LITTER bins have been installed at Braddan School’s car park after one pupil took matters into her own hands.

Year five pupil Zoe Terreblanche, aged nine, wrote to Manx Telecom – which leases the car park to the Department of Education and Children – asking for bins to be installed there.

She was keen to see a reduction in the amount of litter in the car park, which she encountered when she was dropped off and picked up from the Douglas school each day.

Manx Telecom accepted Zoe’s request and agreed to supply and install three bins – in her chosen colour of green to highlight the environmental impact litter can have.

The bins were installed earlier this month.

Head teacher Louise Oates explained that Zoe’s request – which was made of her own accord – came after her class started work on an eco-project.

As part of that, she carried out a litter survey.

It looks like Zoe has taken the project to heart – as well as writing to Manx Telecom she has also been going to other classrooms issuing reminders to switch off lights at the end of the day.

In addition, some of her classmates have also written to other organisations with requests.

YOU have to be careful what you say when you’re on the wireless . . .

I took part last week in David Callister’s Sunday morning programme on Manx Radio when his world-wide listenership was invited to ring in with their grumbles about the vicissitudes of modern life.

My role was to let fly with some of mine. It was too good an opportunity to be missed.

I started on impenetrable plastic wrapping, especially that which encases packs of Waitrose moist toilet tissues which I buy for £1 a time in Shoprite.

I forbore to explain to listeners what I used them for, it being a breakfast time programme, but I pointed out strongly that there was no way of getting the plastic off them without resorting to assault with an offensive weapon.

After the programme people made a point of telling me I was wrong.

A lady I know presented me with one of the packs and showed me that all you do is peel back an invisible flap of plastic stuck over a hole which gives access to the tissues.

After this two more packs arrived anonymously in the post, with the flaps peeled back, and I was confronted by a lady in Shoprite who bought one and presented it to me there and then in a similar condition.

All right. I got it wrong. But I defy anybody to detect the little flaps without something to draw attention to them.

Mind you, I have gained four packs of the tissues by the generosity of my challengers with a clear saving of £4.

But this doesn’t make me feel any better about plastic packing.

For instance, try getting through the heavy duty plastic bubble which encases new toothbrushes. Your teeth would fall out before you can slash it open.

As for the pills we all slot into ourselves, they come encased in their own separate little plastic bubbles mounted on a sheet of tinfoil and you have to press the bubbles with maddening force to get them out.

By this time they are broken and nearly reduced to powder – that or they have been fired out at high velocity and lost themselves under the furniture.

But the most potentially lethal plastic wrapping is that in which my monthly copies of The Oldie magazine arrive in the post.

They are hermetically sealed in the wretched stuff. There is nothing to get hold of to strip it away. It needs sharp scissors and increasingly infuriating effort and I find that lack of success drives to me to an excess of impotent fury which one day will need my emergency transfer to the cardiac carvery at Noble’s Hospital.

I would ask the publishers of The Oldie if they are actually trying to kill off their increasingly ageing readership.

If they do, they’ll have something to whinge about like the rest of us.

• A LADY reader wishing to be known only as ‘Elderly Onchanite’ recalls seeing an advertisement in the window of the estate agents Lowey’s in Nelson Street, Douglas, some years ago offering a Spanish villa for sale ‘only three minuets from the beach.’

That’s all right. You can’t do the flamenco properly on sand.

• KEVIN Rothwell draws attention to a Department of Infrastructure public notice in the Isle of Man Courier informing users of Ramsey harbour of a scientific survey to take place by way of two moorings for which co-ordinates were given. Kevin says one appears to be about 60 miles off Whitby.

DOI all at sea?

• THE last and best news media collective noun is as follows: ‘A Parthenon of Columnists.’

BUS cleaners have been earning up to £52,000 a year including overtime – almost as much as a government Minister.

Details of the astonishing take-home pay awarded to Bus Vannin cleaners and fuellers emerged as the government announced it was planning changes to bring half the government workforce under a single employing authority.

It’s a move that will see the creation of a Public Services Commission to replace the Civil Service Commission and the Whitley Council pay negotiating body for manual workers.

Chief Minister Allan Bell described the existing government employment structure as ‘not fit for purpose’. He said streamlining it was the next step towards ‘harmonising’ terms and conditions and ‘modernising’ collective bargaining arrangements.

The take home pay of the four cleaners and fuellers employed at the state-run bus operator is an example of the type of settlements agreed between management and unions when public sector finances were in better order.

There had originally been six staff doing this job but their numbers have been reduced as the size of the bus fleet has been cut. There are currently four who have been working long hours of overtime to cover duties rostered for six.

Their basic pay is just over £25,000. But at least one has been earning about £52,000 a year including overtime, it is understood. In contrast, a government Minister earns £56,733 – that’s a basic salary of £37,822 plus a 50 per cent uplift as a cabinet member.

Community, Culture and Leisure Minister Graham Cregeen described the situation as an ‘anomaly’. ‘There is one who gets paid £52,000. They don’t all earn that sort of money. They work phenomenal hours. Government is partly responsible for this mess. These staff are working their terms and conditions that were negotiated by the unions. It’s just an unfortunate situation we’ve been put in.’

DCCL chief executive Nick Black said the fueller/cleaners at Douglas worked on a roster that is set for six posts.

‘Each staff member has the right to a day’s overtime a week. The rate of pay is set as a proportion of that of the bus fitter rate and currently gives a basic annual pay of £25,031 if the overtime is not requested.

‘For much of last year there were fewer than four staff on the roster so those remaining worked additional hours to provide the services needed. This was why a small number of staff were able to earn much more than the basic rate of pay - the hours did need to be worked to keep the buses on the road and the staff who volunteered to work the additional hours were paid for those hours according to their contract.’

He added: ‘The department is very close to finalising negotiations that will see the fueller/cleaner duties concentrated on fuelling, vehicle checks and essential cleaning between services.

‘Deep cleaning will then be done on contract on a planned cycle. This will allow significant savings, which will increase in future as new terms and conditions and rates of pay will be put in place for new starters. Negotiations with staff representatives have been in progress for 18 months.’

Bus Vannin drivers, currently in dispute over changes to their terms and conditions, are paid an average of between £30,000 and £45,000, including overtime. Their basic pay is £27,000.

The Chief Minister said: ‘We’ve been concerned about the disjointed structure across government in dealing with employee/employer relations, in particular the great disparity in terms and conditions across the workforce which from time to time had caused difficulties. I feel strongly that the structure we have at the moment is not fit for purpose.’

He said there was a recognition that Whitley Council ‘in the context of modern industrial relations is an anachronism’. He said similar bodies in the UK had all been disbanded and the Isle of Man was now the only place in the British Isles which still has such an arrangement.

An independent review of the Whitley Council carried out in 2009 condemned proceedings as ‘bullying, confrontational and reminiscent of 1970s industrial relations’ and found bargaining arrangements as significantly weighted in favour of the employees’ side.

At present all civil servants are employed by the Civil Service Commission. Manual and craft workers are employed by their departments or boards, but under terms and conditions set by the Whitley Council, which is a joint employer/union negotiating forum.

The proposed Public Services Commission which would bring together civil servants and manual/craft workers - about 4,000 staff in total - under one employing authority.

Other government employees such as teachers, police, firemen and health professionals would continue to have their pay negotiated via UK bodies.

There will be a six-week public consultation on the proposal with a view to legislative drafting instructions being ready by the end of July for the Council of Ministers to consider.

Mr Bell said: ‘A Public Services Commission would facilitate simplification of employment structures, the harmonisation of terms and conditions and enhance our ability to redeploy staff to meet government’s priorities and changing circumstances. It would also provide the opportunity to both streamline and modernise collective bargaining arrangements.’

The Chief Minister said a lot of work had gone into improving human resources management in government and it was now ‘entirely appropriate’ to look at the employment structures themselves. He stressed there were no recommendations for changes to terms and conditions. An exercise to review terms and conditions is already underway, in most cases with the full co-operation of the unions, Mr Bell said.

He said described the current bus drivers’ dispute as ‘very unfortunate’ and in part reflected weaknesses in pay negotiations in the past. ‘It should never have come to this point,’ he added.

A JOURNEY many Manx people make from Heysham to the M6 motorway should be much easier in the future.

The UK government today announced that a link road between the port and the motorway had been given the go-ahead.

Heysham, Lancashire, is the main port serving the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

Most of the island’s freight and sea passengers use the port to get to and from the island.

{http://www.thevisitor.co.uk/community/local-businesses/breaking-news-all-systems-go-for-heysham-to-m6-link-road-1-5505544|Click here to see a story and a video simulation from our colleagues at the Visitor newspaper in Morecambe}

Patrick McLoughlin, the UK’s Secretary of State for Transport, has given final sign-off on the £123m road and work is now scheduled to start this summer.

THE UK’s budget has hit government income in the Isle of Man.

Treasury Minister Eddie Teare MHK said: ‘No doubt motorists and beer drinkers will welcome the abolition of the planned September fuel duty increase, and the 1p cut in beer duty.

‘The cost of both these changes will reduce Isle of Man Government income by around £900,000 in 2013-14, compared with the budget estimate.’

The Minister welcomed the focus on economic growth from the Island’s largest trading partner, although UK Chancellor of the Exchequer cut the prediction of growth in the UK economy.

Mr Teare said: ‘We need a successful UK economy and the steps they are taking to simplify and lower corporate taxation, encourage small business and encourage the use of investment markets either offer opportunities for Island business or reflect changes we have already made.’

He spoke to the Manx Independent about Mr Osborne’s assertion that the UK would be able to recoup £1bn from the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey in taxes from individuals. His comments will be in tomorrow’s newspaper.

The minister finished by noting some of the major UK policy developments that could impact on our own work.

Mr Teare added: ‘The Chancellor announced changes to State Pension arrangements, and new support for home buyers, that we will need to factor into our review of reciprocal social security arrangements, and the housing review. It is important that we consider the impact of UK proposals carefully and do not jump to conclusions as to the benefits or otherwise at this stage of what can be far reaching proposals.’

The minister said he and his Treasury colleagues and staff would be working through details of the UK budget in the next few weeks.

The Isle of Man Examiner will next week include its monthly 16-page Business Word supplement, which will feature reaction to the UK budget.

TICKETS are on sale for a May Ball to raise money for Noble’s Hospital’s maternity unit.

The black tie May Ball takes place at the Mount Murray Hotel and Country Club, in Santon, on May 4.

It is one of a number of fundraising events taking place as part of The Jane’s Big Push, a nine-month campaign spearheaded by the charity With Women Worldwide and backed by Isle of Man Newspapers.

The event starts at 7.30pm with a champagne reception, and will be followed by a carvery and dancing until late. There will also be an auction of quality goods and a raffle.

Tickets cost £40. Call Anne Graham (491370), Dianne Rubery (436036) or Jane Shutt (317237).

Meanwhile, a pub quiz takes place at the Archibald Knox pub, in Onchan, on Monday from 8pm. It costs £10 per team of six, and you can enter on the night.

The campaign’s aim is to raise £20,000 which will be used by midwives working to refurbish two rooms on the labour ward into a home-from-home birthing room.

It will provide a much more relaxed and low-tech environment.

It is hoped that residents will give their support too by getting together and holding their own events.

PRIVATISING the debt-ridden Manx Electricity Authority would be a ‘step too far’, the Chief Minister told Tynwald.

But Allan Bell accepted that there is no conceivable way that the MEA itself will trade out of its present difficulties.

He was responding to a Tynwald question from Alfred Cannan (Michael) who asked when the Council of Ministers will announce their plans to reduce and manage the MEA’s £400 million debts.

Vote on this issue using the web poll panel at right of this article

Mr Bell insisted that government hadn’t been complacent in addressing the debt and a series of measures have reduced financing costs by £7 million a year. He said the authority itself was under scrutiny as part of the ongoing Scope of Government review and therefore, it would be ‘somewhat premature’ for CoMin to announce any separate proposals it may have for restructuring the MEA debts.

This prompted Mr Cannan to suggest that it is impossible for the MEA to trade its way out of its debt situation and the only two alternatives for government were to either wipe the slate clean, sell the company or do both.

‘What we must do is free the company of its debt and interest payments in order that it can trade solvently and that is surely the only way we are going to get the MEA back on its feet,’ he said.

Mr Bell replied: ‘I agree there is no conceivable way that the MEA itself will trade out of its present difficulties and financial obligations.

