The man who set up the successful first aircraft register in the Isle of Man more than six years ago is poised to work the same magic for Jersey.

Brian Johnson, who was the Isle of Man’s first director of civil aviation and responsible for getting the project off the ground, now works for Appleby’s in Douglas and has accepted a consultancy role through the firm to help Jersey with its project.

‘The aircraft register in the Isle of Man is one of the most successful projects I have ever been involved with,’ he said.

‘And plans to launch an aircraft registry in Jersey could also provide a boost for the Isle of Man’s private sector.’

Mr Johnson, who for the past two years has been Appleby’s aviation director of operations, said the Isle of Man has a great advantage because it has the only offshore register within the EU VAT area.

‘If there is a requirement to address the VAT on a Jersey-registered, or Guernsey-registered aircraft purchase, for aircraft visiting or based in the EU, businesses in the Isle of Man are ideally placed to provide an Isle of Man VAT-registered aircraft ownership company. In essence, Jersey’s registry plans could generate more new business for the Isle of Man.

‘Alongside our own aircraft registry, offshore jurisdictions in Aruba, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, San Marino and Guernsey already have established registers,’ he said.

The island’s business jet register is now a major off-shore concern with more than 650 aircraft registered, despite the growing competition.

Those with aircraft registered in the island range from businessmen to royal families.

‘My job in Jersey is to help them to establish their register and it will be broadly based on the model that the Isle of Man has,’ he said.

‘The target for completing the project is summer 2014 so the aim is to have it running in six months, which is a challenge as it took a year to do in the Isle of Man.’

Mr Johnson will be working via the firm’s Jersey office, though the Isle of Man will remain his base and home.

Schools chiefs are to launch a consultation process in the spring about whether to follow the English education system after the introduction of new examinations and qualifications.

Proposals were this week announced in England relating to the reform of applied and vocational qualifications for 16- to 19-year-olds.

The new ‘Tech Levels’ and ‘Applied General’ qualifications will be on a par with A-levels and are intended for first teaching in September 2014.

They are part of a number of changes that have been introduced in England. The education systems in Northern Ireland and Wales have been devolved from Westminster, while Scotland’s has always been significantly different.

More on this story in Thursday’s Manx Independent.

The annual Santa Dash around Douglas will take place this lunchtime.

The event will get under way at 12.30pm from outside the headquarters of sponsors Isle of Man Bank, on Prospect Hill.

A slight detour from the normal route, due to ongoing roadworks on Victoria Street, will see the record entry of more than 200 runners reach the promenade from behind the RBS building via Villier’s Square.

They will then run the prom as far as the Gaiety, head left up Church Road and on to the finish line at the South Douglas Old Friends’ Association on Finch Road.

As the route is shorter this year, the times will not be considered as course records.

Signing-on takes place at the Old Friends’ building from midday.

There will be more late night buses running over the festive season.

The N1, N3 and N5 Night Owl buses will operate at 12.15am for people out on Friday night, December 20, and on Saturday, December 21.

On both nights, there will be extra services departing at 1.15am serving the north, south and west of the island.

These Night Owl services provide connections both ways between Douglas and Ramsey via Laxey; between Douglas and Port St Mary via Castletown, Colby and Port Erin; and between Douglas and Peel in the early hours of Saturday and Sunday.

The 12.15am and 1.15am Night Owl services will be repeated for New Year’s Eve partygoers, with additional early evening services operating on New Year’s Eve on service numbers 3, 5 and 12.

Full details can be found below and on www.iombusandrail.info

Night Owl fares apply, which are double the adult fare after midnight, no concessions. For example, that will mean a £5.40 night owl fare from Douglas to Castletown, Laxey or Peel; and £6.20 from Douglas to Ramsey, Port Erin or Port St Mary.

Additional late services for Friday 20 and Saturday, December 21:

Service N1: from Lord Street stand C/The Albert bus stop in Port St Mary

12.15am and 1.15am Douglas to Port St Mary, serving Anagh Coar, Farmhill, Castletown, Colby and Port Erin.

