MHK questions whether public have been ignored in relation to Sea Services Agreement

Thomas says call for evidence hasn't been completed as ordered by Tynwald

A Douglas Central MHK has questioned whether the views of the Manx public have been ignored when it comes to the Sea Services Agreement.

Chris Thomas has accused the Department of Infrastructure of overlooking a Tynwald resolution to call for evidence, by June this year, in relation to a possible ‘strategic reset’ of the document.

In the House of Keys this week he asked the Infrastructure Minister Michelle Haywood what the likely scope and timing of any changes would be.

The DoI began reviewing the SSA in mid-2023 with a cross-department working group formed which included the Department for Enterprise, Treasury and the Department for Environment, Food and Agriculture.

However this was paused when a Select Committee was established to review the document.

Dr Haywood said its report – which is now overdue – is expected ‘imminently’.

But Mr Thomas queried why the Steam Packet itself had announced its own ‘strategic reset’ of its fare structure, in October, ahead of government’s involvement: