Isle of Man Government News

Results of 2021 earnings survey

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 11:57:13 GMT

Median earnings for a full time employee in 2021 were £613 per week, according to the Isle of Man Earnings Survey Report 2021.

The annual survey by Government collects information about the distribution of earnings in the Isle of Man, including median or average earnings by sector, contract types, and gender.

A total of 819 employers took part in the 2021 survey, and 2,507 employees responded.

Key results from the survey include:

Median gross weekly pay of full-time employees was £613, compared to £611 in 2020
Full-time employees worked an average of 37.7 hours per week, including 0.8 hours of overtime
Overtime, incentive pay and shift premiums made up 6.2% of employees' gross weekly earnings, up from 5.4% in 2020
Median earnings were 0.3% higher than the median United Kingdom
10.1% of employees in 2021 earned less than the Isle of Man Living Wage, down from 10.7% in 2020
72% of the randomly selected sample worked full time, 21% worked part time and 7% had zero-contracted hours

Full results of the survey.

Financial Sanctions: Myanmar

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 09:30:42 GMT

This news release is issued to publicise the addition of 3 entries under the Myanmar Sanctions Regime.

The Myanmar (Sanctions) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/496) were made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (the Sanctions Act) and provide for the freezing of funds and economic resources of certain persons, entities or bodies involved in undermining democracy, the rule of law or good governance in Myanmar; the repression of the civilian population in Myanmar; the commission of, or the obstruction of an independent investigation into, a serious human rights violation or abuse in Myanmar; the commission of a violation of international humanitarian law in Myanmar; the obstruction of a humanitarian assistance activity in Myanmar; any other action, policy or activity which threatens the peace, stability or security of Myanmar. The Myanmar (Sanctions) Regulations 2021 have effect in the Isle of Man by the Myanmar (Sanctions) (Isle of Man) Order 2021 [S.I. 2021/529].

On 24 August 2022 the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated the UK Sanctions List. This list provides details of those designated under sanctions legislation.

The following entries have been added to the consolidated list and are now subject to an asset freeze:

INTERNATIONAL GATEWAYS GROUP OF COMPANIES LIMITED (Group ID: 15497)
SKY ONE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LTD (Group ID: 15495)
STAR SAPPHIRE GROUP OF COMPANIES (Group ID: 15496)

Full details of the changes can be found in the attached Annex to this news release.

Consequently the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated the Consolidated List. This list provides details of those designated under sanctions legislation.

Financial institutions and other persons are required to check whether you maintain any accounts or otherwise hold funds or economic resources for, or provide financial services to, designated individuals. If so, you must freeze such accounts or other funds and, unless licensed by the Treasury, not deal with those funds or economic resources, make those funds or economic resources available to a designated person, or make those funds or economic resources available for the benefit of a designated person. You must also report your findings to the FIU.

Failure to comply with financial and trade sanctions legislation or to attempting to circumvent its provisions is a criminal offence.

Where a relevant institution has already reported details of accounts, other funds or economic resources held frozen for the designated person, you are not required to report these details again.

Further details of the sanctions regime related to Myanmar and links to other financial sanctions regimes may be found on the Customs and Excise pages of the Isle of Man Government website.

Majority of students secure university places following exam results

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 10:32:20 GMT

The majority of the Island’s students who applied for a university course this year received the exam results they needed to secure a place at a university of their choice.

It follows last week’s exam results for level 3 qualifications which include A levels and BTECs.

Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, Julie Edge MHK, congratulated students on their results:

'This is a strong set of results for our students with positive outcomes. They can be rightly proud and it is important that we celebrate their achievement.

'Students sitting exams this year have seen significant disruption to their studies throughout the pandemic. These results are a testament to their resilience and determination, as well as that of our Island’s dedicated teachers.

'I wish those leaving secondary school all the very best for their future whichever path they have chosen. Well done, class of 2022!'

Due to the pandemic, this summer is the first time since 2019 that a full set of external examinations has been run in Isle of Man schools.

During the pandemic students were unable to sit exams and were instead graded by teachers based on their work. To provide a fair transition, the English exam board regulator, Ofqual, took the decision that this summer’s A level and other level 3 qualification grade boundaries would be set at a level between those of 2019 and 2021.

Each year, 18 and 19 year old school leavers are supported to help them take positive next steps into higher education, training or employment at the end of their studies.

Some students who were planning to travel off Island to university in the autumn have deferred for a year to gain some relevant employment experience before taking up their degree studies next year. Others with strong level 3 results have opted for local employment opportunities that include training and progress onto degree equivalent professional qualifications. This includes professions such as banking, accountancy, computer programming, insurance and engineering.

For those still deciding on their next steps, additional drop in sessions with careers advisers are taking place across the Island for those leaving education, providing information on employment and training options.

Southlands Summer Fayre

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 15:52:19 GMT

A Manx charity (The Resident Comfort Fund) is hosting a Summer Fayre on the upcoming bank holiday, Monday 29 August 2022, to benefit the residents of Southlands in Port Erin, and is encouraging people to go along and show their support.

Southlands was opened by HRH Queen Elizabeth II on Tynwald Day in 2003, and is a residential care home operated by Manx Care that provides support to vulnerable older people. Proceeds from the event will be donated to The Resident Comfort Fund, which is used to provide additional treats for residents such as days out, parties, Christmas presents and fun entertainment. The charity will donate all proceeds raised on Monday to this fund.

Southlands plays a key role in the provision of care to individuals and their families living across the south of the Island. The facility has 48 en-suite bedrooms spread over four units that offer long-term and short-term care. The short-term provision is often used to give people caring for loved ones some respite, with the team working closely with their colleagues within the Southern Wellbeing Partnership to help meet the needs of local residents. Within the building there are also two dementia care and support units where people with a diagnosis of dementia can be looked after safely. In addition, there is a Day Centre for people to attend to enjoy meaningful activities with a group of their peers, and a community garden which is supported by a number of dedicated volunteers. The development of this is an ongoing project which will hopefully open to the public next year. Over the coming months, the Southlands team are hoping to develop a small café area which can be used by people living there, their friends and families, and the wider community. There are also plans for a Christmas Grotto.