12.10am and 1.15am Port St Mary to Douglas via Port Erin, Colby and Castletown.

Service N3: from Lord Street stand D/Ramsey bus station

12.15am and 1.15am Douglas to Ramsey, serving Buck’s Road, Watterson Lane, Hailwood Avenue, Hillberry Road and Laxey.

12.12a, and 1.15am Ramsey to Douglas, serving Buck’s Road, Watterson Lane, Hailwood Avenue, Hillberry Road and Laxey.

Service N5: from Lord Street stand B/Peel Town Hall

12.15am and 1.15am Douglas to Peel serving Strang, Crosby and St John’s

12.45am and 1.45am Peel to Douglas via St John’s, Crosby and Strang

Extra late services on New Year’s Eve

Service 3: 7.40pm Douglas via Laxey to Ramsey

Service 5: 8.48pm Ramsey via Peel to Douglas

Service 12: 8.50pm and 9.50pm Douglas to Port St Mary

10.07pm and 11.03pm Port St Mary to Douglas

Service N1: 12.10am and 1.15am Port St Mary to Douglas

12.15am and 1.15am Douglas to Port St Mary

Service N3: 12.12am and 1.15am Ramsey to Douglas

12.15am and 1.15am Douglas to Ramsey

Service N5: 12.15am and 1.15am Douglas to Peel

12.45am and 1.45am Peel to Douglas

Police are appealing for witnesses after 20 pints of milk were stolen from outside Newby’s shop on Ballaquayle Road, Douglas.

The theft of the of full-fat (blue) milk occurred sometime between 6am and 7am on Sunday, December 15.

Anyone with any information relating to this should contact Douglas police headquarters.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/milk-stolen-call-the-police-1-6279512|Police have previously appealed for anyone who has had milk stolen to report the theft.}

Today, Wednesday

NEWBURY CHOICE: 12.10 Dawalan 12.40 According to Trev 1.10 Josses Hill 1.40 Mr Muddle 2.15 Hadrian’s Approach 2.45 Broomfield 3.20 Herecomesthebride

LINGFIELD TIPS: 12.0 Street Power 12.30 Epsom Salts 1.0 Passing By 1.30 Bowie Boy 2.0 Hawkeyethenoo (NB) 2.35 Honey Of A Kitten (NAP) 3.10 Syncopate 3.40 Celtic Charlie

LUDLOW SELECTIONS: 1.20 Riddleofthesands 1.50 Moscow Me 2.25 King Massini

KEMPTON PICKS: 4.20 Lady Lunchalot 4.50 Nafa 6.20 Troopingthecolour 6.50 Spirit Or Soul 7.20 Squirrel Wood

Entrepreneur Jim Mellon has called on the island to forge an alliance with a university, preferably in the United States, to boost our profile in the growing biomed industry.

Mr Mellon said that the island faces strong competition from the rest of the world in attracting ‘biopharma’ based businesses.

And he believes some sort of an academic link-up would give a strong fillip in the battle for business.

He said: ‘The Isle of Man should look to an alliance with a university in the United States.

The island, with its tax advantages should be ‘actively seeking’ a link up with a university which is strongly grounded in bioscience, he believes.

‘The University of Wisconsin is one I could provide as an example.’

He said the island is very business friendly and the government is highly adaptable.

He said the island had a history of attracting new industry here and seizing opportunities.

For instance his own plane was the first to be registered by the island’s air registry which has since grown and grown to more than 700 registrations, he said

There was an understanding of opportunities and of innovation here.

Mr Mellon, who has an island home, and is regularly featured in the Sunday Times Rich List, was giving the keynote address at the island’s inaugural biomed business conference at the Claremont Hotel, Douglas.

More than 100 delegates from around the world attended the event aimed at raising the island’s profile within this multi-billion pound industry.

He said: ‘The Isle of Man will find a way.

‘However there are some negatives. Lots of other countries in the world including Europe, the UK, Malta, Luxembourg, for example have worked out that bioscience is the industry of the future.’

He said that much of the growth was due to the industry in other countries being linked to academia.

‘In the Isle of Man we don’t have that academic capability as yet.

‘So my recommendation is that the island should look to an alliance with a university in the United States.’

Leading investment expert Mr Mellon has written a best-selling book called Cracking The Code - Understand and Profit from the Biotech Revolution.

He believes there are unparalleled opportunities for investors from the growing biomed industry.

He is now backing biotech - particularly telemedicine and medical devices - as the next major growth area.

His book portrays the bio-pharma industry as ‘the greatest single opportunity in the world today’.

Mr Mellon told theb conference: ‘We live in exciting times and the Isle of Man has always embraced new opportunities.’

He revealed that over the next few months he plans to base two bioscience based companies in the island.

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

John Shimmin, Economic Development Minister, told the audience that ‘many investors are looking to find solutions to problems that have affected their loved ones.’

He said it was a ‘worthy, beneficial and exciting’ industry for people to be involved in.

Courtenay Heading, co-founder of the Manx BioMed Cluster said it was the perfect opportunity to sell the island as the ideal location for biomed companies.

The conference heard brief presentations from a number of biomed and healthcare businesses looking to move to the Isle of Man and seeking investment for their enterprises.

These included Aqix Ltd UK which is involved in the bio preservation market.

The company says that current products on the market are only able to keep donor organs/tissue biopsies and therapeutic cells preserved and viable to up to 24 hours.

Company founder Dr Douglas Rees explained that the company has developed a product known as AQIX RS-I which gives up to 72 hours of storage/transport time for all types of human tissues and rogans, adding a further 48 hours more transport time to enable delivery to international destinations.

Renowned neuroscientist Baroness Susan Greenfield later addressed the conference on the impact of modern technology on the human brain.

Organisers were delighted with the calibre of speakers.

A large quantity of fuel was stolen from the yard of Tels Ltd, Snugborough Industrial Estate, Union Mills, between lunchtime on Saturday and Monday morning.

A police spokesman said: ‘Tels is supporting the police in the investigation and would like to remind all local businesses not to fall into the same trap.

‘Please ensure your gates are locked, lighting is working, and CCTV cameras are good quality and produce good quality images. Don’t be an easy target.

‘If anybody has any information regarding this fuel theft or any other theft of fuel during the winter season, please contact police on 631212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.’

Tonight’s 7.45pm Steam Packet sailing from Douglas to Heysham has been cancelled because of the bad weather.

That means that the return, the 2.15am sailing tomorrow from Heysham, has obviously been cancelled as well.

Students from Castle Rushen beat off competition from five other local schools and colleges to win the island heat of a prestigious national competition.

The national Business Accounting Skills Education (BASE) competition is run by ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) in conjunction with the IOMSCA (Isle of Man Society of Chartered Accountants)

The island heat of the BASE competition took place at the Villa Marina.

It was one of 46 heats attracting more than 3,000 students in more than 500 competing teams nationwide.

BASE links schools, students and employers together in a bid to not only increase awareness of a career in chartered accountancy and finance, but to develop key employability skills in the future workforce.

Assuming the role of chartered accountants, the students had just less than two hours to analyse, discuss and decide on the next business steps of a fictional organisation before presenting their ideas to a panel of business professionals.

The BASE competition was supported by local firms including KPMG, PwC, Moore Stephens, Ernst & Young, BDO and Crowe Morgan, who provided professional mentors and judges.

In addition students and teachers were given the chance to hear first hand accounts about the range of career options chartered accountancy can provide.

Andrew Gerrard, chairman of the Isle of Man Society of Chartered Accountants said: ‘The calibre of entrants was again high and I expect I’ll be seeing more of these young people in leading roles in the future. These young business advisers are looking beyond the numbers and adding their social and ethical acumen to give rounded advice.’

Head judge Nick Quayle of KPMG said: ‘In the presentations we looked for the ethical and financial data to support the decisions.

‘Castle Rushen High School showed excellent teamwork and role allocation in delivering a very comprehensive recommendation.

‘The team from King Williams College were runners up and all teams can be rightly proud of their achievements in dealing with a very challenging business challenge.’

Castle Rushen will now go on to represent the island at the national final which takes place at the Hilton Metropole Hotel, Birmingham on Wednesday, June 25.

For further information about BASE and how to participate visit icaew.com/base

A Douglas consultant plastic surgeon has condemned the four year jail sentence handed to the founder of French company PIP, which distributed defective breast implants.

Jean-Claude Mas was found guilty of fraud and was also fined 75,000 euros (£63,000) by a court in Marseille last week.

But Mr Mas, who had denied using substandard silicone at the trial, will remain at liberty until a French court hears an appeal lodged by his lawyer.

Kevin Hancock, who consults and operates at Noble’s Hospital’s Private Patients Unit, said: ‘As an experienced consultant with both a NHS and private practice I have witnessed the effects of the PIP scandal and it’s hard to see how this sentence adequately makes up for the harm and distress it has caused many women and continues to do so.

‘Thousands are still left with no support from their original providers and many may still unknowingly have these implants inside of them.

‘It really was a disgrace that this scandal was able to happen and we can only hope that tighter regulation and the implementation of new changes will prevent it from happening again.’

PIP’s sale of faulty implants caused a global health scare which affected about 300,000 women in 65 countries.

It includes 42,000 British women.

Private clinics fitted 95 per cent of the implants, mostly for breast reconstruction following cancer.

The remainder were performed by the NHS.

Europe was a major market, but more than half went to South America

The company was found to have used sub-standard silicone gel – rather than medical-grade silicone – with the result that many implants ruptured.

The trial was considered to be one of the biggest in French legal history, with more than 5,000 women registered as plaintiffs in the case.

It saw four other former PIP executives convicted and given lesser sentences.

A UK report into the PIP implant scandal concluded the gel material was not toxic or carcinogenic, and did not cause a long-term threat to human health.

But it highlighted anxiety about the implants was itself a health concern and women should be able to have them removed if they wanted to.

Mr Hancock, a council member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), is offering free advice to patients concerned about their implants who can contact his practice via his website www.kevinhancockcosmeticsurgery.com

Legislation is being drafted to put the Protecting Children Board on a statutory footing, Tynwald heard.

Chief Minister Allan Bell was quizzed in the court by Speaker Steve Rodan over the timetable for the new legislation.

Mr Bell told members that current arrangements are being reviewed by an external independent inspection. He said: ‘The arrangements for ensuring that children are protected continue to evolve.

‘The results of the inspection will become clear early in 2014 and the government is committed to ensuring the matter is thoroughly considered and that an appropriate response is swiftly implemented where any changes are required.’

Mr Bell said as currently proposed, the planned Education Bill could incorporate the necessary legislation – but he could not rule out a separate Bill being required.

He added: ‘The Education Bill is currently being progressed as a highly-priority Bill and is likely to be introduced into the branches in the 2014-15 session.’

He said legislation would cover the constitution of the Protecting Children Board, information sharing and data protection concerns, powers to carry out serious case and other multi-agency reviews and audits, and child protection procedures.

Mr Bell said that as a temporary measure the appointment of an independent reviewer would be considered by the Council of Ministers should the need arise – for example, if there is a need for a serious case review following a child death.

Mr Rodan welcomed the move, suggesting the current administrative procedures for serious case reviews ‘put the Board itself at risk and do not give full justice to individual families’.

He asked: ‘Will the Protecting Children Board, which is responsible for creating and overseeing child protection policy, still be tasked with investigating failures in that policy – in effect investigating itself, as happens now under the non-statutory procedures?’

Mr Bell said: ‘I’m not in a position at this stage to give a definitive answer as to exactly what shape this legislation will take until we have the final recommendations.’

