Question: I understand the Isle of Man is focusing plenty of attention at the moment on China for international development. Could they explain where we stand at the moment on this and could they enlighten us on what they believe the benefits will be for the island from links with China?

The Department of Economic Development undertook a country strategy evaluation of various markets in 2011. China was naturally one of the key markets examined from which a number of opportunities were identified leading to China being ranked as our TIER 2 (second priority market) and since which we have implemented an active drive to pursue business there.

These have taken the form of officer visits each quarter and events with industry recently culminating in a trade delegation led by Economic Development Minister John Shimmin MHK.

Culturally, China is, of course, a long term game in terms of building relations and trust (‘guanxi’) first in order to win business, but we have been pleased with progress to date and especially with recent developments from this current work whereby we have had our first major Chinese trading company setting up here and believe we have several more in the pipeline including the possibility of a Chinese bank. In particular the Isle of Man fits well with the Chinese Government’ twelfth five year plan to encourage more Chinese companies to ‘go global’.

This is because the Isle of Man has developed a strong proposition for China around administering trade into the EU given our common customs and market access arrangements when coupled with our low taxes and wealth of international corporate services and expertise.

Ultimately the benefits from our work should be more business for our existing companies and service providers but also some direct new job creation if we are successful in attracting Chinese businesses to establish here themselves. This will be assisted by a China representative we put in place last October and media support added in April.

Question The Economic Development minister visited China recently and I was wondering whether there are plans for any more official visits there? And vice-versa, can we expect many visits from Chinese missions?

The operational plan and commitment to developing the Chinese market encompasses a visit by officers (Michael Charlton and Steven Beevers) on a quarterly basis and potentially an annual political visit.

Consideration is being given to the possibility of a further Ministerial visit in Q1 2014.

In the meantime there are a number of delegations visiting the Isle of Man from China and indeed we had three in just one week this month plus a visit to the island back in April by the Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming.

 Question What other parts of the world is the Isle of Man looking to at the moment and I wondered if Mr Charlton could give any examples of work going on.

In addition to the China market, the Department has also identified the Middle East region of TIER 2 level importance to the Isle of Man, mainly for the extent to which it is an important area for retail financial sales and already accounts for billions of pounds in deposits and long term life funds here.

This work is to be picked up further by a new resource in the financial services team shortly.

Meanwhile, India is a TIER 3 target and we are pursuing Indian IPOs and wealth principally through India’s London based connections and advisers but events have also been held in India last year and more are in planning for this which should also again see a small delegation from the Isle of Man back in Mumbai later in the year (December).

The department has recently assessed potential in Russia and will be looking in particular at how that can be developed again with an emphasis on London introducers.

Subject to looking at how we leverage our resources to best effect it is hoped that banking activity in sub Saharan Africa and existing distributor networks in Latin America can also be supported in the year ahead thus extending our range of overseas promotional reach even further.

It is not always the case that government personnel need to travel to all events and support for existing businesses is also in place for various sectors like the Fund Management Association who as a collective sometimes conduct overseas events.

Similarly, it is possible for the department to support individual companies who are looking to develop new overseas marketing strategies into certain markets by means of grants, within the terms of the department’s discretionary incentives scheme.

Question : What sectors of the Manx economy can expect to benefit from this work?

Our various economic sectors can benefit from overseas work though it is important that we try to sell those solutions and propositions which are a ‘best fit’ with each market.

For example e-gaming is inappropriate for China but the Isle of Man as a trading base for the EU is probably the most relevant proposition there.

Similarly, the Middle East (especially UAE) is a good fit for Isle of Man banking and life company services.

While financial services companies tend to have the ability to reach out to overseas markets more easily than most we have also seen potential for manufacturing, construction and other non financial sectors arising from China and elsewhere.

Question: What sort of reception do we get from countries we visit? For example do overseas countries show a keen interest in wanting to know more about the Isle of Man?

We are always pleasantly surprised at how warmly received we are when visiting foreign countries at either an official or business level.

The Isle of Man is always of interest and never fails to surprise people as to the wealth of services and dynamic range of the economy and how we punch above our weight for such a small island.

However, our small size of course does tend to mean we may not have been heard of before and even the TT is relatively unheard of in China.

Often we can run into preconceptions that we are just another small island with low taxes but once we get over the message that the Isle of Man is more like Singapore (which everyone knows) and is quite a large Island with a real economy then the interest can usually be developed effectively from that point on.

Question:Are there any other points that you would particularly like to mention at this stage?

In summary it is fair to say that we are trying to do our best to concentrate and commit our limited resources on those markets with the greatest potential and obviously these may change over time as economies rise and fall.

At the moment China holds the promise of the most likely source of corporate start ups in the EU market and indeed we have a potential pipeline of several of these, whereas for the Middle East it is more about supporting our existing businesses accessing individual wealth.

It’s set to be anthem after anthem at the Villa Marina in Douglas next Thursday, as Moseley’s finest come to town for what will be one of the gigs of the year.

Indie heroes Ocean Colour Scene’s August 29 date with the Manx public is long overdue, given the band’s eponymous debut album came out way back in 1992.

Falling between the energetic pop/rock of mod revival and the psychedelic experimentations of Traffic, Ocean Colour Scene came to be one of the leading lights of the 1990s Britpop era.

With mentorship from the likes of Paul Weller, and a trail blazed by the explosion of Oasis, the band’s 1996 album Moseley Shoals was released to critical acclaim enough to catapult them to international prominence.

These days, 48-year-old singer Simon Fowler looks back on the period with wry bemusement, reflecting that despite the bands intentions they were ‘pop stars for 18 months’.

Fowler prefers the label of ‘a folk rock band that got lucky’.

The line-up that will play at the Villa next week is completed by long-time guitarist Steve Cradock – who also plays with Paul Weller’s band – and drummer Oscar Harrison, with bassist Dan Sealey who replaced Damon Minchella in 2003.

Moseley Shoals produced the singles that have remained among their best known material; think TFI Friday anthem The Riverboat Song, The Day We Caught the Train, You’ve Got It Bad and The Circle.

1997’s Marchin’ Already knocked Oasis’ Be Here Now off the top spot in the UK album charts, and spawned equally anthemic singles in the shape of Better Day Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels theme Hundred Mile High City.

New album releases every couple of years ever since have added staples to the live set, from protest song Profit in Peace from 1999’s One from the Modern, right up to the title track from this year’s effort Painting, Ocean Colour Scene’s tenth studio album.

Off the back of that release, the band are in as high a demand as they’ve ever been, if their tour schedule is anything to go by.

A string of shows across the UK and Ireland in the early part of the year came before a jaunt to sunny Spain, with the band back to the UK in time for the summer festival season, which included slots at Scotland’s T in the Park, and they’ll travel to the island fresh from headlining the Arena stage at V Festival this month.

New dates are been regularly added to their already 18-strong Marchin’ Already UK tour in November and December.

Thursday’s concert takes place in the Villa Marina’s Royal Hall starting at 7pm.

Support will come from Chris Helme who, alongside Stone Roses guitarist John Squire, saw platinum success with The Seahorses. The 1997 album Do It Yourself featured the hits Love Is The Law and Blinded By The Sun.

Tickets start from £30 for standing and unreserved seating, up to £40 for dress circle seats and admission to the after show party.

To book tickets, call into the Villa Marina reception, the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal, call the box office on 600555 or visit cfvg.gov.im

A multi-sensory garden was opened on Saturday at Rebecca House children’s hospice in memory of baby Eva Rose.

A private opening for the garden was held which saw Ethan, Eva’s older brother, cut the pink ribbon and declare it open.

Almost 300 people then turned up for a Fairytale Fun Day where children were invited to dress up as their favourite fairytale characters.

Activities at the fun day included jugglers, face painting and entertainers, along with handmade cupcakes and a raffle to raise funds to help maintain the garden.

Inspiration for the garden came from Julie and Jonathan Crossley who sadly lost their beloved daughter Eva Rose, when she was just nine weeks old.

Julie said: ‘We had a vision of how the garden would look, how we wanted it to be.

‘It is multi-sensory, with music, different textures and lots of things to bang – perfect for children.

‘It has been a real labour of love, we hope it will not only help to remember Eva but be enjoyed for years to come by everyone involved in the children’s hospice and the main adult sections too.’

