Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK has welcomed improvements in the Island’s working relationship with the United Kingdom as confirmed by a House of Commons Select Committee.
The Justice Committee, chaired by the Rt Hon Sir Alan Beith, reported yesterday (Thursday January 16, 2014) that almost all of its recommendations on enhancing relations with the Crown Dependencies had now been implemented by the UK Ministry of Justice.
It said legislation made by the Crown Dependencies was coming into force far more quickly, the UK Government was more consistent in its consultation with them, and they had some opportunity to feed into international negotiations.
The Chief Minister commented: ‘The Isle of Man Government welcomes the latest report from the Justice Committee and the improved relationship with the UK that it describes. The Committee, and the Ministry of Justice, have made real progress in this area and we have been pleased to play a constructive role in the process.’
‘The Isle of Man enjoys an excellent working relationship with the Justice Committee and its chairman Sir Alan Beith, as we have had with Lord McNally at the MOJ. We look forward to that continuing with Lord McNally’s successor Lord Faulks.’
Mr Bell continued: ‘Officials in the Isle of Man and the UK have worked together to streamline the Royal Assent process for legislation. There is also much greater interaction now with individual UK Departments – especially with HM Treasury, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills – which is proving to be very helpful.’
The Chief Minister concluded: ‘The stability of our constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom is important to the Isle of Man and we have prospered within that framework.
‘Although there are bound to be occasional tensions in any relationship, improved lines of communication with the UK have brought greater recognition of the Island as a mature and responsible democracy, along with increasing opportunities for us to represent ourselves on the international stage.’
The Justice Committee report is available on its website at http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/justice-committee/news/crp-interim-report/.