Palace Cinema

• The Desolation of Smaug (12A). Nightly at 7pm.

• Frozen (PG). Nightly at 7.30pm. Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 2.30pm. Tuesday noon.

• The Hobbit (12A). Saturday, Sunday and Monday 2pm. Monday, noon.

Broadway Cinema

• Anchorman – The Legend Continues. (15) Friday-Monday 7.30pm. Saturday-Monday, 4.30pm.

• Free Birds (U). Saturday - Monday 2.30pm. Monday noon.

• Miracle on 34th Street (U). Saturday and Sunday noon.

Thursday, December 19

• Manx Footpaths Conservation Group Walk, Fleshwick Bay (Jane’s house), 10.30am.

• Isle of Man Farmers’ Market, at Tynwald Mills, St John’s, 11am-3pm.

• Carols – followed by soup with rolls and mince pies at 1pm at Grace Baptist Church, in Bridson Street, Port Erin.

• Manx Gaelic class with Cathy Clucas, Arbory Commissioners’ hall, 7.30pm. Call 838527.

• Manx Gaelic class, intermediate-advanced with James Harrison 7.30pm at Arbory Commissioners’ hall. Friday, intermediate-advanced with Adrian Cain, noon at the Manx Museum, Douglas. Saturday, intermediate 10.30am at House of Manannan in Peel; intermediate-advanced with James Harrison 10.30am at the Manx Museum, Douglas. Tuesday, intermediate with Adrian Cain, noon at St Matthew’s Church in Douglas, advanced 1pm at the Rovers pub in Douglas; beginners 7.30pm at Patchwork Cafe in Port St Mary. Call 451098.

Friday, December 20

• Ramsey Baptist Church’s Community Event - Jesse Tree in Ramsey town hall, from 10am-4pm. Call 316013.

• Willaston Weekly drop-in Centre, Willaston Methodist Church, Barrule Road, 10am-noon.

• Drop-in for coffee and a chat, Sulby Methodist Church, 10.30am-noon.

• Coffee and chat, Onchan Methodist Church lounge, opposite commissioners’ office, 10.30am-noon.

• Relax Fridays noon-2pm, Trinity Church hall. Bring your sandwiches and enjoy free tea, coffee and company. Call 628374. Also Revive Fridays 5.30pm-6.30pm. Enjoy the company and a faith tea. Call 621004.

• Meditation at The Refinery, Duke Street, Douglas, 7pm. Call 467818.

Saturday, December 21

• Santa Trains, 10am-3.30pm. Fare only £6. Also Sunday.

• Theatre Tours, Gaiety Theatre, Douglas, 10am. Tickets for adults £7.50, children £4, family £20. Call 600555.

• Laxey Woollen Mills, Glen Road, 10am-5pm. Also open weekdays.

• Green Centre, opposite Iceland, Chester Street complex, Douglas. Information about recycling, energy, insulation and environmental matters. Zero Waste Mann, Isle of Man Friends of the Earth and Manx Energy Advice Centre. Open from 10am.

• Isle of Man Farmers’ Market at Northern Lights Community Centre, Ramsey, 10am-1pm.

• Coffee and chat, St Mary’s on the Harbour, Castletown, 11am.

• Milntown House Tours every Saturday at 2pm. Call 812321.

• Christmas in The Barn. Music Led by the Crosby Silver Band, Ballacreggan Farm, Glen Maye, 5.30pm. Traditional Carols, Nativity Scenes and animals.

• Celebration De Navida, a mexican celebration of Christmas, Port St Mary town hall with live music. £10 includes hot mexican buffet. 8pm. Call Chris Carr 365880.

Sunday, December 22

• Ramsey Baptist Church Contemporary Family Christmas Service at 10.30 amin Bunscoill Rhumsaa’s Auldyn hall. 10.10 free coffee, juice and seasonal goodies. Families very welcome. Call 316013.

• Nativity Service lead by the Theatre Group, Sensations, 10.30am, Peel Methodist Chapel, Atholl Street.

• Grace Baptist Church, Peel, carol services at 11am and 6.30pm. Morning service followed by lunch.

• Grace Baptist Church, Port Erin, 5.30pm. The church is holding Carols by Candlelight followed by tea.

• Carol Service at St Columba’s Ballabeg, 3pm.

• Kirk Braddan parish hall. 5pm. Senior Citizens free afternoon tea followed by Carols by Candlelight. Places limited. Booking essential. 851026 or 851782.

• Christingle Service lead by the Rev. Grace Easthope with the Crosby Silver Band and Gale Force, 6.30pm, Peel Methodist Chapel, Atholl Street.

• The Nativity. Film screening in Dalby schoolrooms, 6pm. Lasts for 2 hours.

• Carols by Candlelight, Kirk Braddan Parish hall, 6.30pm.Popular carols for all to sing and special music by the choir. All are welcome.

• Castletown Metropolitan Silver Band rehearsals, Queen Street Mission Hall, 7pm.

• Meditation and chat at Pure Inspiration, Ramsey, 7.15pm. Call Gary on 817735.

Monday, December 23

• Age Isle of Man - free computer sessions for people aged over 50 at House of Manannan, Peel. Lift available and coffee shop, 10am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–4.30pm.

• Afternoon Tea Dance every Monday, 2pm-4pm, Manx Legion Club, Douglas.

• Shorties, pirate adventure. Children’s Soft play centre, Alexandra road, Castletown, also Tuesday.

Tuesday, December 24

• Computers for Beginners, Onchan Library, 10am-noon. Call 621228.

• Carols in Castletown Square with Castletown Band 10.30pm Holy Communion at St Mary’s on the Harbour 11.30pm Holy Communion at St Columba’s, Ballabeg, 2.15pm.

• Manx Cancer Help drop-in day, Lisa Lowe Centre, The Old Schoolhouse, Cronkbourne, 11am-4pm.

• St James, Dalby journey to the Crib, 6pm. Also midnight Communion at 11.30pm.

Wednesday, December 25

• Grace Baptist Church, in Peel, Christmas Day service at 10am.

• Christmas Day Communion led by the Rev. Grace Easthope, 10.30am, Peel Methodist Chapel, Atholl Street.

• Grace Baptist Church , Christmas Day service at 10.30am.

• Holy Communion at St Cairbre’s Colby 11am Holy Communion at St

Mary’s on the Harbour, Castletown. 9.30am.

Hundreds attended the Villa Marina in Douglas on Saturday night to enjoy the Manx Youth Orchestra’s Christmas Festival Concert.

The event, which helped raise funds for Rebecca House children’s hospice, featured a packed schedule, with the English and Manx national anthems getting proceedings under way.

There then followed first half performances by the Manx Youth Wind Orchestra, Junior Strong Orchestra, Junior Wind Band, Training Orchestra and Concert Band. Prizes were also presented to Kyra Morphet (woodwind), Jake Hewins (percussion), Ashley Cole (brass), Doona Lambden (strings), Phoebe Munro (guitar), Katy Radcliffe (general musicianship) and Tim Evans, who picked up the senior leader’s award.

After the interval, the audience, which included Lieutenant Governor Adam Wood, enjoyed performances by the Manx Youth Swing Band, Manx Youth Guitar Ensemble and Manx Youth String Orchestra, before a stirring finale by the full Manx Youth Orchestra.

Living in a warm, safe, loving home is never more important than at Christmas.

Over the festive season, Isle of Man Newspapers is taking a look at the work of Housing Matters, the housing charity in the Isle of Man, focussing on the stories of several people it has helped to turn their housing situation and lives around.

Stacey (whose name we have changed for this article) found herself in a women’s refuge in the Isle of Man after fleeing an abusive relationship shortly after the birth of her second child.

She spent several months in the refuge, sharing one room with her two children.

Her name was on the housing register but after being advised of a potential three-and -a-half year wait for a suitable house, there was no end in sight. She admits to being at rock bottom.