‘Treasury is looking very closely at this at the moment to see what way is possible to alleviate this situation as quickly as we can. Whether we would privatise it and sell it off is another debate for another day, I believe – but I do think it needs radical measures if we are going to bring down the debt which currently bedevils it.’

He said levels of domestic and commercial electricity tariffs had to be tackled as they were having a major impact on disposable family income and acting as a major disincentive for attracting new business to the island.

Castletown MHK Richard Ronan asked: ‘If the right offer came in from the private sector, would the Chief Minister ever consider selling the MEA?’

Mr Bell replied that he wondered whether there would be an appetite to privatise our soul supplier of energy and ‘the risks that might impose’.

He added: ‘We have seen the impact of privatisation of energy, water and various others in the United Kingdom and we have seen what has been an absolute disaster. I would not like to see us become hostage to those same forces which have done so much damage [there].

‘So while I think it still has to be an issue for consideration, my own personal view at this point would be that that would be a step too far in privatisation.’

Tynwald heard that the current freeze in the electricity tariff will last until April 2014. Mr Bell said a strategy would be developed ahead of that April 2014 deadline.

Editor’s note: We’ve suspended the ability to comment directly on this story. Once we suspend comments on any story they are all removed. Write to us at Publishing House, Peel Road, Douglas, IM15PZ or email {mailto:opinions@newsiom.co.im|opinions(at)newsiom.co.im}

A TRAINING day for End to End riders is to take place at South Barrule plantation next month.

The day is being organised by the Manx Mountain Bike Club and sessions will be led by last year’s End to End winner Elliot Baxter and last year’s third-placed finisher Rob Sorby.

The training sessions will help to raise funds for the Isle of Man mountain bike team’s Island Games fund.

Scott Morgan is managing the team in the build up to the games which take place in Bermuda in July.

He said the plan was also a means for the mountain bike team to put something back into the sport.

‘There’s a lot of people in the island who do the End to End and this may help some of them to get a better time,’ he said. ‘The idea is to have a simple workshop to look at techniques as well as things like training schedules, looking after yourself. There is also self massage – which is something a lot of riders don’t think of.’

The plan for the day is to have five locations around the plantation devoted to a particular mountain bike skill. Participants can then try out the different challenges in turn.

‘The idea is for people to be in smallish groups of about 15 and they can spend about half an hour on each skill, practise it, then move on,’ Mr Morgan said.

‘Someone will be on hand to give tuition and advice and they can put it into practice.’

The club is expecting a high take up for the course which lasts three hours on Saturday, April 13, and costs £15 per person. Organisers are considering running a follow-up course in August.

The course will run twice during the day - once in the morning and again in the afternoon and organisers are considering running one of those sessions exclusively for women and the other mixed.

Mr Morgan said: ‘Many women do it as their sole event and don’t want to be muscled out of the way.’

The following day, Sunday, is the first of the summer mountain bike race series and will be open to off-island competitors who may fancy coming over to do the skills workshop on the Saturday followed by the race on the Sunday, which takes in parts of the End to End course.

For more details see {http://www.manxmtb.com.manxmtb.com}. Entries for the Manx Telecom End to End opened at the start of March and stand at around 1,500 so far.

MANX Engineers, a leading supplier of precision machined parts to the aerospace industry, has signed a long term agreement with a major company.

The company, based in Gladstone Business Park, Ramsey, will supply the UK and US based landing gear and aerospace hydraulics design and manufacturing specialist APPH Ltd, with precision machined parts for incorporation into their landing gear systems.

The agreement was signed at the Department of Economic Development’s office at St George’s Court last week.

Manx Engineers director Bob Ringham said: ‘This long term agreement gives Manx the forward visibility to invest in additional equipment and staff training in line with our continuous improvement process and compliments our long term growth plans.’

Shaun Mullarkey, APPH’s head of supply chain, said: ‘As part of our commitment to our customers, we are rolling out our supply chain transformation programme and are pleased to have selected Manx Engineers as one of our key suppliers.

‘Manx have demonstrated that they can meet our exacting requirements and we look forward to working with them in the future.’

Aerospace Cluster chairman Adrian Moore described the agreement as ‘aerospace engineering at its best’.

He added: ‘I am sure the general public would be surprised to know that the parts manufactured in Ramsey, assembled and tested in Runcorn, end up as integral equipment on several prestigious aircraft the world over.’

THE island’s benefits bill is spiralling out of control, a government minister said this week.

Today’s Manx Independent reports Chris Robertshaw’s comments and changes to income support payments.

There’s a lot of politics in this week’s paper.

It includes the initial reaction of Treasury Minister Eddie Teare to yesterday’s UK budget.

Back home, there’s the result of the LegCo election, the result of Kate Beecroft’s attempt to end the Tynwald pension scheme, and what some local commissioners think about a proposal to give them a 160 per cent rise in allowances.

Page three has the latest in the campaign to recruit more marshals for the MGP.

Inside, we have a review of the Young Farmers’ concert and lots of photos.

The paper also includes your usual bumper sports coverage and the island’s two-page what’s on guide.

It’s in the shops now

TENSION is mounting in Dalby as the island prepares for the annual World Bonnag Making Competition.

The competition is being held tomorrow (Friday, March 22) at 7.30pm at St James’ Church schoolrooms with trophies in men’s, women’s and children’s classes.

Anyone thinking of challenging the champions is encouraged to bring their bonnag on a paper plate on Friday evening.

Bonnag, a traditional sweet bread, is thought to have been a Manx staple for hundreds of years.

A prize-winning bonnag must fulfil many criteria – it must be light, have a good consistency, slice well, have a good shape and, most importantly, it must taste good.

The night includes an impressive line up of entertainers, which includes Angela Stuart, Mike Durber, Richard Rake, The Deemsters and John Kennaugh – Mr Kennaugh will also be compering the evening.

The bonnag competition will be judged during the interval.

Admission is £7.50 and includes supper of sandwiches, savouries, cakes, tea or coffee and, of course, bonnag.

During the evening two cheques each for £615 will be presented by the Friends of St James to Hospice Isle of Man and the Pahar Trust Nepal, from fundraising events and activities held during 2012.

The Friends of St James have selected their two new charities for this year and a proportion of all proceeds from events throughout the year will be given to The Friends of the Robert Owen House, providing overnight accommodation solely to relatives or carers of patients who find themselves in the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, and the Manx overseas charity The Malawi Mission Project. It undertakes to supply bore holes in rural areas in the country.

Everyone is welcome to the bonnag making competition; there is no need to book, but it’s advised to arrive early to get a seat.

For more information contact Margy on 834768.

Last year the Isle of Man Creameries Buttermilk Cup for ‘best in show’ was awarded to Amy Keig, from Andreas.

SERIOUS concerns were raised by the Bishop in Tynwald about the proposed merger of an adoption charity with the Children’s Centre.

Bishop Robert Paterson said he had not been consulted about the move to close the Manx Churches Adoption Welfare Society, a charity for which he is president, and to have its work taken over by the Children’s Centre.

He argued that alternative options should have been researched and expressed concern that the move could result in a number of experienced adoption staff leaving the service.

Phil Braidwood MLC proposed that the motion to approve the Adoption Society Order 2013 be adjourned for a month until Tynwald members were given more information.

But his adjournment failed, with the vote split 11 to 11 in the House of Keys and by four votes to four in the Legislative Council, and the order itself was carried by 12 votes to 10 in the Keys and five votes to three in LegCo.

Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw MHK said his department had been acting as ‘honest brokers’ after being approached by the Adoption Society which had wanted its functions transferred to the Children’s Centre.

Bishop Paterson said: ‘I do have some serious concerns. It is clearly not a merger as it was presented to us originally.

‘Unfortunately without telling the president, the directors, without discussion, decided to close and ask the Children’s Centre to take over the work. I’ve got a great of sympathy with the decision. But alternatives should have been more thoroughly researched.’

He said there may be many good reasons for bringing the adoption services into the Children Centre – but two ‘very serious problems’ had to be sorted out first. The Bishop suggested that adoption and fostering were ‘entirely different’ operations – and questioned whether consideration had been given to the distinctiveness of these two operations and the separate skills they require.

And he warned that issues about differing employment terms and pension arrangements may lead to a number of experienced adoption staff leaving the service rather than transferring.

‘If despite very good intentions they do not transfer, the Children’s Centre might be struggling, in fact probably would be struggling with the adoption service.’

