaking down, striking drivers taking to the picket line on days booked off as holiday, thousands wasted on a bus ticketing system - when it comes to the goings on at Bus Vannin it sometimes seems you couldn’t make it up.

It’s all provided plenty of ammunition for creators of a series of an animated cartoons posted on YouTube that is poking fun at bosses at Bus Vannin.

Entitled Funny Bus Bosses Isle of Man, it stars Shortworth, Blackie, Cartwheel and Greenshine as thinly disguised DCCL management, voice recognition software providing them with vaguely sinister Russian accents.

Topics include a secret bunker of bendy buses in Jurby and the unfathomable timetable.

‘That’s why we should not send kids to university - they would be able to work out the bus timetable!’ suggests Cartwheel.

{http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A6AG7dWzjY|Click here to watch Funny Bus Bosses Episode 1 on YouTube}

DAMAGE to the Isle of Man’s green lanes is often caused by over-use and some sort of extended permit system might even have mileage, according to a spokesman for the Manx Four Wheel Drive Club.

But the answer lies with sympathetic maintenance as well as monitoring the degree of use and perhaps restricting access from time to time to give the ground time to recover. It does not lie in exclusion from large areas of green lanes.

That is the view of club secretary Richard Crane in response to a new website {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/new-pressure-group-s-concern-over-green-lanes-1-5443658|which iomtoday reported last week}. It has been launched campaigning for the government to take action to preserve the historic tracks which criss-cross the island.

The web site ({www.iomgreenlanes.co.uk|www.iomgreenlanes.co.uk}) contains photographs of damage to different sections of track including the Millennium Way and makes suggestions as to how the problem could be addressed.

But Mr Crane criticised the site for inaccuracy and said while many of the suggestions were valid most are already in place.

The site calls for a survey to assess all the green lanes and an annual monitoring system linked with a power to close those that are becoming damaged. It also calls for an annually produced map showing the green lanes, their categories of use and a calendar indicating when they are open for use. But Mr Crane said all of these points had already been addressed.

In addition the web site calls for categorisation of the lanes according to the level of use they can support and clear signs indicating this. Other measures called for include a clear management strategy for the green lanes based on the results of the condition survey and more rigorous policing to apprehend those who abuse them.

A spokesman for the group, who did not wish to be named, said the island was in danger of losing miles of ancient roads if action was not taken.

However Mr Crane said the root of the problem lay in poor maintenance of culverts and ditches. Instead of being diverted from the green lane into the ditch, running water settled in grooves left by tyres and erosion did the rest leaving the deep scars shown in some of the pictures, he said.

‘To say we have no respect is totally untrue. I walk these tracks more than I drive them. As for visitors, the majority who come over are professional people who can afford to do so. Most are acting in a legal manner and have respect.

‘Four years ago I was told by the Chief Minister visiting off-road riders contributed £340,000 to the island economy,’ he said.

‘Our club has a working day soon maintaining the green lanes. I’m just as passionate about preserving them as anyone else for my kids and their kids.’

JANE Dellar, who returned to the Isle of Man three years ago, because she was ‘homesick’ for the island, has taken over as the new chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce.

She replaces Mike Hennessy in the hot seat. He has a new high powered role with financial company Kleinwort Benson.

At the same time as her three day a week job with the Chamber, she is embarking on a new business venture, a coffee shop in Athol Street, Douglas.

She said this will give her hands-on experience of the challenges involved in launching a new business.

Ms Dellar, who took over in the hot seat on Friday, said: ‘Business will clearly be the fundamental engine of growth for the Manx economy and I am honoured to be joining the Chamber at this time to help provide tangible support for members during these increasingly challenging times and Chamber’s continuous development as the island’s premier business lobby group.

‘The Chamber of Commerce is a vital interface between government and the private sector and works tirelessly to ensure that enterprise is encouraged and hard work rewarded.

‘Our role is to provide a voice across all business sectors large and small, from corner-shop retailers to the largest multinational financial institutions’.