‘It was depressing,’ said Stacey. ‘I didn’t know what to do.’

At a meeting with the Department of Social Care, she was given the details of Housing Matters and Stacey’s luck started to change.

‘Before I met Jo [Chapman] at Housing Matters, I had no idea that renting privately was an option for me,’ said Stacey.

‘It was the practical advice that was so important.

‘Jo ran through my finances, explained how much I had each month and showed me what I could get for that.

‘She gave me the confidence to aim for what I wanted. Just four days after that meeting, I had found a house and I absolutely love it.’

Stacey added: ‘It was such a relief to meet Jo.

‘She just talked to me like an adult. She gave me respect. She wanted to help, but she didn’t waste my time – we just got on with it. She was so kind to the kids, too. If it wasn’t for that meeting, I might still be in the refuge. I don’t even want to think about that.’

Stacey is now looking forward tospending a family Christmas in her new home.

‘Now I’ve got my own place, somewhere I can feel safe again, I can start rebuilding my life,’ she said. ‘It’s great to get the Christmas decorations up for the kids. For me it marks the first year of our new lives. I’m so excited.’

When asked whether she would recommend the services of Housing Matters (formerly Kemmryk) to other people facing housing difficulties, Stacey doesn’t hesitate.

‘Yes. Of course. I can’t think why anyone wouldn’t use them.

‘They are so friendly, so accessible. It’s great to have the service in the Isle of Man.’

Housing Matters is a charity that gives help, advice and support to people having difficulties with their housing situation in the Isle of Man.

To speak to someone in confidence about your housing situation, contact Jo on 675507 or email joanna.chapman@housingmatters.im

Housing Matters is funded entirely by charitable grants and donations. To make a donation, visit www.housingmatters.im

While ‘Stacey’s’ name has been changed to protect the identity of the client. All other details are true to life.

A Liberal Vannin MHK has questioned why an external review of the island’s health services is not covering all areas.

The West Midlands Quality Review Service has been commissioned to carry out an independent external inspection of health services, beginning with critical care at Noble’s Hospital. It’s first inspection took place on November 26.

But in Tynwald last week, Health Minister David Anderson confirmed some areas would not be covered. He said the review programme has not yet been finalised but it was expected a number of care pathways will not be included. These included pathology, blood transfusion service, histopathology, haematology, biochemistry and microbiology, the mortuary, healing arts, occupational health, GP services, breast screening, services for those with learning disabilities and sleep assessment.

Kate Beecroft (Lib Van, Douglas South) said there was ‘an awful lot’ not being covered in the review. She questioned why GP services were not included. ‘Is that not an important part of our Health Service?’ said asked.

Mr Anderson said several areas were being reviewed by another agency. Breast screening was due for a separate review by a UK agency. GP practices are not directly run by his department and are already under regular scrutiny, he said.

The cost of calling the Isle of Man from UK mobile phones has rocketed.

The island’s telecommunications watchdog is asking their counterparts in the UK to investigate.

The story is told on page one of this week’s Manx Independent.

The paper’s main picture on page 1 is of the woman who won yesterday’s Santa Dash.

This week’s paper also includes:

- A report on the appearance of two teenagers charged with the robbery of a pizza delivery driver.

- A deemster’s thanks to the Manx Independent after we alerted the courts to the fact that they’d named an underage victim of assault on their own website.

- The latest on what will happen now after the Crown said it wanted to prosecute the Attorney General again

- A report on the jailing of a boss of the collapsed Kaupthing bank.

- The latest news about who’ll be appearing in the TT next year.

- An interview with a woman who was at rock bottom but who’s now been helped by homeless charity Housing Matters

- More on the rent rise for public sector housing

- A preview of the pantomime

- A picture special of the Santa trains

The last Manx Independent of 2013 will be in the shops later today.

Please note that because of the way Christmas falls (with the Independent’s normal publication day, Thursday, being Boxing Day) there will be no Manx Independent next week.