Calling for an adjournment, Mr Braidwood said the Bishop had only been informed about ‘this so-called merger’ on March 13.

But acting Attorney General John Quinn pointed out this was simply an enabling order which was not actually taking into effect any transfer. Curiously, the Bishop, despite expressing his concerns, did not support the adjournment, arguing that this would imply there was something wrong with what the Children’s Centre is doing.

Bill Henderson (Douglas North), urged members to support the adjournment, arguing there was an ‘obvious degree of uncertainty here’. Kate Beecroft (Lib Van, Douglas South) said that so many doubts had been raised and she would like more time ‘to find out the score’.

But Economic Development Minister John Shimmin pointed out this was an issue between two charities which had become a ‘political football’. ‘It is very unfortunate this has been raised at the 11th hour.’

THE weather is set to get a lot colder tomorrow (Friday).

Earlier in the week, there was snow on the hills, as photographer Murray Lambden found when he pictured the Creg-ny-Baa Fell Race.

There is a chance of snow at the top of the hills again tomorrow (Friday), but the chances the disruption from snow on lower levels is slim. The Met Office says snow or sleet is expected on Friday above 500 to 600 feet on the higher level.

It will start to rain tonight and throughout Friday the weather is going to be cold, with the chance of an inch of rain falling on lower levels.

David Boultbee from the Met Office, said: ‘The gales rain/sleet and snow will continue through Friday then a gradual improvement is expected during Saturday although it will stay cold.’

The sleet will gradually die out on Saturday.

AN MHK failed to gain support for the existing Tynwald members’ pension scheme to be closed after the general election.

Liberal Vannin MHK Kate Beecroft (Douglas South) had called for a new money purchase pension scheme to be created as a replacement – and that the emoluments committee should prepare details of the scheme to be placed before Tynwald by March 2014.

Mrs Beecroft said that Tynwald should be leading by example to reduce its liability: ‘This government has not gained the trust of the people. That trust is going to be essential if we are going to get through the years of fiscal frugality together.’

She said that while addressing the Tynwald pension scheme would only solve 1 per cent of the problem of the sustainability of Tynwald and public sector pensions ‘it’s the 1 per cent that we can actually address today’.

Castletown MHK Richard Ronan said the Tynwald members’ scheme was the most unfair. In 2012, before voluntary contributions were introduced, the average member contribution was zero, while the taxpayers’ contribution was 43 per cent.

But he said the taxpayer also contributed significant amounts to other public sector workers’ pensions, including 37.9 per cent of the judiciary scheme and 42.7 per cent of the fire service scheme.

Tynwald members approved an amendment by Michael MHK Alfred Cannan, who is vice-chairman of the public sector pensions authority.

He called for members to accept that the public sector pension scheme liability remained of ‘significant concern’.

The authority will publish an interim report in May detailing the latest management information on scheme costs and benefits payable over the last 12 months. And it will report to Tynwald by October on proposals for implementing a detailed cost sharing mechanism under the unified scheme, as well as any other areas – including Tynwald members’ pensions – where cost savings could be applied to public sector pension schemes.

He described the original motion as ‘economic madness’ and ‘unworkable’.

Speaker of the House of Keys Steve Rodan MHK said he would support Mr Cannan’s amendment as it would enable ‘evidence-based’ policy decisions to be made.

Treasury Minister Eddie Teare MHK warned that changes to the public sector pension scheme could make it more difficult to recruit staff such as teachers and medical staff from off-island.

Economic Development Minister John Shimmin MHK agreed with Mrs Beecroft that the Tynwald members’ pension scheme be closed, saying that public were ‘losing confidence’.

Bishop Robert Paterson failed to get support for his amendment calling for the Tynwald members’ pension scheme to be closed after the general election and for research to be carried out into alternatives.

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PEOPLE who move to the Isle of Man feel they are richer and safer as a result, according to the findings of a survey completed recently.

The survey, which examined 1,089 people who relocated from the UK to 13 different locations around the world, found 93 per cent of those coming to the Isle of Man felt they were safer here than in the UK.

Answers revealed almost a third of people move abroad for work reasons and of those, 79 per cent feel better off financially for doing so.

Lifestyle in the Isle of Man also scores highly in the survey with 88 per cent of people saying this was better in the island than in the UK.

