The Treasury Minister has said he believes the world economy can largely absorb the effect of spiralling fuel prices.

Allan Bell, speaking on Manx Radio, says he feel the robust current nature of the world economy will stand up to it.
The problem will be, he suggests, a possible "triple whammy", a combination of higher world interest rates and a slow down in the US economy, something that could be on the cards.

Meanwhile a prospective parliamentary candidate, David Quirk, has suggested that the island could find a useful market by using the fibre optic cable to set up the Island as a global call centre.

That suggestion has been criticised as requiring too many Manx workers to be realistic.