Local Government Minister John Shimmin has rejected calls from a fellow MHK to hold commissioners to account over high rates increases.

Three local authorities - Onchan, Castletown and Braddan - have upped theirs by more than the four per cent limit set by DoLGE, but all had them approved by the department.

Onchan MHK David Quirk asked Mr Shimmin to tell the House of Keys how his department had justified the rises, when compared to ratepayers' needs.

Mr Shimmin (pictured) refused and said it wasn't his job to interfere in the democratic process: