Isle of Man Government facts for kids

Isle of Man

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of the Isle of Man

Lord of Mann: Elizabeth II Lieutenant Governor: Adam Wood Deputy Governor: David Doyle Tynwald President of Tynwald: Clare Christian Legislative Council President: Clare Christian House of Keys Speaker: Steve Rodan Deputy Speaker: Geoff Corkish Clerk of the House: Roger Phillips Registrar of Member's Interests: Roger Phillips Chaplain: Revd. William Martin Reader of the House: Dr. Brian Stowell Government Council of Ministers Chief Minister: Hon. Allan Bell MHK Minister for the Treasury: Hon. Eddie Teare MHK Minister for Economic Development: Hon. John Shimmin MHK Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture: Hon. Phil Gawne MHK Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure: Hon. Tim Crookall MHK Minister for Education and Children: Hon. Peter Karran MHK Minister for Health: Hon. David Anderson MHK Minister for Home Affairs: Hon. Juan Watterson MHK Minister for Infrastructure: Hon. David Cretney MHK Minister for Social Care: Hon. Chris Robertshaw MHK Chief Secretary: Will Greenhow Manx Judiciary Attorney General: Stephen Harding First Deemster (English): David Doyle Second Deemster (Manx): Andrew Corlett Deemster: Alastair Montgomerie Judge of Appeal: Geoffrey Tattersall High Bailiff: John Needham Deputy High Bailiff: Jayne Hughes Keys Constituencies Local Government Political parties Elections Officials of State Parish Captains

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The Isle of Man Government (Manx: Reiltys Ellan Vannin) is like the main team that runs the Isle of Man. The official head is the Lieutenant Governor, who represents King Charles III (the Lord of Mann). The person in charge of the government's daily work is the Chief Minister.

Douglas is the biggest town and the capital of the Isle of Man. This is where the government offices are, and where the parliament, called Tynwaldcode: glv promoted to code: gv , meets.

Many people work for the government. There are over 2,000 civil servants, and about 9,000 public sector employees in total. This includes teachers, nurses, and police officers. This means about 23% of all working people on the island work for the government! The United Kingdom is responsible for the island's defence, so the Isle of Man does not have its own military.

How the Government is Set Up

The Isle of Man Government has nine main departments. It also has ten special boards and three offices. All of these report to the Council of Ministers. Think of the Council of Ministers as the main decision-making group.

Here are some of the key parts of the government:

• Council of Ministers
  • The Personnel Office (deals with government staff)
  • Chief Secretary's Office (helps the government run smoothly)
  • Attorney General's Chambers (gives legal advice)

• Departments (these are like ministries in other countries):
  • Treasury (handles money and taxes)
    • Financial Supervision Commission (looks after banks and financial companies)
    • Insurance and Pensions Authority (regulates insurance and pensions)
    • General Registry (keeps official records)
  • Department of Home Affairs (looks after police, fire, and safety)
    • Communications Commission (manages phones and internet)
  • Department of Health (looks after hospitals and healthcare)
  • Department of Education and Children (looks after schools and young people)
  • Department of Economic Development (helps businesses and tourism)
    • Office of Fair Trading (protects consumers)
    • Isle of Man Post Office (handles mail)
    • Isle of Man Water and Sewerage Authority (provides water and manages sewage)
    • Manx Electricity Authority (provides electricity)
  • Department of Community, Culture and Leisure (looks after sports, arts, and community life)
  • Department of Infrastructure (looks after roads, ports, and buildings)
  • Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (looks after farming, fishing, and the environment)
  • Department of Social Care (looks after social services and support)

• Other important groups:
  • Manx National Heritage is a special group that looks after the island's history and culture.
  • The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission makes sure gambling is fair and safe.
  • The Isle of Man Data Protection Supervisor protects your personal information.

Ministers in Charge

Each main department is led by a Minister. These Ministers are members of Tynwald, the island's parliament.

• Treasury - Hon Anne Craine MHK
• Department of Home Affairs - Hon Adrian Earnshaw MHK
• Department of Health - Hon David Anderson MHK
• Department of Education and Children - Hon Eddie Teare MHK
• Department of Economic Development - Hon Allan Bell MHK
• Department of Community, Culture and Leisure - Hon David Cretney MHK
• Department of Infrastructure - Hon Phil Gawne MHK
• Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture - Hon John Shimmin MHK
• Department of Social Care - Hon Martyn Quayle MHK

Special Boards

Some important services are run by special boards:

• Isle of Man Office of Fair Trading
• Financial Supervision Commission
• Insurance and Pensions Authority
• Isle of Man Post Office
• Isle of Man Water and Sewerage Authority
• Manx Electricity Authority
• Communications Commission

Other Government Offices

• General Registry
• Civil Service Commission
• Manx Museum and National Trust (also known as Manx National Heritage)
• Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission

A Short History of the Government

The Lieutenant Governor's Role

A long time ago, the Lieutenant Governor was mostly in charge. They represented the Lord of Man (who owned the island). They had a group of officials who helped them. This group later became the Legislative Council, which is part of Tynwald.

After 1765, the British King took over the rights of the Lord of Man. The Lieutenant Governor then worked for the British Government. They were not chosen by the people of the Isle of Man. This caused some disagreements, especially with the House of Keys, which was elected by the people after 1866.

The Council of Ministers Takes Charge

After World War I, the Lieutenant Governor slowly gave more power to Tynwald. In 1949, an Executive Council was created. This council included members of Tynwald and was led by the Lieutenant Governor. Over time, this council became the real government of the island.

By 1980, the Lieutenant Governor stopped leading the Executive Council. Instead, Tynwald chose its own leader for the council. In 1985, the council was changed to include the heads of the main government boards. These heads were called 'Ministers' in 1986, and the leader was called the 'Chief Minister'. In 1990, the council was officially named the 'Council of Ministers'.

How Departments Were Formed

During the 1800s, new groups called 'Boards of Tynwald' were set up to manage different things. For example, there was a Board of Education in 1872 and a Highway Board in 1874. Even though Tynwald collected taxes, the Lieutenant Governor still had a lot of control. He controlled the island's money and could choose some members of these boards.

Over time, there were many different boards, and the system became a bit confusing. So, in the 1980s, the government was changed. A new system of 'ministerial government' was set up, with departments led by Ministers.

On April 1, 2010, the government departments were reorganized. Here's what each main department does now:

• Treasury: Handles taxes, money, and elections.
• Department of Community, Culture and Leisure: Looks after public transport, culture, sports, and fun activities.
• Department of Economic Development: Helps with tourism, jobs, businesses, and technology.
• Department of Education and Children: Manages all things related to education.
• Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture: Deals with farming, fishing, animal health, and keeping the environment clean.
• Department of Health: Provides health services and hospitals.
• Department of Home Affairs: Looks after the police, fire services, prisons, and emergency plans.
• Department of Infrastructure: Manages local government, roads, ports, airports, and public services like water and electricity.
• Department of Social Care: Provides social services, social security, and housing support.

Special Boards Continued

Some special boards continued to operate separately even after the departments were created. These include:

• Isle of Man Office of Fair Trading (started in 1998)
• Financial Supervision Commission (started in 1982)
• Insurance and Pensions Authority (started in 1996)
• Isle of Man Post Office (started in 1993)
• Isle of Man Water and Sewerage Authority (started in 2010)
• Manx Electricity Authority (started in 1983)
• Communications Commission (started in 1989)