Richard Musty, a director with Lloyds TSB International Private Bank, said: ‘In today’s difficult employment market there is a trend for people to relocate to different countries for work.

‘The financial services and manufacturing industries, both of which have been impacted by a challenging economic climate, stand out in terms of the number of people moving abroad for work.

‘However, employers seem to be aware of the challenges and it’s encouraging to see the extent to which they are prepared to help facilitate the move.

‘Significantly, 55 per cent of our respondents were offered a moving allowance, with a further 50 per cent offered help with housing costs and 43 per cent flights home.’

The survey, carried out online on behalf of Lloyds-TSB International found the difficult economic climate was encouraging an increasing number of people to look abroad for employment with many of the most popular destinations being English speaking countries like the Isle of Man and Channel Islands as well as America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

France and Germany were among the popular European destinations.

A similar survey less than a year earlier found fewer respondents (54 per cent) said they earned more as a result of moving abroad.

A TRAFFIC monitoring camera put up in Onchan did not comply with data protection rules, it was confirmed in Tynwald.

Onchan MHK David Quirk lodged a formal complaint with the Data Protection Supervisor after CCTV cameras appeared by the new high school at Bemahague.

He said he was contacted by concerned constituents after the cameras appeared on either side of the Heywood Drive junction on Hillberry Road, with one overlooking a bus stop and the second fixed to a lamp post. No signs were erected advising what use the cameras were being put to. They were only in place for about four days until they were removed.

Related article: {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/onchan-mhk-lodges-complaint-over-cctv-at-bus-stop-1-5504296|Onchan MHK lodges complaint over CCTV at bus stop}

Mr Quirk questioned whether images were recorded of people waiting at the bus stop or children going into school

In Tynwald, he asked Infrastructure Minister David Cretney what his department’s policy was on storing and viewing images from CCTV surveillance.

Mr Cretney said: ‘It was with some concern to me that the department has identified that the highways division did not comply with the procedures with regard to traffic cameras and arrangements have been put in place to correct this position.’

He described it as a ‘one-off’ incident which he had not been happy to learn of. ‘Moves are underway to ensure it will not happen again,’ he told members. ‘The cameras will certainly not be used again until the appropriate procedures are in place as required by the Data Protection Act. If cameras are fixed in such a way they will have appropriate signage.’

Mr Cretney explained his department has CCTV at various locations across the island including the harbours, the Sea Terminal, the airport, the Tromode vehicle test centre and the Chester Street car park. In addition CCTV is used to study road traffic movements.

He said data is stored for a maximum of 30 days and records kept of any downloads. As required under the Data Protection Act CCTV guidance, signs have to be erected indicating that the cameras are in use.

THE Manx government’s gamble on egaming is paying off – with an ever growing number of new jobs and spiralling tax receipts generated largely by those companies that have already made a real home here.

That’s the conclusion of the latest survey by the Manx e-Gaming Association which shows prospects for new business in the sector remain positive with increasing numbers wanting to secure an Isle of Man licence or start up a non-licensable operation in the island.

The latest survey, conducted in January this year, shows employment in the sector, which grew from just 230 in 2006 to 775 last year, is predicted to increase again to 854 over 2013.

Excluding any multiplier effects, direct expenditure on the Isle of Man by the sector in 2012 was £175 million.

This figure is estimated to rise to almost £200 million during 2013, contributing some £18 million in taxation to the Manx Treasury coffers.

Wages vary considerably in the sector, but the average is above that of other sectors rising by 7 per cent over the year while remuneration of those at the top is high, reflecting their experience and value-added to their employers.

John Webster, of the Manx e-Gaming Association, said: ‘There can be no room for complacency as e-Gaming is relatively footloose and business can easily be lost.

‘However, the future for egaming on the Isle of Man continues to look encouraging, with a good pipeline of new inquiries from companies in both licensable and non-licensable activities and the clear commitment from established entities being demonstrated by their restructuring plans.’

In order to ensure consistent and accurate results, the survey comprises responses from companies that have been involved with MeGA surveys from inception in 2006, supplemented by intelligence from members and contacts within the industry plus additional research that considers new entrants and introducers of e-gaming business to the island.

While the news is generally positive, there are many challenges facing the sector, such as uncertainties regarding regulations and access to markets.