Ms Dellar previously headed Isle of Man Finance for the Treasury before moving to Bahrain as managing director of the Economic Development Board.

She relocated back to the Isle of Man three years ago and operates a consultancy service for company directors.

Shortly after returning to the island she told Business News she had been made most welcome in Bahrain but ‘I was homesick for my adopted Isle of Man’. She also told Business News at the time that she thought there was a shortage of leading women in business finance posts in the island and added: ‘There is a marked absence of women in senior positions. The glass ceiling has certainly not broken.’

As Ms Dellar took over the Chamber job last Friday she said: ‘My career has mostly been in finance, but I am also in the process of launching the Coffee Exchange in Athol Street at the end of March with broadcaster Stuart Peters, which has given me a real hands-on understanding of the challenges facing anyone starting a new business from scratch in 2013’.

Chamber of Commerce president Mike Shaw said: ‘After a rigorous selection process, for which the high quality of candidates was a reassurance to the interviewing panel, we are confident that our final selection will soon be able to put her personal stamp on this, at times, complex role. I am certain Jane will make a positive and dynamic contribution to Chamber and the island’s development.’

A THREE dimensional model of the Isle of Man – made from recycled phone directories and Fairtrade food wrappers – is taking shape at the Manx Museum.

The sculpture is being made by St Ninian’s High School’s Fairtrade steering group to communicate the island’s Fairtrade status during Fairtrade Fortnight (February 25-March 10).

It is being made in the Douglas museum’s map room using its 3D model of the island as the foundation.

Papier mache is being recycled from old Manx phone directories – to make the connection with island residents – while the top layer is from wrappers of Fairtrade produce.

It is hoped that it will remind residents of the Fairtrade products that are available.

St Ninian’s teacher Jackie Merrick said: ‘Any contributions to our collection of Fairtrade produce wrappers that we could recycle in the making of our sculpture would be fantastic.

‘We need as many Fairtrade wrappers as we can lay our hands on as the sculpture is approximately 5m long and 1.5m wide.’ The public is welcome to watch its progress.

A further two men have been arrested by police investigating allegations of violence during and after a football match in Laxey on Saturday.

They have been interviewed and subsequently released on bail pending further enquiries.

There have now been a total of four persons arrested in relation to the investigation, which is continuing.

People are still urged to make contact with PC Darren Wylde or PC Mark Kerruish, at Ramsey police station if they have any information.

Sgt Andy Kneen said: ‘There has been a lot of speculation and comment on media sites and in the press concerning events at this game.

‘We are keen to convert this interest into information we can use to investigate all aspects of what occurred, as expeditiously as we can.

‘I would ask that anyone who witnessed an “on the ball” incident at the start of the second half, in the St John’s goalmouth, which resulted in a St John’s player being substituted, to come forward.

‘We are also looking at a further incident on the pitch, after the game concluded.

‘This later incident involved several players and spectators.

‘As a consequence of these incidents, two men were treated at Noble’s Hospital.

‘While one was detained for treatment, I am glad to say both are now at home.’

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/two-men-arrested-after-laxey-football-game-1-5467831|Click here to read yesterday’s story}

BUS drivers have gone on strike today in the latest move in their dispute over changes to conditions, including the end of paid lunches.

The nationalised bus company, Bus Vannin, is locking drivers out of their workplace today once they go on strike, their union, Unite, says.

The island’s bus drivers are on strike from 7.30am to 9.30am and 3pm to 5pm have been told by bosses that they will not be letting workers return to work after strike action - triggering further disruption to bus users throughout the day.

The buses are running a Sunday service for the whole day.

Management says that’s so they’ll know where buses will be, rather than have them left wherever the drivers down tools, and so that they can operate a predictable service.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/sunday-service-for-tomorrow-s-bus-strike-1-5468137|Click here to read the contingency plans}

Unite national officer for passenger transport Bobby Morton said: ‘Unite has often been blamed for causing disruption on the Isle of Man but the ball is very much in Bus Vannin’s court now. Instead of letting drivers return to work following these short stoppages they have chosen to lock out its workers – bringing the buses on the island to a standstill – the blame lies squarely with Bus Vannin.’

