£1m granted for additional government capital works

Wed, 19 Oct 2011

Tynwald has given approval for two government departments to spend additional money to the tune of over a million pounds.

Education Minister Peter Karran asked for permission for his department to spend an extra £500,000 on minor capital works.

Community, Culture and Leisure Minister Tim Crookall asked for £590,000 for the same reason.

The money is to bring forward schemes that would have to be carried out anyway.

House of Keys Speaker Steve Rodan wanted an adjournment for the first the motion.

He questioned whether approving expenditure is right when we don't know how we're going to plug the hole left by the reduction in VAT revenue.

However, Chief Minister Allan Bell says the projects need to go ahead to help the struggling construction trade.[play media file]