Eva, who was diagnosed with Edwards Syndrome, a genetic disorder, would have turned two on August 16 this year and was being looked after by the team at Rebecca House’s Rainbow Room when she died.

The Rainbow Room is a temperature controlled room where a child’s body can be kept so the family has the ability to spend time with their loved one, thereby facilitating the time and space to say their goodbyes, with a bereavement counsellor on hand should that be required.

It’s available for children, from birth to 18 years old, even if they have not attended Rebecca House.

Fundraising by the Crossley family began as a result of losing Eva in 2011 and in appreciation of the kind help and support the children’s hospice provided at that crucial time.

They raised some £30,000.

The garden will now become not only a lasting legacy to Eva Rose, but will also be hugely beneficial for the children that attend Rebecca House, their siblings and the relatives of patients of the main hospice.

Julie and Jonathan thanked the Manx community for all their support.

To make a donation to the upkeep and ongoing maintenance of the garden contact the Hospice fundraising team on 647434.

Or email fundraising@hospice.org.im

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has announced its sponsorship of a satellite tag to help Manx Basking Shark Watch in its conservation work.

The Manx Basking Shark Watch, a Manx Wildlife Trust charity project, has been studying local basking sharks since 2005.

Satellite tagging is a significant area of its research, with the findings gained from the programme having led to the discovery of a real possibility of a very local school of these sharks.

Basking sharks are the second largest fish in the world and are exceedingly rare.

It is estimated that only 6,000-8,000 breeding females remain, having been all but wiped out after being hunted for their liver oil and fins, and the fact that they are very slow breeders.

Satellite tagging and tracking information is crucial in the preservation of this species, as local and international governments and conservation bodies can analyse findings and learn how best to conserve this remnant population for future generations.

Chief executive Mark Woodward said: ‘We are delighted to be able to offer our support to Manx Basking Shark Watch and to recognise the incredible work that it does. As basking sharks are endangered but well-known in Manx waters, this is an extremely worthwhile project that benefits the entire island community, and we look forward to hearing about their developments and findings in the near future.’

Jackie Hall from Manx Basking Watch said ‘Our research indicates we don’t have many sharks left in the Irish Sea so these tags are vital to make informed wildlife management decisions. We are very grateful to the Steam Packet for their assistance. A male shark was tagged on August 13 and we have named him Orry to reflect the Company sponsorship. He can be followed at www.manxbasking sharkwatch.com’

North Quay in Douglas is set for an action-packed weekend of music, motors, crafts and fashion on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1.

The harbourside will host ‘North Quay Live’, an event with up to 16 live local bands, outdoor stalls selling Manx crafts and produce, a vintage car display and a vintage fashion fair in the market hall.

The event is a collaboration between Douglas Development Partnership, Event Management Solutions and Manx Radio.

Douglas town centre manager, Michelle O’Malley, said: ‘Once again North Quay will be the go-to destination at the end of this month for a great family day out.

‘The quayside is becoming recognised increasingly as a fantastically versatile community space and demonstrates to great effect what a tremendously positive impact regeneration can have on a town,’ added Michelle.

‘We’ve also been delighted to see the market hall in Douglas hosting the current season of artisan markets which bring such a wide variety of Manx goods together under one roof.

‘Events such as these are helping re-energise Douglas and show how much the town centre is evolving into a hub of social interaction that provides an experience - at a time when people’s budgets are coming increasingly under pressure - which goes far beyond the retail,’ said Michelle.

Douglas market hall is also the setting for artisan markets being held every Friday and Saturday throughout August, September and October, when local suppliers and traders showcase some of the finest Manx goods and crafts.

For more information visit the North Quay Live Facebook page www.facebook.com/events/600826579952135/?fref=ts or contact Peter Young on 482577.

Entrepreneur Jim Mellon and neuroscientist Baroness Susan Greenfield will be among the top-flight international speakers and panelists to address the Isle of Man’s inaugural biomed conference later this year.

Expected to attract more than 100 delegates from around the world, the ManxBioMed Business Conference will raise the island’s profile within this multi-billion pound industry.

Already home to a dozen expanding biomed companies selling products and services around the world, the Isle of Man is targeting this sector as part of its ongoing strategy to diversify its economy.