Southlands provides placements for students from Castle Rushen High School who are sitting their Diploma in Health and Social Care. Colleagues also work closely with Third Sector partners, including the Southern Befrienders who facilitate visits from Sixth Form students, and regular visits from the children of Rushen Primary School. Although these activities have been on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s hoped they will begin again later this year.

In addition, it has excellent links with the local Commissioners who recently applied for planning permission on its behalf (in association with Port Erin Beach Huts) for two beach huts to be relocated from the town’s beach over the winter months so residents can enjoy these throughout the winter months.

Rebecca Dooley, Manager of Southlands, commented:

'Fundraising has been extremely limited since the Covid-19 pandemic began and this year’s Summer Fayre is the first opportunity we’ve had to boost the Resident Comfort Fund for a couple of years, so understandably our colleagues are keen to make it a success not only for visitors, but for our residents too. This is a great opportunity to get involved in supporting the local community and our residents as all of the money raised on Monday will be used to enhance the quality of life of people who live here.'

The Southlands Summer Fayre takes place between 1:30pm and 4:30pm on Monday 29 August. Entry is free and everyone is welcome to attend, to enjoy a range of activities including cake sales, face painting and tombola. Donations are always welcome at the facility, especially of plants and tools to maintain the garden, as well as volunteer hours to support gardening or other activities. Anyone interested in donating their time or skills can get in touch with the Southlands team by calling +44 1624 831831.

Tributes paid to Major Charles Wilson

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 16:53:25 GMT

The Chief Minister Alfred Cannan MHK has led tributes from the Government following the death of Major Charles Wilson.

The Chief Minister said:

'A man of integrity and principle, Major Wilson was a highly respected figure in our community and beyond. Charles enriched Island life and touched so many through his work and the causes he championed.

'Selfless and driven, Charles was proud to call the Isle of Man his home. The Island has lost a true gentlemen in every sense of the word. Our thoughts are with Charles’s wife Ann and his family at this difficult time.'

Following a career in the British Army, Major Wilson held a number of charitable and civic roles. Major Wilson was an honorary colonel of the Isle of Man Army Cadet Force. He also chaired the Isle of Man branch of the Royal British Legion, playing a leading role in the annual Poppy Appeal which has seen the Island win the Poppy Appeal trophy on 42 occasions.

No stranger to public service, Major Wilson served as Chair of the Island’s Armed Forces Day Committee between November 2017 and February 2021 and he was a member of the Public Services Commission between 2007 and 2021.

Minister Kate Lord-Brennan MHK, Chair of the Public Services Commission, said:

'Highly regarded, Major Wilson was renowned for his energy and passion. He was a man of action who got things done. Charles was thoroughly committed to the Isle of Man and an inspiration to many. Our Island has lost someone very special indeed.'

Diane Kelsey MLC, the Isle of Man’s Armed Forces Champion, said:

'Charles was a true champion of the armed forces community on the Island and will be sorely missed by everyone.'

In recognition of his service to the Isle of Man, armed forces personnel, veterans, and military charities, Major Wilson was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at last year’s Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence.

Recovery College Isle of Man launches its Autumn term prospectus

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 15:17:50 GMT

Recovery College Isle of Man (RCM) has launched its Autumn term prospectus.

RCM is a concept that is being developed by Manx Care as an integral part of its integrated mental health service, and aims to support the development of its students by helping them to learn self-management strategies that they can confidently apply to their everyday lives, allowing them to build a life that they find satisfying, meaningful and valuable.

The concept of a Recovery College may be relatively new on the Island; however, across the UK these are well-established and form a core part of a recovery-focused integrated mental health service. Recovery Colleges offer a range of courses and learning experiences that are focused on helping individuals aged 16 and over to learn new skills that will help them to recover from mental health and wellbeing challenges they may face. Courses are co-produced with professional experts and people who have lived experience of having overcome mental health challenges themselves.

Currently, courses offered by RCM are open to those individuals who have an open referral to mental health services on the Isle of Man, their families and support networks, as well as the students and staff of University College Isle of Man (UCM). This will allow them to focus on improving their own wellbeing, or the health and wellbeing of someone they support.

RCM will initially hold all of its courses at educational facilities run by University College Isle of Man (UCM) at Greenfield Road in Douglas. However, as Manx Care further develops its prospectus and depending on the type of courses it looks to develop, it will aim to offer a range of courses at campuses and other locations across the Island in order to be as accessible as possible for students.

RCM held a small number of courses during the Summer term (2022) in order to test the concept on a small cohort of students, and use their feedback to shape future course content. This has informed the Autumn term prospectus, which will offer 11 courses covering the following topics:

A Good Night’s Sleep: Ways to Promote our Sleep
Workshop for Wellbeing
Wellness, Recovery and Action Planning (WRAP)
Assertiveness and Confidence workshop
Managing Anxiety
Life Beyond Covid-19
Mental Health First Aid
Gender Identity and Awareness
Sexual Health Awareness
Creative Drawing: Geometric Art
Lifestyle Strategies to Promote our Health and Wellbeing

Some courses are one-day in duration, whereas others require regular attendance over a period of weeks. All courses are offered free of charge, and will be delivered in small, friendly groups. Students will receive help with enrolment, alongside the development of their own Individual Learning Plan (ILP) which is re-visited at the end of each programme to support their learning and being able to implement next steps.

Tania Linden, Manager of Adult Mental Health Services within Manx Care, has developed RCM with her team and commented:

'Recovery is about so much more than a narrow focus on symptoms. It’s about achieving quality of life; through choice, opportunity, having a sense of identity and meaning, and the college philosophy underpins all of these principles. The launch of RCM here on the Island is a really positive step forward in supporting individuals who wish to improve their mental health and wellbeing, and those who may be involved in providing support for them. It provides a relaxed, informal, educational approach to wellbeing and recovery, as well as a safe place where people can come together in confidence to learn ways to live healthier, happier and more fulfilling lives. In future, courses will be open to all adults across the island, and cover a much wider scope, as the recovery principles apply to anyone living with a long term condition.