The Isle of Man Examiner and the Isle of Man Courier will be published as normal.

Pokerstars 67, Giants 46

Borrowing clichés from other sports, this was a game very much of two halves as Giants turned in a magnificent first-half performance to push PokerStars to the brink of self destruction.

On the back of a fine cup win over Turkeys the previous week, PokerStars should have been comfortable winners here and they came out of the gates with a clear plan to aggressively pitch Dylan Coady to the basket and plant Chris Jonat in the post to bully his way to the rim.

However, they seemed to be content to play a matador defence that allowed Giants to olé to the basket at will, Fred Atherton and Jakob Glover the prime benefactors as they sliced through the man-to-man marking to finish effortlessly. PokerStars missed a bunch of close-range shots and frustrations were rising as they failed to put any distance between them and their young opponents.

Giants played smart basketball, limiting their turnovers and finding the best shots when they could, even making a few circus shots that had their opponents rolling their eyes skywards. As the half-time buzzer went, PokerStars looked a shadow of the team that has claimed some big scalps this year and made a firm case for them to be considered a top-four unit.

Finally realising they didn’t have the footspeed to keep up with Giants, they switched to a zone defence that made full use of their extra height and width and it was on this coaching decision that the entire game turned.

Giants had all their routes to basket closed off and PokerStars were able to get cheap baskets off steals from the top.

The second half turned out to be just what was expected from the game, but Giants can take great pride in delivering probably their best half of basketball since they entered the league.

Norton Bruce Turkeys 57, Rams 43

Both sides had reduced benches for the evening, but everyone involved played up and managed to put together a game that wasn’t truly settled until the final few minutes.

Point guard Dave Boyle donned his scoring boots early and racked up points at the rim, as well as a pair of sweetly struck three-pointers. Rams seemed to funnel their own offence through the dynamic pairing of Mark Directo and Mark ‘Ton Ton’ Bangero, with Directo leading all scorers at the half-time break.

Francis Go marshalled the stingy Rams defence in the third quarter and his side pulled back to within four points but an early surge in the fourth from Wig Bregazzi and Charlie Woolnough put an eight-point gap back in place.

Giants mounted one final push but Turkeys just managed to play possession ball long enough to frustrate the Rams into mistakes and allowed them to extend their slender lead to victory.

The Isle of Man women’s tennis team competed in the annual Winter County Cup event in Hull recently.

The team gained promotion last year, so they were prepared for a weekend of high quality tennis.

Day one saw them take on Wiltshire and, despite a slightly unsettled opening set, Laura Gardner managed to dig her heels in and play some skilful tennis to take a set off her opponent, while Laura Feely and Karen Faragher played some excellent doubles before eventually losing in two agonisingly close sets.

Overall, Wiltshire proved too strong for the island team, winning the day 9-0 and going on to be eventual winners of the group.

On day two, Isle of Man played Herefordshire and Worcestershire. After getting off to a slow start, 14-year-old Katie Harris put in a brilliant performance, taking her opponent to a third set, but unfortunately just missed out on a win. Hannah Snidal also played some of her best tennis, but was up against an experienced player and was unable to convert this into a win.

Next up, island number one Laura Feely played a confident match and clinched the team’s first win of the weekend. She then went on to win the doubles with partner Karen Faragher 6-4 6-2, taking the team to a respectable 2-7 defeat.

The girls were eager to beat Gloucestershire to maintain their place in the higher division. They got off to a promising start with a win for Laura Gardner.

Elena Snidal hoped to capitalise on this and played a hard-fought match that looked like it could go either way, but she was eventually defeated in three sets.

Laura Feely managed to keep the team’s hopes alive with a 6-1 6-4 win. But this meant the team needed to win all three doubles to avoid relegation. It was a big ask and on this occasion it wasn’t to be, with the island losing 3-6 on the final day.

Despite not managing to retain their position in the higher group, the Isle of Man team were by no means out of place in this division and they are confident they can win promotion again next year.