‘Thanks to the calibre of speakers we have managed to secure the three-day conference is sure to attract decision makers and experts within the field - it will be the perfect opportunity to sell the island as the ideal location for biomed companies,’ said Courtenay Heading, co-founder of the ManxBioMed Cluster.

‘It will also serve to highlight the expertise of the biomed and allied companies already based on the island,’ he added.

Dubbed by the UK media as Britain’s answer to Warren Buffett, Jim Mellon is famous for notching up the biggest-ever success on London’s AIM market with Uramin, the company he co-founded in 2005 with $100,000 and sold two years later for $2.5bn.

The acclaimed investor is now backing biotech - particularly telemedicine and medical devices - as the next major growth area. His bestselling book ‘Cracking the Code - Understand and Profit from the Biotech Revolution’ portrays the bio-pharma industry as ‘the greatest single opportunity in the world today’.

Baroness Greenfield is a scientist, writer and broadcaster, whose speciality is the physiology of the brain. She has played a leading role in focusing attention on Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.

Lucius Cary, the founder and managing director of Oxford Technology Management, will chair the conference which will be held on December 9, 10 and 11.

Economic Development Minister John Shimmin will open the three-day conference.

‘The Department of Economic Development is pleased to support this exciting conference, especially as we have attracted world-class speakers, eminent panel members, and presentations by innovative biomed and medtech companies,’ said Mr Shimmin.

‘I have no doubt that this conference will continue to raise the profile of the biomed companies who are based here and will help companies collaborate to share knowledge, grow their businesses, and engage in greater innovation for the benefit of all concerned with improving healthcare.’

Sponsors of the event include Manx Telecom, KPMG, Boston Ventures, Intelligence and SEQ.

See Business Word, free with today’s Isle of Man Examiner, for the Roundtable discussion on the Isle of Man’s biomed ambitions.

‘I’d recommend anybody to go for it because it helps you to see what you’ve achieved,’ says Ben Hellowell, a finalist at last year’s Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence.

The award for Young Achiever of the Year at last year’s Awards for Excellence was won by Alex Wilson for her fundraising achievements on behalf of Crossroads Care.

In just a few short years she had grown the charity’s annual revenue to £330,000, raising its profile and allowing it to increase its services to carers.

A worthy winner indeed but not the only success story.

As with all the categories at the Awards for Excellence, the standard was high and just being shortlisted was an achievement in itself. Ben Hellowell was a finalist and says he found the whole experience positive and worthwhile.

Like Alex, Ben is undoubtedly a ‘young achiever’.

He started his own company, Just Care, supplying products to assist the elderly and disabled, with a launch at the Royal Manx Show in August 2011.

His showroom on the Spring Valley Industrial Estate displays everything from mobility scooters and reclining chairs to the smaller items that can make easier, such as specialised can openers and tap turners for people with arthritic hands.

Because Ben sells specialist products which physically vulnerable people rely on, there was a lot of dealer training to understand the products and how they could help with people’s everyday lives.

He has learned how to measure a customer for a wheelchair so that they get the right width and depth of seat – important because it not only makes users more comfortable but also helps with circulation.

He has also become an expert at servicing electric scooters and wheelchairs.

And the business is doing well. In tough economic times Ben has been pleased with the increase in his turnover: ‘From Day One, with just me on my own, it has grown over the last two years so that now I employ two other part time people, one in the showroom and one doing deliveries.

‘Over the next five years hopefully I’ll continue to see a steady growth and be able to establish a steady growth in the marketplace,’ he says.

Ben describes the process of filling out the Awards for Excellence entry form as very useful: ‘I think it was certainly a good experience to go through the process: being a new business it almost cemented what we were doing - to see what we had built up, what we’d done,’ he says.

Are You a Young Achiever?

Entries are now being invited for this year’s Awards for Excellence. There are sixteen award categories which include the Isle of Man Bank sponsored Young Achiever Award. This year’s Awards night takes place on November 21. The event will be compered by Hugh Dennis, star of the hit TV comedy ‘Outnumbered’, and screened live online to a worldwide audience. For further details on how to enter the awards, go to www.iomtoday.co.im/afe

The ‘Three Generations Team’ stepped out in the Parish Walk to raise money for the Manx Blind Welfare Society.

The team was made up of Bob Corkish, aged 86, his daughter Angie Aire and grandson Matthew, aged 20.

