The Cabinet Office has announced an extension of the public consultation on proposals to change the legal framework of Government to support a joined-up approach to serving the public.

Due to close today, (Friday July 31st), the consultation will now remain open for another four weeks and end on Friday August 29th.

A spokesperson explained: ‘The response so far has been limited and it is possible that this consultation has been overshadowed by other initiatives since it was launched in June. Given the significance of the proposed changes for our structures and systems of government in the Isle of Man, it is important that we provide a proper opportunity for people to be aware of the consultation and submit their views.’

At present individual Departments have separate identities in law but the Isle of Man Government as a whole is not recognised. The ‘Single Legal Entity’ proposals would give the Government a clear legal status as one body.

The consultation invites views on a range of questions including: whether the legal identities and organisational structures of Departments should be retained; which regulatory or commercial bodies should sit outside a Single Legal Entity framework; the extent to which Government should integrate financial management, human resources and performance management systems; and whether more policy decisions should be taken collectively at the Council of Ministers.

The Council of Ministers will consider all views received in the consultation with the aim of submitting more specific recommendations to Tynwald by the end of 2015.

When he announced the consultation on June 16, Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK commented: ‘The Single Legal Entity concept may sound rather academic but it is about how Government best structures itself to serve the people and economy of the Island. In terms of accountability and responsibility, members of the public see the Isle of Man Government as one body, as do the organisations that we deal with internationally.

‘Experience in recent years has confirmed that important policy challenges go beyond Departmental boundaries and require collaborative solutions. We have made progress in this direction but a legal framework that recognises only the parts of Government, and not the whole, can be a barrier to integrated responses and a shelter for the old culture of silo thinking.

‘Establishing in law that Government is a single entity would reinforce the need for joined-up working. It would be another significant step forward in the development of responsible and accountable Government that began with the introduction of the Ministerial system in the mid-1980s.’

Mr Bell added: ‘When we are considering structures of Government the priority has to be what will produce the best results for the public as the customer and taxpayer - not what suits internal interests. I firmly believe that the further evolution of Government towards a Single Legal Entity will help us to deliver better results.’

Details of the consultation and how to submit comments are available at www.gov.im/Consultations.gov