The long-running bus dispute began last year when the government ordered cuts of £300,000 to the bus budget, resulting in drivers’ contracts being terminated and new contracts imposed.

The union says that means drivers’ take home pay will be cut by by up to £3,000 a year.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/bus-drivers-fight-to-retain-paid-lunch-deal-1-4769060|Click here to read about the beginning of the dispute}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/quarter-of-bus-drivers-accept-new-conditions-1-5076747|Some bus drivers took home more than £40,000 last year}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/bus-strike-liberal-vannin-issues-pro-union-statement-1-5249848|Questions and answers with the union}

FIGURES released by the Department of Education and Children reveal that it has subsidised pre-school nurseries £481,833.44 this academic year.

During 2012-13, 875 credit certificates have been issued to parents of children whose fourth birthday fell during the year.

Of these, 655 certificates have been issued at the standard credit amount of £350, while 220 parents on benefits have received the higher rate of £1,150 (or a reduced amount where there is only a part-year entitlement to these benefits).

There are 37 providers of pre-school education, operating 45 different pre-school facilities throughout the island.

The DEC’s pre-school credit scheme is to continue for 2013-14.

The scheme provides £350 towards the cost of pre-school to all parents of children who reach their fourth birthday between September 1, 2013 and August 31, 2014.

An additional £800 is available to those who would be eligible for free school meals – i.e. in receipt of Employed Person’s Allowance, Income Support or income based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

The credit – issued in the form of a certificate – can be used with providers of daycare which offer pre-school provision. Half of the total credit can be used between September 2013 and February 2014 and the remaining balance, or the whole amount, can be used between March and August 2014.

The government’s Customer First team will continue to administer the scheme. Application forms for 2013-14 will be available from May 2013.

Parents can apply for the 2013-14 credit via the government website http://cf.gov.im. Copies of the application form are available from the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal, Douglas, the DEC’s office at Hamilton House, Peel Road, Douglas, or by ringing 651540.

A list of registered providers is available online and from the Department of Social Care’s Registration and Inspections Service, 3/4 Hill Street, Douglas IM1 1EF. Call 642427.

The taxpayer-funded scheme began after the DEC stopped providing free pre-school places in 2012 due to cuts.

A DOUGLAS woman is to embark on a 500-mile trek to support three Manx animal charities.

Kathleen Swan, who set off on Friday, plans to walk from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees, to Santiago de Compostela om Spain where St James is reputed to be buried.

Mrs Swan, who lives with her husband Robert on Woodbourne Road, will be joined on the trek by a friend, Sarah Macdonald, from her native Canada.

‘I leave initially for Canada then we start the walk on March 19 and expect it to take about a month. We should be covering about 120 miles per week,’ she said.

The route is a well-trodden path with hostels to stay in along the way. Moreover villagers and householders on the route are used to offering support to the many people who have undertaken the pilgrimage over the years.

The purpose is to support three Manx charities. One of those is Paws for Therapy, which runs a programme of visits by dogs with their owners to the hospice, old people’s homes and similar institutions, to offer comfort and companionship to the residents.

The others are the Manx Greyhound Aid League and the Pets’ Aid League.

Mrs Swan was anxious to emphasis all money donated would go to the charities and none was being used to fund the trip which she is financing independently.

Though they would like to complete the whole trek there are contingency plans.

‘If for some reason it looks as if we won’t make it we could cycle some of it or even take the bus,’ she said.

Though there is a card-stamping system along the route to verify people have completed each section, it is still possible to claim the pilgrim’s credentials at the end.

‘But to get that credit you have to have walked at least the last 100 miles or, if you are cycling, you must have ridden the last 200 miles,’ she said.

‘We hope not to have to take the bus – but we are both old,’ she laughed. (She is in her 50s)

‘My husband is going to chart our progress from the Isle of Man using the map! I’m sure he will be rooting for us from the sidelines.’