Angie’s employer Lloyds TSB supported their fundraising with matched funding for the team.

Pictured are Bob, Angie and Matthew, as well as Claire Radcliffe and Graham Ross of Lloyds TSB presenting a cheque for £1,730 to Debbie Kenyon of the Manx Blind Welfare Society.

The team were keen to give something back to the charity which has supported Bob, who is registered blind.

Picture: John Maddrell JM130821-51

The Curraghs Wildlife Park opened its doors to young students for the Wild Academy summer school for the first time during the holidays.

A total of 21 children took part and graduated at the end of their week of fun, learning and animal experiences.

The week’s activities were divided into daily topics, such as ‘eat or be eaten’ and ‘animal SOS’, and taught students about a range of subjects including endangered species and feeding animals.

Liz Brunswick, who ran the summer school with the help of Carly Gough, said: ‘We really weren’t sure how children from different schools and from different year groups would gel, but they all had a fabulous time. It’s been a packed and varied week and I think we have learned what works well so we will be using this experience to make next year’s summer school just as brilliant.’

General manager Kathleen Graham said: ‘One boy said it had been the “best week” of his life, another parent said she had never seen her girl smile so much at the end of every day and be so animated about her experiences. Comments like that make all the effort the staff and volunteers have put in all worthwhile.’

Volunteers were on hand to help such as Helen Macintosh, artist and friend of the park, as well as the keepers who helped with the animal experiences.

Students even made some animal inspired art, including their own graduation hats.

A carriage full of passengers had the ride of their lives when their Snaefell Mountain Railway tram appeared to experience braking problems.

Sixty-year-old Norman Henderson from Warrington was one of more than 30 people on board that afternoon earlier this month, and recalled the mountainside events.

Mr Henderson was in the island with for the weekend, tagging along with his sister who was here visiting a friend.

‘The last time I was in the Isle of Man was 1969, and the one thing I never did was go to the top of Snaefell,’ he said.

‘I went up the Snaefell line from Laxey, it was a lovely clear day, the journey to the top was fine.’

Norman said the descent was initially slow paced.

‘It got faster and faster; there was a young girl with her mother who started screaming, she was terrified.

‘From where I was sitting, at the back, I could see the guard, he was furiously winding the brake wheel, but it was having no effect. It got to the stage where I thought if we hit the bend at this speed it would flip over.

‘I was looking at the grassy bank outside; I was going to jump off. I thought I’d take my chance with that, but the tram just stopped dead and we all lunged forward.’

He said they stopped about half a mile from Laxey’s station, and a handful of passengers got off to walk the rest of the way, with most staying on for the slow trundle home.

‘The brake man sort of said “it seems to be OK now”. The driver was quite pale, as was the brake man,’ said Norman on the return to the station.

‘The young girl was very traumatised, and her mother suffered from an asthma attack.

‘The tram was taken away. All I heard was that the brakes failed; the actions of the brake man seemed to have no effect at all.

‘I’m not easily frightened by these things, but it was obvious it was going far too fast. I have never seen anyone screaming with fear before.

‘And that was my first trip up Snaefell!’ Norman quipped. ‘Though it wouldn’t put me off going up again. I can’t imagine it’s a regular problem!’

Director of public transport Ian Longworth added his assurances on passenger safety on the Mountain Railway.

‘The railway has been specifically engineered to cope with the challenges of a mountain,’ said Mr Longworth.

‘The fell brake is applied in each cab separately for each bogie. This brake requires significant winding on and off by a trained brakesman and the driver, one at each end.

‘Sometimes trams descending from the mountain can pick up pace. At no time are passengers in any danger.’

Celton Manx Isle of Man, as operator of the global online sports book SBOBET, has signed contracts with five Premier League clubs to be their official Asian betting partner for the 2013-2014 season: Hull City, Norwich City, Southampton, Swansea City and West Ham United.

The agreement will see the SBOBET brand promoted on the Premier League clubs’ LED pitchside perimeter advertising hoardings during all home games.

The Premier League is broadcast across 212 territories, reaching an audience approaching five billion, providing SBOBET with a total of more than 1,000 minutes of global advertising exposure across the season.

Celton Manx executive director Bill Mummery said: ‘These signings illustrate the growth of and respect for the trusted SBOBET brand in the Asia region where it is recognised as the leading online sports book.

