Chris Thomas

Thanks for comment and conceding on public sector pensions. Do you have a way to make the legacy funding gap disappear that would survive legal challenge? How about this FOI response from February 2023 for figures servlets.getImg (icasework.com). There is additional expenditure on highways in Highways Division revenue budget too which is not included here. I agree that the public finances are fragile. Highways need maintenance and investment and if discrete and rolling capital funds are reduced and revenue budget is based on assuming Tynwald approval of higher duties, fees and charges for highways services, I hope Tynwald approves them or the condition of the highways will deteriorate more.

How verbose. Just "tosser" sometimes.

I do want to know and I think I do know. Please send me any evidence and information about the legal arguments in this case that you think I might not know.

There is no fund, consolidated or otherwise, into which vehicle duty is paid. It is just general revenue. However the amount spent on highways is greater than the amount raised in vehicle duty here.

Really. What do you know that actuaries don't? Surely increased contributions and cost sharing inside the cost envelope have sorted out public sector pension sustainability? PS What non-contributory pensions schemes are there now?

That's not the plan. There will be a call for evidence regarding vehicle duty though this year. Will you submit evidence and a proposal? Here is a guide to standard road condition assessment Road condition information | UKRLG (ciht.org.uk) if you want to read out more about the approaches used here and elsewhere. These approaches inform DoI's maintenance and investment plans and submissions to Treasury. This data is now input into Treasury's Strategic Infrastructure Needs Assessment process to determine the relative need for capital funds in budget process.

You are right. It is unlawful to let unregistered HMOs.

Whose vanity? All the information about sign-off, cost, reason and use is provided in written answers in Hansard by the way.

The gate is open.

You are right. That was one option. I think the similar area in Castletown was removed. But some use has been made or might be made of the arrangements in Port Erin. This cost just over £3000.

Similar!

Not a hostel for everyone.

The Vehicle Duty Order will be on March Tynwald, having been on the register of business for six weeks. The effect of this order was included in the pink book departmental income after long negotiations with Treasury and then Council of Ministers. If Tynwald does not approve the order, departmental highways expenditure will need to be reduced further to balance departmental budget.

You are right, and I believe we need homelessness defined and then responsibility allocated. I outlined an approach in February Tynwald as follows: " I think personally there is a perfectly adequate definition (of homelessness in) in the social security capital budgeting emergency loans arrangements which were brought in inJuly 2022. So for instance, in that piece of secondary legislation in July 2022: (1D) A person is homeless if he has no accommodation available for his occupation, in the Island or elsewhere, which he – (a) is entitled to occupy by virtue of an interest in it or by virtue of an order of a court; (b) has an express or implied licence to occupy; or (c) occupies as a residence by virtue of any enactment or rule of law giving him the right to remain in occupation or restricting the right of another person to recover possession. (1E) A person is also homeless if he has accommodation but – (a) he cannot secure entry to it; or (b) it consists of a moveable structure, vehicle or vessel designed or adapted for human habitation and there is no place where he is entitled or permitted both to place it and to reside in it. (1F) A person shall not be treated as having accommodation unless it is accommodation which it would be reasonable for him to continue to occupy. So that definition that was already worked up for Mrs Maltby by legislative drafters will form the basis of drafting instructions for the whole of the forthcoming Housing and Communities Bill, as far as I am concerned, at this stage." The DoI might need to be responsible, or it could be a Housing Association or similar. No local authority seems to want to take this responsibility.

Thank you for commentary and analysis. Your calculations seems correct of course.

Please don't use "...." if you are neither quoting anything I have ever said and are in fact making things up. Emergency shelter is still provided. Government will neither be commissioning nor running an emergency shelter like Graih used to do. There are no meetings, never mind meetings about meetings. DHA is responsible for probation. DHSC and DHA have various statutory duties and powers which relate to people's housing.

Thanks for feedback. Sanctions are only a small part of our social security system, especially compared to across; and I want the system to be fair and supportive.

The Manx Independent reported: "Caley's probation officer said that he had since been assessed for a place at Tromode House, the probation accommodation, but it could not provide the amount of support Caley would need. His probation officer then tried to get him a place at Viva Heights, an adult care home on the Island, providing support and assistance to people with a diagnosis of mental illness. However she said that Caley would also have to be assessed for a place there, and that funding had to be in place, which could take around a week, or even longer, as it was very expensive. Mrs Hughes asked if Caley had been living in the community before he was arrested. His probation officer said that he had, but he had not been able to look after himself properly, so there would be concerns if he had no support."

"The decision has been taken with deep regret following a review of resourcing levels and an assessment regarding the long-term sustainability of services", in Graih's own words. Taxpayer funds had co-funded the night shelter and Graih had hoped to continue its operation until end-March 2023 but was forced to cease operations at end September 2022. Graih - The homelessness charity

Thanks for your work with Graih. That organisation, and other charities, have been instrumental in recognising homelessness and then turning around the approach to supporting people with no fixed abode. Various property options have been offered and explored. The need for smaller arrangements rather than a hostel is key.

There was nothing vague about my answer - just nothing new to add to what I have outlined previously. Emergency shelter is provided in bed and breakfasts to some, through adult social care and others. It was decided not to replace the Graih facility. A strategic partnership will be announced. This was summarised at the end of February in Tynwald by the Chief Minister as follows: "When the Housing and Communities Board published its Action Plan in March 2022, it set out to design a pathway for individuals requiring emergency overnight shelter. Work by the Board to undertake a strategic review of homelessness took place last summer and its findings informed the Board that the causes and subsequent needs of those facing homelessness were wide-ranging in complexity, and unlikely to be solved by single interventions such as an emergency shelter. However, following the unexpected closure of Graih, the Island’s only homeless shelter, in September of last year, the Board’s attention turned to exploring alternative provision. Whilst one proposal was received from a local third sector organisation, it could not be concluded that the service proposal would meet the actual service user needs and therefore was pursued no further. I must advise that for anyone presenting in need of an overnight emergency shelter, an existing pathway in Adult Social Care is available to support an individual’s access to local B&Bs. Similarly, those seeking daytime shelter are able to access a drop-in centre gratefully operated by the Broadway Baptist Church. Looking forward, the Housing and Communities Board continues to work on homelessness and is taking an evidence-based and needs-informed approach to pathway design. In the coming weeks, the Board will announce a strategic partnership with a number of third sector organisations who will be tasked with developing a strategy to address homelessness and to consider appropriate pathways services and mechanisms."

That isn't true. There is a facility in Tromode and other services are provided. Probation and others will be working to deal with the current situation, and nobody denies the current arrangements need significant enhancement, for those leaving prison and for others who end up with no fixed abode and need additional services.

You are right to mention various housing charities which work with Government agencies closely. Graih closed its emergency night shelter last autumn, having already decided for a few years that it needed to pull back from its involvement. For instance it did not express an interest in providing emergency housing and housing first support with Government in October 2020. Wonderfully Broadway Baptist Church still provides day time drop in support. Graih - The homelessness charity Housing Matters continues to give support, advice and guidance for those in housing crisis. Manx Housing Trust is the longest running body and it provides a crucial transition for many into public housing.

You are right - the 6 month option will reduce the total of vehicle duty. It is hard to estimate this reduction but it could be hundreds of thousands a year

Thanks for comment. If that happened, 6 month duty option and fairer charging for electric vehicles etc. would not be in place, and DoI Highways Division would not be able to meet its Treasury/Tynwald approved income target so highways expenditure would be at risk. Vehicle duty has not been increased since 2020 and 10% increase for most vehicle types is a below inflation increase since 2020.