Pontius

The no-nonsense NHS 'guru' Roy Lilley made these two comments a few years ago - they are still a good summary: "The smart lads' casual conclusion; if our taxes don't pay for our healthcare we will, directly. Left pocket taxes, right pocket insurance. They didn't seem to realise that it's the same pair of trousers" and "They could insure but premiums must include an excess for risk, a margin for profit and dividends for the insurer's shareholders. It has to be more efficient for the state to collect taxes and distribute them against a socio-demographic, population based formula? After all, wasn't that the point back in 1948: a disaggregated, mixed economy on the supply-side was costly, unwieldy and impossible to integrate"

According to the Manx Bird Atlas, grey partridges were introduced in the second half of the 17thC and have been supplemented by the release of birds, presumably imported, notably 200 onto a beat at Ellerslie in July 1999. Up to 2003 (so not bang up to date) the estimate for breeding greys was 49 but they may have declined, or had more imports, since then. Red-legged introduced in the 1960s and then many more released. Population in 2003 about 166-130. Roger Mexico is right that the biggest problem has been habitat loss. If introduction of partridges by shoots has been going on for years, what on earth is Mr Boot going on about?

There were also some new things being launched or having some announcements to make - all with free tastings . The Dairy Shed from Andreas launching their yoghurt which is delicious, Isle of Man Teas with their range of premium teas, Leela's Kitchen with a proper display of their spice mixes and Onion Bhaji mix, Bifrost vodka which is about to be available through shops, and a good range of food stalls. We've been every year since it started , bar one when we were away. It's a good event and it is all about Manx produce. It's surprising what is produced/available on the Island!

Seems to me that the SPC has been pursuing a risky business strategy, has not managed the risk and has been caught out. They ran part of their business (the Ben and freight) as a classic 'cash cow' subsidising the passenger business at a loss - and that's a well-recognised risk strategy. It's OK provided you can afford to lose the 'cash cow' (because someone, somewhere will always try to undercut you or your cash-cow reaches the end of its life) and get the other bit of your business into profit PDQ. You can't get it back into profit PDQ if you have too much capital or debt to service - so you pursue a strategy of trying to minimise the risk and your exposure. If what the SPC says is true about the subsidy (and we have to allow for scare tactics and exaggeration to frighten the Government and the fare payers) and the rumours of a heavy debt burden and hungry shareholders are true, then they do not have a lot of space to manoeuvre. Put up the prices to the passengers and lose market share to air, reduce the freight prices and risk a price war which you might lose ... or cut your costs by reducing the service. Hmmm - tricky, ain't it? Whichever way you go, your shareholders arenot going to love you any more!