‘These agreements also demonstrate our commitment to continue building mutually beneficial relationships with the Premier League clubs, which most recently saw SBOBET enjoy a four-year partnership as principal sponsor of West Ham United, which forms part of our commitment for the 2013-2014 season.

‘These mutually beneficial commercial arrangements also provide SBOBET, as a company with a strong sense of corporate responsibility, an opportunity to work with the clubs in supporting their community and charitable initiatives.

‘The 2013-2014 Premier League season promises to be a very exciting one and we are proud to partner with so many highly regarded clubs.’

Ramsey resident Cal Crutchlow endured a mixed and ultimately frustrating weekend at the latest round of the 2013 MotoGP World Championship.

On Saturday, Crutchlow claimed the second pole position of his career with a stunning qualifying performance that made the British rider the fastest man ever on two wheels at the Brno track in the Czech Republic.

The 27-year-old was locked in an exciting battle with Valentino Rossi and Alvaro Bautista in the early laps.

The three-way fight was a repeat of a similar exciting tussle a week earlier in Indianapolis and a determined Crutchlow led the way until he tumbled out of fourth position on lap eight.

The British rider was able to rejoin the 22-lap race and fought hard from the back of the field to take 17th at the chequered flag.

Police in Port Erin are investigating a fight which occurred on Douglas Road, Ballasalla, at about 10.30pm on Friday, August 16.

The fight involved two men, both in their 30s, resulting in one being taken to hospital.

Two men were arrested, but police would like to speak to anybody who has any information about the incident.

If you can help, call Port Erin police on 832222.

A man’s body was recovered from Peel campsite yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.

Emergency services were intially called at 2.40pm to attend to the man who was thought to be simply unconscious.

However, on arrival, it was quickly established the man was dead.

Police attended to carry out enquiries at the scene and ensure the dignified removal of the body.

At this stage, the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Energy giant DONG has applied for planning consent to build an extension to its Walney wind farm, which will be located 31km south east of the Isle of Man.

Copies of its application form to the UK planning inspectorate, together with maps and plans of the project, have gone on display at the Henry Bloom Library in Victoria Street, Douglas, until September 20.

The proposed extension will double the area of the existing Walney offshore wind farm by installing up to 207 turbines measuring up to 222m high.

It will cover an area of up to 149 square km and generate up to 750 megawatts (MW) of electricity - enough to meet the average needs of about 657,000 homes. Electricity will be transmitted via underground cables to a new substation at Heysham.

Walney is the largest offshore wind farm in the world, generating 367 MW of electricity, sufficient to power about 320,000 homes. It was officially opened by UK Energy Secretary Edward Davey in February last year.

While the Walney extension project will not impinge on lifelife ferry routes, there are concerns that the cumulative effect of various schemes planned in the Irish Sea will disrupt Steam Packet routes.

Isle of Man Newspapers’s Don’t Cut us Off campaign against over-intensive wind farm development resulted in 1,265 petition forms being signed.

Bus drivers want to go on strike again but have been advised by their union to hold back because of the toll it is taking on them.

The drivers - who last went on strike during the TT – have been given an extension until the end of this week to accept the latest non-negotiable offer.

But the Unite union insists the offer is not new and there is no point in balloting members on it as it has been rejected once before.

Bobby Morton, Unite’s national officer for public transport, said: ‘Our members want another go at industrial action but it is taking a lot out of them mentally, physically and in their pockets.

‘I have advised them to hold back. There will be further industrial action – when the drivers decided to do it.’

He said drivers would be balloted before any further strike action could take place.

Meanwhile, lawyers acting for both sides in the long-running dispute have been preparing for test cases in a mass employment tribunal claim.

A total of 63 drivers are claiming for unfair dismissal over changes to their terms and conditions including the loss of paid lunch breaks. Statements have been taken from all drivers and the case is due to be heard shortly.

Mr Morton said: ‘The two sides’ legal departments were told by the tribunal chairman to find a solution. The department rather than Bus Vannin tabled an offer but to the best of my knowledge this had already been put to the drivers and rejected. It was same offer. The offer was supposed to close at the end of July but our lawyers asked for it to be kept open for another month. There is no need to ballot members as it has been rejected once before.’