Remarkably, up to 90 per cent of people attempt the walk without undertaking any training beforehand but she has avoided falling into this trap.

‘I do a bit of running as well as yoga and I’ve been walking a lot. To walk 20 miles per day for a month is significant. It’s not like doing a marathon where you complete it on the day then rest, instead you are walking day after day.’

There are actually five routes that can be followed between start and finish but Mrs Swan’s route is the best known as it is the one reputedly followed by St Francis in 1514.

‘There is also a more rugged northern route along the coast and some southern routes,’ she said.

‘And in the past 20 years or so there has been a real upsurge in people doing it. It starts off in the Pyrenees and the first few days are the toughest because you are climbing steeply then going down again, which can be even harder.’

As for celebrations at the end of the trek, she said: ‘I haven’t really planned that far! I suppose my ideal would be to find a really nice hotel and have a good long bath – and a sleep!’

Donations to support Mrs Swan’s trek can be made via her friends in the new animal charity shop at 4 Windsor Road in Douglas.

The shop, called Rhosyn, sells a range of clothing, furniture, decorative and household items and is also keen to receive donations of items, including small furniture, to sell.

To make donations or find out more call Rosie Richmond on 431272.

I DON’T get around much any more, not in the Isle of Man anyway.

I drive to work and back and that’s about it these days.

I was reminded of this sad state of affairs last week when my daughter came over with a friend and told me: ‘You must take Candida on a tour round and show her how lovely the Isle of Man is.’

She added that she wouldn’t be coming with us. Like the rest of my family, she believes I drive too slowly.

I told her this was what you did on a sight-seeing tour.

‘Just be back before midnight,’ she said.

As a result, in one day, I drove with Candida for four unbroken hours and covered nearly 100 miles. She assured me she had enjoyed it.

It was all about sight-seeing for me as well. I went to parts of the Isle of Man which I haven’t been to in years.

First leg was Douglas to Castletown, Port Erin, Port St Mary and the Calf Sound where there is a new cafe. Whatever happened to the old one?

After that it was down to Fleshwick. It took a few false starts before I found the right road. I tried to work out how long it had been since a crowd of us went down there and barbecued a whole sheep.

What I could remember was that I was the only person to bring some mint sauce. I never knew girls would do such things for a spoonful of mint sauce.

We headed towards Kirk Michael to link up with the TT Course. We came up behind a small pick-up truck with a double bed mattress in the open back. This took off without warning and landed in the road a short distance ahead.

I missed it (I wasn’t caught napping) and set off in pursuit of the truck.

The driver stopped and I pulled up alongside to tell him what had happened.

He stared at me. ‘It’s you isn’t it?’ he said. ‘I suppose this’ll be in the Examiner next week.’

Right on, pal.

We went up to the Point of Ayre and back and then I got lost in Ramsey. I ended up in a large modern housing estate. It hadn’t been there the last time I was in Ramsey.

Candida was kind about the situation. She said it was a really nice housing estate.

We returned to Douglas over the Mountain Road and Candida promised me faithfully that when she got home she would get a copy of the George Formby film ‘No Limit’ and also to tell all her friends about how lovely the Isle of Man was and they should all come over this summer.

Now I am safely back in Douglas and wondering if Geoff Corkish, the closest thing we have to a Minister for Tourism these days, will let me put a bill in for my petrol.

It’s going up in price again I notice.

• PAT Sharp in Laxey tells me she saw the following on Sky breaking news from Amritsar: ‘David Cameron has expressed remorse for the 1000 protesters killed by British troops on the third day of his visit to India.’ Sky always says: ‘Believe in Better.’ You have to.

• THERE was a headline in the Examiner saying: ‘Hole to be repaired.’

The reader who reported this anonymously asked if I wanted to be filled in on it.

• ONE more Manx crossword clue from Karl Campbell: ‘Chap cross with tailless cat (4) – Manx.’

• THIS week’s media collective noun is: ‘A Remainder of Publishers.’