Reports from the recent ICE trade exhibition suggest that the quality of leads generated is of a higher quality than in the past and the Isle of Man has established an international reputation for high ethical standards, effective regulation and an environment that is commercially attractive.

However, while there will be some increase in income and employment, directly from the new e-Gaming entities and indirectly from CSPs and other suppliers of business services, the major contributions tend to be restricted to those large companies that make a real home in the island by locating key senior staff and actual operating facilities here.

Such companies with a significant real presence add most to the local economy while at the same time are less prone to criticism that they are located here solely for tax reasons.

Strategic decisions by several companies committed to the Isle of Man have meant that between 2012 and 2013 there will be a significant boost to employment in e-Gaming.

Overall, business prospects are good for competent, well-funded egaming companies, but the industry is maturing and there is increased technical sophistication with the recent rapid growth of mobile and other platforms – while varying regulations imposed by different jurisdictions continue to pose challenges for small and start-up operations.

Actual trading in the island’s domestic market has been tough, with government spending being reduced and focussed on low prices so there have been a number of redundancies in the local IT market. This emphasises the importance of the new money and jobs that are generated by companies attracted to the Isle of Man but who trade elsewhere.

The significant increase in employment by companies that have established their headquarters here and whose investment and commitment illustrates that the most productive and easiest method of marketing is to concentrate on those that are already in the island.

While the returns from the MeGA survey are seen by only one individual and are then aggregated to preserve business confidentiality, the reason for the significant increase in income and expenditure shown in the results of the 2013 survey is clear - it is the result of organic growth of those companies with an existing sizeable presence on the Isle of Man, coupled with the attraction by them of associated operations and activities.

DELAYS caused by a major road scheme in Douglas do not appear as bad as predicted, according to the politician in charge of the highways network.

The £4.3 million scheme to reconstruct the ‘switchback’ Peel Road and improve the Pulrose Road junction got underway on March 11 and is expect to last 76 weeks. First phase of the project involves the strengthening of the former railway bridge on Pulrose Road and the improving the junction and is due to last five weeks.

The main part of the scheme is likely to begin in May when Peel Road between the Quarter Bridge roundabout and Pulrose Bridge will be made one-way, Douglas-bound.

Infrastructure Minister David Cretney said without the traffic lights at the Pulrose Road junction, his own journey into Douglas after negotiating the Quarter Bridge roundabout had actually been quicker than normal.

He accepted there had been longer delays on New Castletown Road from Anagh Coar down to Quarter Bridge on one day.

Mr Cretney said: ‘I’ve had few if anybody complaining. I have seen comments about delays coming from Peel in the first few days. But I hope things are settling down. If people do have problems I would like to hear from them.’

Highways director Richard Pearson said: ‘Work is progressing well. With Pulrose Road closed at present more traffic is being channelled through Quarterbridge. There was some extra congestion on the approaches in the first few days.’ He urged drivers to take alternative routes and allow extra time for their journeys.

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TREASURY Minister Eddie Teare came under fire in Tynwald from Liberal Vannin members after dodging an £8 million question on the Pinewood deal.

Kate Beecroft (Douglas South) said the Media Development Fund contained a balance of £33 million of which £25 million is being managed by Pinewood Shepperton as part of the deal approved by Tynwald last year. She said the £8 million difference was supposed to have gone back into the general reserve fund – and questioned whether this had happened.

‘Would be agree with me – £8 million is not chicken feed. That would pay for two years of tuition fees,’ she suggested to the Minister.

Lib Van colleague Peter Karran (Onchan) claimed the Minister had reneged on his promise to put back the £8 million into reserves. ‘Just answer yes or no. Have you given £8 million or have you not?’

But Mr Teare insisted: ‘I have not reneged on anything. We are going round and round in circles. £25 million was put under the management of Pinewood Shepperton and that remains the case.’

The Minister said the £34,924,000 balance in the MDF represented total cash together with a portfolio of film investments. He told the Manx Independent the difference between the balance and the funds under management was made up of cash from films made prior to the Pinewood deal. He said it was still his intention to put money back into reserves. He said he will give a more detailed explanation – and would have done so in Tynwald if Mrs Beecroft’s original question had been more clearly focused.