The Unite offer said the union will be asking Department of Community, Culture and Leisure to put its books in front of the tribunal.

‘We want to see the figures as the department appears to be able to spend a lot of money on the railway section for new things like the new dining carriage,’ he said.

The employment tribunal has ruled it has no jurisdiction to hear the claim of 23 of the drivers who alleged unlawful deduction of their wages after being locked out by Bus Vannin management during a strike.

Many government staff are uncertain about what the future holds, the Chief Minister has acknowledged.

But Allan Bell said this was ‘understandable and sadly inevitable’ given the comprehensive review of services taking place as part of the Scope of Government initiative.

He said: ‘We do have to re-examine our services to see what can be delivered differently and better, but I recognise that the uncertainty is unsettling for staff and that clarification is needed as soon as possible. Clear communication within departments is essential as the process of change moves forward so that everyone understands what is happening and why.’

The Chief Minister is making time during the summer political recess to visit all nine government departments, talking to staff as well as senior management and Ministers.

He has already visited six departments – Social Care, Treasury, Community, Culture and Leisure, Economic Development, Health and Environment, Food and Agriculture. He will go to Infrastructure, Education and Children, and Home Affairs during the next few weeks.

Mr Bell said: ‘Getting out into the Departments is proving to be really useful and interesting, particularly as it provides the opportunity to speak to staff and listen to their views.

‘What has impressed me most is the dedication and professionalism of our workforce, the pride they take in the job that they do and their commitment to serving the Isle of Man and its people. It is heartening to know that the spirit of public service remains so strong across the Departments, despite our many challenges.

‘This is a time of change for the services which government provides, and many staff are uncertain about what the future holds. That is understandable and sadly inevitable.’

He added: ‘The programme of visits has also enabled me to have discussions with senior management teams about the scale and nature of the issues facing the government as a whole. Long-term challenges such as the ageing population will extend far beyond the current budgetary re-balancing exercise and Scope review, so the pressures for change will not be going away in the years ahead.’

Schools are doing their bit to ensure children in the Isle of Man have a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Education chiefs say they are backing the stance taken by Chief Minister Allan Bell on childhood obesity.

Mr Bell said parents were responsible for ensuring their children eat properly and take enough exercise – and those who failed to do so could be guilty of neglect.

Schools catering manager Chris Wilson, who is responsible for the primary school meals service, said: ‘A balanced diet allied with the right amount of exercise are the perfect ingredients to give children the best start in life.

‘The primary school meals service follows nutritional standards and with the food on offer gives children the chance to explore new tastes and develop healthy eating habits.

‘We try to make lunchtimes a happy time where children are encouraged to enjoy their food, practice eating skills and socialise with their friends.’

School meals staff use computer software to analyse the ingredients of menus against nutritional standards, ensuring they meet minimum requirements for protein, zinc, iron and vitamins and don’t exceed maximum recommended levels of salt, sugar and fat. Mr Wilson added: ‘Eating a balanced diet seems to appeal to young children as there are around 400 more meals being served every day, in the primary schools, than there were before the nutritional standards were introduced.’

DEC physical and emotional health education officer Mal Keary said healthy eating and healthy lifestyles are covered in the formal taught curriculum but children were also given opportunities to make informed decisions for themselves. For example, clubs are often run voluntarily by teachers that give opportunities to young people to participate in physical activity at lunch times and after school in addition to timetabled PE lessons.

She said packed lunches can vary in quality and from time to time schools may bring this to parents’ attention.

‘The Department of Education and Children is supportive of the Chief Minister’s statement in regard to future challenges in relation to obesity levels in children and young people and is aware that this is an issue that potentially impacts on the whole community,’ she added.

Castle Rushen High School, in Castletown, said fitness and wellbeing, including the correct balance between diet and exercise, is covered in lifeskills, health education and physical education.

It is considering introducing a parent education programme to support these programmes, in collaboration with the Community Health Service. There are a ‘limited number’ of vending machines with restrictions on content dependent on where they are placed and who has access to them, the school said.

Meanwhile, at Ballakermeen High School, Douglas, there is only a vending machine in the sixth form.