THE island’s inflation rate has risen.

February’s rate, measured by the Retail Prices Index, is 2.8 per cent. In January it was 2.5 per cent.

Excluding housing costs, the rate has risen from 1.8 per cent in January to 2.2 per cent.

Measured by the consumer prices index, it was 1.4 per cent in February, up from 1.1 per cent.

The UK’s February figures have not yet been published.

In January RPI inflation there rose to 3.3 per cent in January from 3.1 per cent in December.

CPI inflation was 2.7 per cent.

The different measures of inflation weight different goods differently. The RPI includes mortgage interest payments and household expenses such as buildings insurance, for example. CPI doesn’t.

For a more detailed examination of the figures, see tomorrow’s Manx Independent.

A COWBOY builder admitted deception when he appeared in court.

Crosswell Alan Barton was sentenced to three months in jail suspended for two years.

Mr Barton was also fined £500 for knowingly making a false trade description, ordered to pay costs of £2,617 and compensation of £4,500.

He was trading under the name of Simply Roofing when the offences were committed in late 2011.

The deception offence was committed when Mr Barton dishonestly obtained £4,250 from his victim by falsely representing that roofing work listed in a quotation had been completed. In fact it had not been completed.

Mr Barton made the false trade description when he placed an advertisement in a local paper stating that Simply Roofing was established in 1985, whereas in fact the business was established in November 2011.

An independent expert witness stated that the work that Mr Barton did undertake at his victim’s home address was ‘to a standard significantly below what we would reasonably expect of a competent tradesman’ and was of the opinion that all the work undertaken required attention given the ‘poor workmanship’.

Barton was brought to justice after an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading’s trading standards department.

More on this story in this week’s Manx Independent - in shops from Thursday morning.

THE Manx Football Association has issued a statement after the arrests made following a game between St John’s and Laxey on Saturday.

It expressed its ‘shock and disappointment’ regarding the alleged incidents.

The statement reads: ‘The association has received the referee’s report from the game and will now commence disciplinary procedures in line with the approved guidelines from The FA.

‘The association is aware that the Isle of Man Constabulary is now investigating the alleged offences that occurred and will look to fully co operate with them if, and when, required.

‘Thankfully this situation is very much a rarity on the island with many games of football taking place every single weekend without any problems.’

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/two-more-arrests-after-football-fracas-1-5470569|Click here to read this morning’s story about the arrests}

PLANS to make draught beer available in quarter and two-thirds of a pint measures have been shelved by the Isle of Man’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT) after a public consultation rejected the idea.

Other proposals which met with disapproval and were subsequently shelved were: deregulation of sales of draught beer in quantities of less than one-third of a pint; the introduction of metric quantities for sales of specified spirits such as gin, rum, vodka, whisky and brandy; deregulation of sales of wines in the glass in quantities of less than 75ml; and a deregulation of sales of pre-packed intoxicating liquor.

The consultation received 37 responses during a period from November 9 to January 4 and among those who responded were the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), the Licensed Victuallers’ Association and local drink makers Apple Orphanage Company Limited.

Of the six proposals put forward, only one, for fortified wines to be sold in the glass, in quantities of 50ml or 75ml or multiples of either of those, was likely to be looked at again within the next 12 months, said the OFT.

OFT chairman David Quirk MHK,said: ‘We were somewhat surprised at the lack of industry support for the proposals, especially as they emanated from feedback which we had previously received from industry sources.

‘However, given the support for the status quo, the standards will remain unchanged at present.’

The full consultation can be read on the {http://www.gov.im/oft/|OFT section of the government website}.

THE committee that’s trying to redraw the House of Keys map has finished its consultation on its proposals.

The consultation attracted 68 written submissions and the committee also held 16 meetings with Tynwald members and five with local authority members.

Boundary Review Committee chairman Sally Bolton said: ‘It was a very useful exercise, providing valuable local insight which will be taken account as we prepare our final report to Tynwald.’

