The Standing Committee of Tynwald on Constitutional and Legal Affairs and Justice is reviewing the Ministerial System of Government on the Isle of Man.

The Committee wishes to understand the effectiveness of the change over from a board system of governance in 1986 to a Ministerial System of Government which remains in place today.

The Committee is pleased to be issuing this call for evidence as part of its work on this inquiry. The Committee is interested in answering the following questions:

1. What were the original aims of the Ministerial System of Government?
2. Did changing to a Ministerial System of government feel at the time like an improvement on the system it replaced?
3. Looking back over all the time the system has been in place, has it worked?
4. If not, why not?
5. Can the Ministerial System of Government be improved? If so, how?

Evidence given by former Chief Minister Sir Miles Walker on this subject on 20 January 2024 can be viewed at the following location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8eDxOT1p-8

The Committee would like to invite written submissions from anyone who would like to comment on these areas.

Submissions should be sent to the address below by noon on 25th April 2025. Email is preferred but hard copy is equally acceptable.

Email: committees@tynwald.org.im

Post: Constitutional and Legal Affairs and Justice Committee,
Clerk of Tynwald’s Office,
Legislative Buildings,
Finch Road,
Douglas,
IM1 3PW

Please be aware that the Committee may choose to make public any information it receives. Personal contact details are routinely redacted in advance of such publication. If there is any other information in your submission that you do not wish the Committee to publish, or that you believe the Committee should not publish, please explain this in your submission.

For background, an online presentation (or "Shorthand Story") is also available to view here: https://tynwald.shorthandstories.com/the-ministerial-system-of-government/

To learn more about the Committee’s ongoing work, or to write to it, please visit the Committee’s page https://tynwald.org.im/committee/CLAJ

or email committees@tynwald.org.im.

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Editorial note: The Committee is comprised of Chair, Tanya August-Phillips MLC, alongside Lawrie Hooper MHK and Stu Peters MHK. The Committee Members have been elected by Tynwald.

For further information contact:

Jonathan King
Clerk to the Committee
Legislative Buildings, Douglas, IM1 3PW

Tel: (01624) 685511
Email: committees@tynwald.org.im