Head teacher Adrienne Burnett said: ‘We feel senior students are able to make their own decisions about snacks.’ Last week the public health division revealed more than a fifth of all five-year-olds in the island are obese or overweight.

A 12 week trial to outsource vital deep cleaning work at Noble’s Hospital to G4S has angered the union representing staff.

Unite’s regional officer Eric Holmes hit out at the plan saying no other firm was given the chance to tender for the work. He says the usual way in which government projects are undertaken has been ‘deliberately ignored.’

A Department of Health statement said: ‘No jobs whatsoever are under threat from this move and normal housekeeping duties continue to be undertaken by in-house staff.

‘Currently the teams within the hospital’s Operations Division, such as porters and housekeepers, are responsible for deep cleans, but as work of this nature is reactive and unplanned, it causes disruption to normal portering and housekeeping duties, having a knock-on effect on the smooth operation of the hospital and services to patients.’

Deep cleans are required following an outbreak of infectious disease.

‘The deep clean service usually only amounts to a few hours per month, hence why the management is looking at innovative ways to tackle the disruption it causes,’ said the department.

‘Staff have flagged to management the issue of disruption and the strain this work places on already full schedules for normal duties.

‘Management has agreed to take this step of outsourcing to address staff concerns.’

But Unite is not happy with the trial. Mr Holmes hits out at the plan in a letter to Treasury Minister Eddie Teare MHK. He said: ‘I attended a late night meeting with regards to a contract that had been awarded to G4S to trial a 12 week terminal cleaning programme at Noble’s Hospital.

‘It transpired under questioning that no other cleaning company on-island had been given opportunity to tender for this trial contract.

‘I have no way of confirming that point from outside of government,’ continued Mr Holmes.

‘I am concerned that the procurement service route under which it is customary to apply, if wishing to be selected for government contracts has been deliberately ignored in this instance unless G4S has an exemption that is not public knowledge, and if this is the case under which criteria?’

Referring to Mr Teare, he continued: ‘I know that you have been outspoken in regards to the procurement procedure and know that you will also share my concerns in regards to this assumed omission under which we have had no consultation or evidencing either.

‘Should this be correct then obviously I would like you to investigate and also answer the following question.

‘Which other firms are exempt, and under which criteria, and is there a list available to identify them?

‘Open knowledge like this would also reassure contractors that it was an open and transparent tendering process they apply to work under,’ said Mr Holmes.

The Department of Health responded to the Union, saying: ‘Noble’s Hospital has agreed a 12 week trial with a local cleaning firm to undertake ad-hoc deep cleaning at the hospital.

‘The trial will be evaluated after the 12 week period has ended.

‘At that point, should outsourcing of this work be deemed viable as a long term approach, contractors which form part of the Building and Window Cleaning Framework Agreement, as established by Treasury’s Central Procurement Team, will be approached to undertake the work, or, if required, a tendering exercise will be carried out,’ said the department.

‘It’s important to note that Noble’s Hospital management have taken this step in order to address concerns raised by housekeepers themselves with regards to the disruption deep cleaning can cause to their normal and already full work schedules - as deep cleans are often required at short notice for a few hours at a time.

‘Deep cleans can also impact on patient care as nursing staff are involved in this process.

‘The move will put extra capacity in the system to accommodate the requirement to undertake deep cleans without compromising normal housekeeping duties or patient care,’ continued the department.

‘The work involved is based on incidences of infectious disease and as such has no fixed pattern, making an on-call contractor the most appropriate option.’

Chief Minister Allan Bell insisted: ‘This isn’t a first step towards wholesale privatisation.

‘It’s actually designed to improve the situation and take the pressure off the porters.’

Douglas lifeboat was called out this morning to help a fishermen who required medical attention to an injured hand.

Volunteer crew members were paged at 9.15am to go to the aid of the vessel, which was around 15 miles south east of Douglas.

The RNLI all-weather lifeboat Sir William Hillary was launched under the command of volunteer coxswain Neal Corran after the fishing vessel’s skipper had reported a crewman had injured his hand quite badly, requiring immediate medical assistance.

The fishing vessel made its way towards Douglas to meet the lifeboat. The injured crewman was transferred to the lifeboat and brought into the Liner Berth between the Victoria and King Edward Piers in Douglas harbour.

The casualty was then given into the care of a waiting ambulance crew.