Tynwald has agreed that the 24 Keys seats should be divided into 12 constituencies with two members each, and that the population size of constituencies should not vary from the average by more than 15 per cent.

----------

Read full details of the proposals by clicking the following link to an iomtoday story from January 4:{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/will-2013-be-a-year-of-change-for-democracy-1-5273173|Will 2013 be a year of change for democracy?}

A RECENT event, hosted by Cable & Wireless Communications, saw an invited audience from major local businesses and Government enjoy a series of presentations by high-calibre visiting speakers, each an expert in their field.

The speakers flew to the Isle of Man to address the audience on the implications of forthcoming changes to UK and EU legislation and regulation in data collection, data security and storage. 

It is clear that the Isle of Man plays a pivotal role in a number of data-dependent sectors, such as financial services and eGaming; while the island has its own data security legislation, local firms are increasingly conducting business in other territories, and it is more important than ever to be ‘data compliant’. 

The panel of experts, all industry heavy weights in the front line of managing data risk, security and compliance, were well versed in the legal implications of information security, learning through experience how to manage data usage and regulatory compliance whilst maximising commercial opportunities. 

First to present was Colin Whittaker, the vice president of Payment System Risk for VISA Europe, who talked about data security from the perspective of a major financial services institution. 

Next on stage was Matthew Tyler, CEO of Blackfoot UK, a leading security, risk and compliance consultancy, who outlined the dangers of managing cyber security, with some fascinating examples of successes and failures.   The first of two lawyers to present was Tim Ryan, a partner in Clarke Wilmott LLP, who addressed the audience on the legal landscape surrounding data and digital business. 

Frank Jennings, a lawyer specialising in ‘cloud’ technology, intellectual property and data security, spoke as the chairman of the UK Cloud Forum and advised on issues concerning best practice in ‘cloud’ security.

The final speaker was Justin Bellinger, business development director for Cable & Wireless Communications, who drew proceedings to a close with his perspective on securing and storing data. 

After a lively question and answer session with the speakers, guests enjoyed networking over drinks and canapés. 

Andy Bridson, chief commercial officer of Cable & Wireless Communications, said after the event: ‘It was a pleasure to host the visiting speakers here on the Isle of Man. 

‘Whilst we have our own legislation for data security, most island enterprises and Government departments also have extensive relationships with businesses in the UK and in the EU.’ 

Andy added: ‘It is essential that companies are up to speed with the implications of impending changes to regulation on data security and storage and, at Cable & Wireless Communications, we are delighted to be helping our fellow local businesses to understand these implications.  We hope that this event will be the first of a series, where we can share best practice with Island firms on a range of important topics.”

The seminar was well received by the audience.

Comments included: ‘it was a very interesting presentation’, ‘I very much enjoyed it and look forward to the next event’, and ‘I thought Matt was a fascinating speaker, the film he showed was excellent’ 

The feedback also suggested that an island-based business forum would be welcomed, set up to discuss data and cyber-security issues in greater depth.

A DEEMSTER was allegedly assaulted by a court defendant earlier this week.

Today’s Manx Independent has the story on the front page.

The main picture on page one is of the Isle of Man. Nothing unusual about that. But it’s the whole island, as taken from space by an astronaut.

It’s a remarkable photo. You’re probably on it!

Inside the paper, there’s a funny story about Allan Bell. Well, not quite about the chief minister but certainly featuring him.

An eagle-eyed reader spotted his photo on an internet site for an insurance company attached to a recommendation for the firm.

So how come Mr Bell’s photo was there? The Manx Independent reveals all.

If you’re a glutton, we have some good news for you about how you can get a free meal. You’ll have to eat a 2lb burger to do so.

The paper also talks to the family of Doug Spencer, the 19-year-old biker killed in an accident last year. They’re calling for driving tests for the elderly.

In Peel, workmen have dug a big hole on the football pitch. We look into it.

The back page has the news that the line-up of TT stars is one of the best for years.

The Manx Independent also features your guide to leisure, including the Isle of Man’s two-page What’s On guide.

The Manx Independent is in the shops now.