'Co-production of our courses with people who have lived experience across the topics in our curriculum is really important because we know that life isn’t lived through a textbook, and so peers can use their own personal experiences to support and inspire others. I’d urge people who are eligible for support under RCM to find out more.'

Jesamine Kelly, Principal of UCM, added:

'We’re really pleased to be collaborating with Manx Care on this important programme that will support people living in our community move from education-based courses aimed at developing positive mental health and wellbeing behaviours, and improving their resilience, to further education or employment if this is right for them. For others, this programme will help to improve their knowledge across a range of important topics so that they are able to support those in their immediate family or those they provide care for. Collaboration on programmes like RCM really is very powerful, and we’re really excited to see the impact this will have in the future.'

To find out more about RCM, please visit the Manx Care website or email recoverycollege@gov.im

Statement: July Inflation Report – Sea Travel Figures

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 09:29:57 GMT

The Cabinet Office confirms that sea travel figures provided in the July 2022 Inflation Report are correct and have been calculated in line with established methodology.

The introduction to the report clearly highlights that the unusual figure is due to the data being collected during a high demand period. Recognising this, the report also states what inflation would be without transport fees.

The July inflation figure has been calculated in the same way as in previous reports, dating back to 2018. It uses a methodology that was devised in consultation with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, with data provided by them.

A government spokesperson said:

‘Government firmly rejects the assertion that the method used to calculate these figures is misleading.’

Autumn booster vaccine campaign to begin on the Isle of Man

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 12:01:58 GMT

The Autumn Covid-19 booster campaign recently announced by the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisations (JCVI) will commence on the Isle of Man on Monday 05 September 2022.

Those eligible for the Autumn booster are:

residents in a care home for older adults, and staff working in care homes for older adults
frontline health and social care workers
all adults aged 50 years and over
those aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group
those aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
those aged 16 to 49 years who are carers.

You can check your eligibility.

The primary objective for the Autumn 2022 booster campaign is to enhance immunity in those at higher risk from Covid-19. By taking the booster vaccine this autumn, it will reduce the likelihood of becoming very unwell should you catch the virus.

The planned delivery schedule is as follows:

Priority group	Proposed start date
Priority 1: Residents of a care home for older adults	05 September 2022
Priority 2: All those aged 80 years and over and frontline health and social care workers	05 September 2022
Priority 3: All those aged 75 years and over	19 September 2022
Priority 4: All those aged 70 years and over and individuals aged 16 to 69 in a high risk groupand children aged 5 to 15 in a high risk group	26 September 2022
Priority 5: All those aged 65 years and over	10 October 2022
Priority 6: Adults aged 16 to 69 years in an at-risk group and children aged 5 to 15 in an at-risk group	24 October 2022
Priority 7: All those aged 60 years and over	31 October 2022
Priority 8: All those aged 55 years and over	07 November 2022
Priority 9: All those aged 50 years and over	14 November 2022
Individuals aged 16 to 49 who are carers	14 November 2022

To allow the team to make their final preparations for the Autumn programme to begin, the Vaccination team will no longer be offering walk-in vaccination clinics after today (Thursday 25 August). Instead, those who would still like to take up the offer of a first, second or booster dose will be asked to book an appointment either by calling 111 or emailing vaccinations@gov.im.

Dr. Sree Andole, Manx Care’s Executive Medical Director, commented:

“A significant amount of preparation has gone into the planned delivery of the Covid-19 Autumn booster campaign, in order that we can offer all of those people who are eligible the opportunity to receive their jab and increase their protection against the virus. It’s really important that people who are eligible for the vaccination come forward and receive this when they are called, as this is the best form of protection not only for themselves, but for their immediate family members and friends too.”

Autumn 2022 Covid-19 Booster programme – FAQs

What vaccine will I be offered?

You will be given a booster dose of a vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. You may be offered an updated combination version of these booster vaccines – the combination vaccines include a half-dose of the previous vaccine combined with a half-dose of a vaccine against the Omicron variant. Both the previous and the combination vaccines boost protection very well, although the combination vaccines produce slightly higher levels of antibody against some strains of Omicron. As we cannot predict which variants of Covid-19 will be circulating this winter, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has concluded that both types of vaccine can be used in adults, and that no-one should delay vaccination to receive combination vaccines – you will be offered the right vaccine for you at the right time. Please accept the vaccination that is offered to you as soon as you are able to – it is important to have your booster and build up your protection against severe illness before the winter.

Timings of the Autumn booster

You should be offered an appointment between September and December, with those at highest risk being called in first. You should have your booster at least three months after your last dose of vaccine. If you are eligible for a flu vaccine, you may be able to have this at the same time – if not, please don’t delay your Covid-19 booster vaccine; you can catch up with the other vaccine later.

Who cannot take up the offer of an Autumn booster?

There are very few people within the above eligibility groups who should not have this booster. If you have had a severe reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine, you should discuss this with your doctor.

How do I get an appointment?

Appointment letters will be sent out to all over 75s to ensure we prioritise the groups identified by the JCVI. Once you have an appointment letter, you can go online to change or cancel your appointment should you wish to. You can also go online to opt out of this vaccination programme. All age groups will be able to access the online booking system once their age group has been reached.

Frontline health and social care workers can now book and manage their Covid-19 vaccination appointments online. You will be need to input your name, date of birth and your NHS number. If you do not know your NHS number, you should be able to find it on any medical letter you may have received from Manx Care, or your GP surgery will be able to provide this. Alternatively, you can email vaccinations@gov.im or call 111, selecting Option 2 to speak to a member of the Covid response team.

We will be delivering the majority of the Autumn campaign from our Chester Street Vaccination Hub in Douglas. As this is an established Vaccination Hub, this location can safely accommodate a larger number of people. If you are unable to travel to Chester Street, we will be delivering a small number of vaccinations in our hubs in Ramsey, Peel and Castletown from around 17 October 2022 onwards. However, we would encourage you to accept the appointment that is initially offered to you in order to increase your protection at the earliest possible opportunity.

Availability of walk-in clinics

Walk-in clinics for first and second doses will cease after Thursday 25 August 2022. If you would still like to take up the offer of a primary course of Covid-19 vaccines or receive your initial booster, please book an appointment by emailing vaccinations@gov.im or calling 111, selecting Option 2.

Consent

In order to be vaccinated you must be able to demonstrate informed consent at your appointment. If you believe your loved one does not have the capacity to consent in their own right, they will need a Best Interest Consent form to be completed by their General Practitioner and brought to the appointment.

Appointment of Her Majesty’s Attorney General

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 15:19:12 GMT

Her Majesty The Queen has approved the appointment of Mr Walter Wannenburgh as the Attorney General in the Isle of Man.

Mr Wannenburgh said:

‘I am honoured to be appointed by Her Majesty to the position of Her Majesty’s Attorney General in the Isle of Man. I am very much looking forward to embracing the demands of this challenging role which enables me to continue serving the island.

‘As Solicitor General I had the privilege of working closely with the late John Quinn QC whose industry and experience have laid great foundation for the further development of Chambers in its support for the administration of justice and government more generally. I am delighted to have this opportunity to lead the dedicated and professional group of colleagues I work with in Chambers.’

The Attorney General will be required to act as the legal adviser to the Lieutenant Governor, Council of Ministers, Government Departments and Statutory Boards. Her Majesty’s Attorney General is required to offer guidance on matters of law and issues relating to the Isle of Man's domestic and external interests and attends sittings of Tynwald and the Legislative Council.

As Her Majesty’s Solicitor General Mr Wannenburgh worked closely with Her Majesty’s Attorney General, Mr John Quinn QC. Following the death of the Mr Quinn earlier this year, Mr Wannenburgh was required to fulfil the role of Her Majesty’s Acting Attorney General while a robust recruitment and vetting process was undertaken.

Mr Wannenburgh will be officially sworn in to the role later this year by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, at a ceremony to be held at Government House.

Isle of Man OFT warns of safety issue on some gas cookers

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 16:54:57 GMT

A safety warning has been issued to consumers who have recently bought a gas cooker or stove made by Glen Dimplex Home Appliances (GDHA) Limited.

The Isle of Man Office of Fair Trading is amplifying the message issued by the Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) last week, which affects the manufacturer’s Belling, Stoves and New World gas range cookers (110, 100 AND 90 models).

The safety message warns consumers that the grill on certain models should not be used with the door closed, as it can cause extremely dangerous levels of carbon monoxide and pose a significant health risk to uses.

The manufacturer will also write to owners to advise them to use their grills safely.

More information about the Isle of Man OFT can be found on their website.

More than 800 students set for GCSE and IGCSE grades

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 07:00:34 GMT

More than 800 students will collect their GCSE, IGCSE and other Level 1 and 2 qualifications from secondary schools across the Island on Thursday.

It is the first time grades have been based on end-of-year exams since 2019 – after which they were cancelled and replaced with teacher assessments due to the pandemic.

Early destination data gathered by the Department of Education, Sport and Culture (DESC) shows around 85% of students who completed Year 11 are expected to move into further education in September.

This will allow them to progress into higher education, training or employment in future years.

Many students will also receive a technical or vocational qualification, which are largely assessed through practical learning and complement a more traditional IGCSE and GCSE offering across the Islands five secondary schools.

Students can study vocational courses in subjects such as agriculture, hairdressing, engineering, ICT and hospitality with a view to progressing into a career in these sectors.

Julie Edge MHK, Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, said:

‘Amongst this cohort will emerge a large part of our future workforce who will support our Island life – so it is a very important day.
‘It has been a challenging time to study and I am very proud of the way our young people have adapted and continued with their learning and our excellent teachers for helping students achieve their personal aims.’

A range of additional resources are also available on the Department of Education, Sport and Culture’s Signposts website.

Government unveils package to support Island through winter months

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 12:33:31 GMT

Electricity prices will be capped until 31 March 2023 as a major part of a comprehensive package of Isle of Man Government support aimed at helping Island residents and businesses through the winter months.

Unveiled today by Treasury Minister Dr Alex Allinson MHK, the intervention package arrives amid rising pressure on the cost of living being felt around the globe, mainly from increases in fuel and energy prices.

This broad range of measures will ensure that everyone benefits from some help with living costs this winter, while additional support will target those at a higher risk of food and fuel poverty.

The measures include:

Capping electricity prices at their current level until 31 March 2023 for all customers
A third round of targeted support payments in December for those in receipt of child benefit and those on low incomes
Capping bus fares at a maximum of £2 per journey for a three-month trial from 1 November 2022
Accelerating an £8 million programme to improve energy efficiency in homes.

Electricity prices capped at current level until 31 March 2023

Volatility in energy markets has seen a surge in the cost of fossil fuels since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February. The majority of the Island’s electricity is generated from gas, and global price rises mean that Manx Utilities would have needed to increase tariffs by a minimum of 70% this autumn. This would have seen an increase to the average household bill of around £500 a year.

After consultation with Manx Utilities, and consideration of the wider impact on the Island’s people, businesses and economy, the Council of Ministers has directed Manx Utilities to freeze the unit cost of electricity to customers at current levels until 31 March 2023.

For those on the domestic and commercial tariffs this means electricity will remain at 22 pence per unit into next spring. Without intervention by the Isle of Man Government, Manx Utilities has advised that prices would have needed to rise initially to 37.4 pence per unit from 1 October 2022.

With the daily standing charge for a connection to the grid also frozen at its current rate, Isle of Man residents and businesses are likely to pay some of the lowest electricity prices in the British Isles this winter following Government intervention.

Subject to approval at the September sitting of Tynwald, the price cap will be funded with a Government loan to Manx Utilities to be repaid over a 20 year period. The total loan may be up to £26 million.

Minister Allinson said:

“The Council of Ministers has explored a number of options to determine the best way to support our Island over what we know will be a challenging winter. Unlike gas and oil, electricity is used by everyone on the Island, including businesses, meaning all will benefit from this intervention.

“We are shielding households, businesses and organisations from what would have been a sharp and sudden increase in electricity costs of between £16 and £26 million by March next year. Instead, people will have that money in their pockets this winter. It is a considerable sum which will help people and businesses to meet rising costs and means this money can circulate in our economy, boosting both consumer and business confidence.

“The aim here is to flatten the curve on the cost of living increases and give households a degree of certainty and time to adjust to what may be a longer term set of challenges. Providing a loan with a 20-year repayment means that the costs of record electricity prices expected this winter can be factored into bills over a much longer period, cushioning consumers from what would be, for many, crippling price rises.”

Additional support payments for those at higher risk of food and fuel poverty

Government is also providing support for those at a higher risk of fuel and food poverty this winter. A second round of £2.6 million in support payments has already been announced for October 2022 and a third round will be made in December 2022 to those in receipt of child benefit and certain income-related benefits. This will provide approximately 3,500 households with support to pay energy bills and approximately 6,000 families with support for living costs.

Government will work in the coming weeks to determine the appropriate level of support for the December payments, with a further announcement to follow.

Minister Allinson added:

“Whilst we know everyone will feel the increases in the cost of living this winter, those on lower incomes and those with children are particularly vulnerable. We know those on lower incomes will be harder hit as they spend a higher proportion on food and fuel costs compared to those on higher incomes.

“The Energy Support Payments and the Family Support Payments were designed to target those who are at greater risk of falling into food or fuel poverty and so Government has decided it is right that we repeat some form of payment to these households and families in December.”

Cap of £2 on bus fares to be trialled

In a further move to provide support, a three-month trial of capping bus fares at a maximum of £2 per journey will start on 1 November. As well as reducing transport costs, the move aims to encourage people to leave their cars at home and switch to public transport, helping to reduce carbon emissions on the Island’s roads.

The scheme may be extended beyond three months depending on the findings of the trial.

Minister Allinson commented:

“We have seen record fuel prices in recent months and although these have started to come down, the affordability of transport is a concern for a growing number of people, especially when factoring in other rising costs. We hope this trial will encourage more people to take the bus, with the offer of cheaper journeys for many commuters and no parking fees.”

Accelerating £8 million programme to improve energy efficiency in homes

Work to improve energy efficiency in homes will be accelerated with £8 million in existing funding available. Materials and equipment such as insulation, LED lightbulbs, draft excluders and thermostatic radiator valves will be available free of charge to those on lower incomes, with the potential to help up to 12,000 households.

In addition, a fund will be created to make the Island’s social housing stock more energy efficient and, subject to Tynwald approval, the Green Living Grant Scheme will be modified to include low-carbon heating alternatives such as air-source heat pumps. Government will also employ two additional energy doctors to increase its capacity to provide households and businesses with energy saving assessments and advice.

The Minister continued:

“Government is committed to improving energy efficiency in homes and businesses as part of our Island’s climate transformation journey. Whilst we hope to see energy markets begin to stabilise as we move into 2023, this is looking increasingly unlikely in the short to medium term. Capping electricity prices will make a difference this winter and buys us time, taking us to spring when electricity use is lower. As a community we must work together and seize the opportunity to improve energy efficiency in homes in the months ahead.”

Minister Allinson concluded:

“As we have seen from the differing responses to the cost of living crisis by governments around the globe, there is no single solution, no one right answer.

“In addition to the measures set out today, we will also monitor developments across the water. The UK will have a new prime minister at the start of September and measures such as a cut in VAT rates would be reflected here on the Island.

“These are challenging times, but the Council of Ministers believes this package of support will help everyone in our community, including businesses, whilst also specifically targeting those who are likely to feel the most pain.”

Financial Sanctions: Russia

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 10:22:01 GMT

This news release is issued to publicise the removal of 1 entry, correction of 1 entry and amendment of 41 entries to the Russian sanctions regime.

The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/855) were made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (the Sanctions Act) and provide for the freezing of funds and economic resources of certain persons, entities or bodies involved in destabilising Ukraine or undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine, or obtaining a benefit from or supporting the Government of Russia. The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 have effect in the Isle of Man by the Russia Sanctions (Application) Regulations 2020 [S.D. 2020/0504].

On 23 August 2022 the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated the UK Sanctions List. This list provides details of those designated under sanctions legislation.

The following entry has been removed from the consolidated list and is no longer subject to an asset freeze:

Mikhail Vladimirovich RAZVOZHAYEV (Group ID: 15488)

The following entry has been corrected and is still subject to an asset freeze:

Vladimir Olegovich POTANIN (Group ID: 15417)

41 entries have been amended on the consolidated list and remain subject to an asset freeze.

Further details can be found in the Annex to this News Release.

Consequently the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated the Consolidated List. This list provides details of those designated under sanctions legislation.

Failure to comply with financial and trade sanctions legislation or to attempting to circumvent its provisions is a criminal offence.

Where a relevant institution has already reported details of accounts, other funds or economic resources held frozen for the designated person, you are not required to report these details again.

Further details of the sanctions regime related to Russia and links to other financial sanctions regimes may be found on the Customs and Excise pages of the Isle of Man Government website.

Financial Sanctions: Russia General Licence RUS006 amendment

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 17:17:53 GMT

General licences - IOM/2022/RUS006

The Treasury has the power to issue General Licences for financial and trade sanctions regimes under a number of Regulations.

On 23 August 2022, the Treasury amended the above General Licence under regulation 64 of the Russia Sanctions (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, as they apply to the Isle of Man by the Russia Sanctions (Application) Regulations 2020 [SD 2020/0504] (“the Regulations”).

Any persons intending to use a General Licence should consult a copy of the Licence for full details of the permissions and usage requirements which can be found attached to this release.

General licences - IOM/2022/RUS006 permits any subsidiary of VTB incorporated in the Isle of Man to make payments for basic needs including insurance premiums, property management services, remuneration, pensions of employees, tax, rent or mortgage. An IOM subsidiary may also make payments for, reasonable fees and service charges arising from routine holding and maintenance of frozen funds and economic resources. It also includes payments for professional fees and expenses associated with the provision of legal services.

This licence was amended on 8 April 2022 to broaden the actions that can be permitting to include receiving, processing and taking any other action regarding payments, Insolvency Proceedings, services, maintenance and fees relating to the IOM Subsidiary. It also extended the expiry date from March 2023 to April 2023.

This licence was amended again on 25 April 2022 to include Sberbank CIB (UK) Ltd.

On 23 August, General Licence IOM/2022/RUS006 was further amended to permit payments involving the Guernsey subsidiary of VTB, and VTB Bank (Europe) SE based in Germany.

Under General Licence IOM/2022/RUS006 the subsidiaries may make payments for:

their basic needs including: payment of insurance premiums; payment of reasonable fees for the provision of property management services; payment of remuneration, allowances or pensions of employees; payment of tax; payment of rent or mortgage payments; utility payments;
reasonable fees or reasonable service charges arising from the routine holding and maintenance of its frozen funds and economic resources;
reasonable professional fees for the provision of legal services or reasonable expenses associated with the provision of legal services.

Any person, including any subsidiary of VTB or Sberbank incorporated in the Isle of Man, or the Guernsey subsidiary of VTB, may also:

make, receive or process any payments, or take any other action, in connection with any Insolvency Proceedings relating to the UK Subsidiary and the Guernsey subsidiary.

A person may receive payments made in accordance with 1 to 4 above.

A relevant Institution may process payments in accordance with 1 to 4 above.

When payments are made under 1 to 3 above, the subsidiaries must provide written notice to the Treasury that it is conducting activity permitted under this licence and must supply the Treasury with its current, valid contact details within 7 days of making the payment. Notice may be provided by email to fiu@gov.im.

This notification does not constitute verification by the Treasury that activity purported to be permitted under this licence is permitted.

Record-keeping requirements

The subsidiaries making payments under this licence must keep accurate, complete and readable records, on paper or electronically, of any activity purporting to have been permitted under this licence for a minimum of 6 years.

General

The permissions in the above General Licence do not authorise any act which the person carrying out the act knows, or has reasonable grounds for suspecting, will result in funds or economic resources being made available in breach of the Russia Regulations, save as permitted under licences granted under The Russia Regulations.

General Licence IOM/2022/RUS006 takes effect in its amended form from the date of issue and expires on 03 April 2023.

Further details of the sanctions regime related to Russia may be found on the Customs and Excise pages of the Isle of Man Government website.

Financial Sanctions: Russia General Licence RUS029

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 17:29:59 GMT

General licence - IOM/2022/RUS029

The Treasury has the power to issue General Licences for financial and trade sanctions regimes under a number of Regulations.

On 23 August 2022, the Treasury issued General licence - IOM/2022/RUS029 under regulation 64 of the Russia Sanctions (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, as they apply to the Isle of Man by the Russia Sanctions (Application) Regulations 2020 [SD 2020/0504] (“the Regulations”).

Any persons intending to use General Licence IOM/2022/RUS029 should consult the copy of the Licence for full details of the permissions and usage requirements which can be found attached to this release.

General licence - IOM/2022/RUS029 allow Crown Servants, Contractors, & their Family Members to carry out activities in their personal capacity which would otherwise be prohibited.

For the purposes of General Licence IOM/2022/RUS029 a Crown Servant means an individual holding office or employment under the Crown.

A Contractor means an individual who is not a Crown Servant, but who has been contracted by the Crown to provide goods or services within or in relation to the Crown’s operations in Russia.

A Family Member means a member of the family forming part of the household of a Crown Servant or Contractor, namely:

(a) A spouse;

(b) A civil partner;

(d) Dependent children up to the age of 18, or up to the age of 21 and in full-time education.

A Visiting Family Member mean:

(a) The spouse of a Crown servant, or Contractor;

(b) The civil partner of a Crown servant, or Contractor;

(d) Any parent or other ascendant of:

(i) a Crown servant or Contractor; or,

(ii) the spouse, civil partner or established partner of a Crown servant or Contractor;

(e) Any child or other descendant of:

(i) a Crown servant or Contractor; or,

(ii) the spouse, civil partner or established partner of a Crown servant or contractor;

(f) Any individual who is a brother or sister of:

(i) a Crown servant or Contractor; or,

(ii) the spouse, civil partner or established partner of a Crown servant or contractor;

(iii) the child or other descendant of that individual (i.e. nephews and nieces etc)..

A Person is an individual, a body of persons corporate or unincorporate, any organisation or any association or combination of persons; and a Relevant Institution is:

a person who is licensed under the Financial Services Act 2008 (of Tynwald) to carry on a regulated activity within the meaning of section 3 of that Act;
a person who is authorised or registered under the Insurance Act 2008 (of Tynwald) or holds a permit under that Act;
a person who is registered under the Moneylenders Act 1991 (of Tynwald) to carry on the business of lending money;
a person who is acting as a trustee or an administrator of a retirement benefits scheme within the meaning of the Retirement Benefits Schemes Act 2008 (of Tynwald)

Under General Licence IOM/2022/RUS029 and where Crown immunity does not apply to activities by reason of non-application of the Russia Regulations to the Crown, a Crown Servant, Contractor, Family Member or Visiting Family Member may carry out activities in their personal capacity in Russia which would otherwise be prohibited by regulations 11-15 and 17A of the Russia Regulations. In the case of a Visiting Family Member, the permission in paragraph 4.1 extends only to those activities which arise as a result of their being in Russia to visit the household of a Crown Servant or Contractor.

General

The permissions in General Licence IOM/2022/RUS029 which the person carrying out the act knows, or has reasonable grounds for suspecting, will result in funds or economic resources being made available in breach of The Russia Regulations, save as permitted under licences granted under the Russia Regulations.

The General Licence takes effect from the date of issue.

Further details of the sanctions regime related to Russia may be found on the Customs and Excise pages of the Isle of Man Government website.

Financial Sanctions: Russia General Licence

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 11:47:50 GMT

General licence - IOM/2022/RUS019

The Treasury has the power to issue General Licences for financial and trade sanctions regimes under a number of Regulations.

On 11 May 2022, the Treasury issued General licence - IOM/2022/RUS019 under regulation 64 of the Russia Sanctions (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, as they apply to the Isle of Man by the Russia Sanctions (Application) Regulations 2020 [SD 2020/0504] (“the Regulations”).

On 19 August 2022 General Licence IOM/2022/RUS019 was extended and now expires on 31 March 2023, allowing for the continued business operations of Evraz' North American subsidiaries.

Any persons intending to use General Licence IOM/2022/RUS019 should consult the copy of the Licence for full details of the permissions and usage requirements which can be found attached to this release.

General licence - IOM/2022/RUS019 which allows for the continuation of business operations of the North American Subsidiaries specified below. The licence will expire on 2 September 2022.

For the purposes of General Licence IOM/2022/RUS019 the North American Subsidiaries are the following subsidiaries of Evraz plc:

Evraz North America plc;
Evraz Inc. NA; and
Evraz Inc. NA – Canada.

A Person is an individual, a body of persons corporate or unincorporate, any organisation or any association or combination of persons; and a Relevant Institution is:

a person who is licensed under the Financial Services Act 2008 (of Tynwald) to carry on a regulated activity within the meaning of section 3 of that Act;
a person who is authorised or registered under the Insurance Act 2008 (of Tynwald) or holds a permit under that Act;
a person who is registered under the Moneylenders Act 1991 (of Tynwald) to carry on the business of lending money;
a person who is acting as a trustee or an administrator of a retirement benefits scheme within the meaning of the Retirement Benefits Schemes Act 2008 (of Tynwald)

Under General Licence IOM/2022/RUS019 a Person may continue business operations involving the North American Subsidiaries including, but not limited to: payments to or from the North American Subsidiaries under any obligations or contracts; payments to or from any third party under any obligations or contracts; and receipt of payments made by the North American Subsidiaries for audit services. Evraz North America plc is also permitted to pay for the audit services referred to in the previous sentence.

General

The permissions in General Licence IOM/2022/RUS019 do not authorise any act which the person carrying out the act knows, or has reasonable grounds for suspecting, will result in funds or economic resources being made available in breach of The Russia Regulations, save as permitted under licences granted under The Russia Regulations.

The General Licence takes effect from the date of issue and expires on 31 March 2023.

Further details of the sanctions regime related to Russia may be found on the Customs and Excise pages of the Isle of Man Government website.

Sanctions General Licence

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 11:52:11 GMT

General licence - IOM/2022/SAN001

The Treasury has the power to issue General Licences for country sanctions regimes under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (“the Sanctions Act”), as those Regulations have effect in the Isle of Man.

On 29 July 2022, the Treasury issued General licence - IOM/2022/SAN001 under all Autonomous Sanctions Regulations listed in Annex I of this notice. This allows only those individuals or entities designated under UK Sanctions Regimes that have effect on the Isle of Man to make payments to IOM insurers for insurance premiums and broker commissions relating to the provision of building and engineering insurance cover provided to Isle of Man or UK properties. This licence is not applicable to those also sanctioned by the United Nations. This licence also permits IOM insurers to make payments to Designated Persons due as a result of a successful claim made against an insurance policy provided by the IOM Insurer or refunds due as a result of any over payments made pursuant to this licence. A Relevant Institution can carry out any activity reasonably necessary to effect the permissions set out in this licence.

Any persons intending to use General licence - IOM/2022/SAN001 should consult the copy of the Licence for full details of the permissions and usage requirements which can be found attached to this release.

For the purposes of General Licence IOM/2022/SAN001 buildings insurance means:

Insurance covering the cost of repairing damage to the structure of a property.

For the purposes of General Licence IOM/2022/SAN001 engineering insurance means:

Insurance against risks associated with erection, resting and working of any machinery, plant or equipment in commercial properties.

A Relevant Institution is:

a person who is licensed under the Financial Services Act 2008 (of Tynwald) to carry on a regulated activity within the meaning of section 3 of that Act;
a person who is authorised or registered under the Insurance Act 2008 (of Tynwald) or holds a permit under that Act;
a person who is registered under the Moneylenders Act 1991 (of Tynwald) to carry on the business of lending money;
a person who is acting as a trustee or an administrator of a retirement benefits scheme within the meaning of the Retirement Benefits Schemes Act 2008 (of Tynwald)

General

The permissions in General Licence IOM/2022/SAN001 do not authorise any act which the person carrying out the act knows, or has reasonable grounds for suspecting, will result in funds or economic resources being made available in breach of the relevant UK autonomous sanctions Regulations, save as permitted under a licence granted under those Regulations.

The General Licence takes effect from the date of issue and is of indefinite duration.

Amendments

On 19 August 2022 General Licence IOM/2022/SAN001 was amended to include the following:

Terrorism Insurance, which for the purpose of this licence means insurance covering the cost of repairing damage to the structure of a property as a result of an act of terrorism
Property Owners’ Liability Insurance, which for the purpose of this licence means insurance covering claims made against landlords and property owners in respect of their legal liability for personal injury or property damage suffered by third parties and arising from the policyholder’s ownership of the property
Claims Preparation Costs Insurance, which for the purpose of this licence means insurance covering the cost of appointing a professional claims handler to deal with any claims made against an insurance policy permitted under this licence

Further details of the sanctions regime related to Russia may be found on the Customs and Excise pages of the Isle of Man Government website.

Annex I – Autonomous Sanctions Regulations Schedules

UK Regime	Has effect in the Isle of Man by…	Relevant Regulations
The Burundi (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019	Burundi Sanctions (Application) Regulations 2020 [SD 2020/0455]	Regulations 11 to 15
Counter-Terrorism (International Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019	Counter-Terrorism (International) Sanctions (Application) Regulations 2020 [SD 2020/0501]	Regulations 11 to 15
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019	Democratic People's Republic of Korea Sanctions (Application) Regulations 2020 [SD 2020/0502]	Regulations 13 to 17
Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regulations 2021	Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions (Isle of Man) Order 2021 [SI 2021/526]	Regulations 11 to 15
Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020	The Global Human Rights Sanctions (Isle of Man) Order 2020 [SI 2020/774]	Regulations 11 to 15
Guinea (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019	Guinea Sanctions (Application) Regulations 2020 [SD 2020/0448]	Regulations 11 to 15
Iran (Sanctions) (Nuclear) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019	Iran Sanctions (Nuclear) (Application) Regulations 2020 [SD 2020/0477]	Regulation 12 to 17
Iran Human Rights (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019	Iran Sanctions (Human Rights) (Application) Regulations 2020 [SD 2020/0472]	Regulations 11 to 15
Libya (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020	Libya Sanctions (Application) Regulations 2020 [SD 2020/0584]	Regulations 12 to 16
Myanmar (Sanctions) Regulations 2021	The Myanmar (Sanctions) (Isle of Man) Order 2021 [SI 2021/529]	Regulations 11 to 15
Nicaragua (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020	Nicaragua Sanctions (Application) Regulations 2020 [SD 2020/0449]	Regulations 11 to 15
Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019	The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Isle of Man) Order 2021 [SI 2021/1257]	Regulations 11 to 15
Republic of Guinea-Bissau (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019	Republic of Guinea-Bissau Sanctions (Application) Regulations 2020 [SD 2020/0447]	Regulations 11 to 15
Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019	Russia Sanctions (Application) Regulations 2020 [SD 2020/0504]	Regulations 11 to 15
South Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019	South Sudan Sanctions (Application) Regulations 2020 [SD 2020/0476]	Regulations 12 to 16
Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020	Sudan Sanctions (Application) Regulations 2020 [SD 2020/0483]	Regulations 12 to 16
Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019	Syria Sanctions (Application) Regulations 2020 [SD 2020/0503]	Regulations 11 to 15
Venezuela (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019	Venezuela Sanctions (Application) Regulations 2020 [SD 2020/0473]	Regulations 11 to 15
The Zimbabwe (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019	Zimbabwe Sanctions (Application) Regulations 2020 [SD 2020/0480]	Regulations 11 to 15

Inflation Report: July 2022

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 14:21:20 GMT

The latest inflation report, compiled and published by the Statistics Isle of Man team at the Cabinet Office, shows inflation stood at 10.8% for July 2022.

A summary and the full report are available online.

Island will offer new Moderna vaccine in autumn booster programme

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 09:24:23 GMT

Island residents will be offered the new Moderna bivalent COVID vaccine in the autumn rollout, following the latest advice from the UK’s Joint Commission of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

The new bivalent vaccine targets two different variants of coronavirus– the original strain and the newer Omicron variant, and will be offered to those eligible along with other booster vaccines available.

Interim Director of Public Health, Professor Hugo Van Woerden:

‘The bivalent version of the Moderna vaccine has been approved for use by the UK’s medicines regulator. Over the course of the pandemic, COVID has evolved into different variants and the new vaccine has been adapted to provide protection against two strains of the virus, with the ability to lead to a broader immune response than the original vaccine.’

Minister for Health and Social Care, Lawrie Hooper MHK said:

‘It is great news that we will be following the UK and offering the new vaccine as part of the autumn booster programme. The available boosters provide good protection against severe illness from COVID, which is important as we move into the winter when respiratory illnesses are at their peak.

‘I would particularly encourage those with long term health conditions to take up the offer when invited, whichever vaccine is on offer. The vaccine will increase the Island’s overall protection against the virus, and help prevent any added pressures on our key services.

‘If you have not yet had any of your primary doses, there is still time to come forward and take up the evergreen offer, just register by emailing vaccinations@gov.im or calling 111.’

Manx Care will confirm details on how and when eligible people can receive the autumn booster vaccine in due course – members of the public are being urged not to call 111 until this has been announced. A list of those eligible for the autumn booster can be found on the website.

Statement: Manx Care acknowledges fine for information governance failures

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 11:48:30 GMT

On 13 July 2022, Manx Care received a fine of £170,500 from the Isle of Man Information Commissioner, deferred until 31 December 2022 subject to strict adherence to compliance targets.

We acknowledge the significant failures outlined in the Enforcement Notice, which make for uncomfortable reading, and would like to offer our sincere and unreserved apologies to those individuals whose data was breached through no fault of their own. Regardless of the fact that this was neither malicious nor intentional, this will undoubtedly have caused distress to them, for which we are incredibly sorry. Quite simply, this should not have happened. We would like to assure members of the public that steps are being taken to bring Manx Care’s standards of compliance into line with those expected of the organisation. These are historical breaches, and it is important to note that all patients whose data was inadvertently disclosed were notified at the time, and an apology provided.

The information governance issues that Manx Care has experienced date back to 2020 when an Enforcement Notice was issued to what was then the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). This transferred over to Manx Care when the organisation launched on 01 April 2021, with two subsequent Enforcement Notices being issued in August 2021 and February 2022 for further, repeat compliance failures. During this period, the organisation had incredibly limited dedicated Information Governance or Data Protection resource in place to manage and mitigate its risks, and ensure that the patient data it held was managed in a safe, secure and compliant way. This was as a result of colleagues having been transferred into other roles as part of the Island’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier this year, an information governance review was commissioned from KPMG – in its capacity as the external partner appointed to support the delivery of the Island’s health and care transformation programme – and found that Manx Care had insufficient resource to meet its statutory compliance responsibilities in this area. Since then, Manx Care has invested in additional staffing to support a permanent Information Governance function, along with securing temporary resource and funding to support a continuous compliance and improvement programme that addresses the findings and recommendations outlined within the KPMG review.

In the short term, Manx Care is actively progressing a number of technical and organisational measures in order to mitigate further risk by addressing the most immediate risks quickly whilst a longer term programme is implemented, which will result in the organisation becoming a compliant one where information governance is at the forefront of our corporate agenda, supported by the policies, procedures and training required to achieve this. This will result in our ability to deal with data protection and information governance matters robustly, fully investigate and determine the root cause of any compliance issues, ensure appropriate steps are taken to further mitigate any risk, and effect a culture change across the organisation with regard to the secure management and processing of patient information.

Manx Care is very mindful of the impact that this will have in terms of public confidence in the services we provide, alongside the need for every single employee to fully understand their obligations concerning personal data protection and information governance. Data protection is fundamental to Manx Care’s operations. We are fully committed to minimising risk and any subsequent adverse impact suffered by patients and service users as a result of a data breach. We want patients, service users and members of the public to have confidence in the way we manage our information. The immediate technical and organisational measures currently being implemented are designed to improve decision-making, patient safety, quality and trust in Manx Care whilst the longer-term, sustainable changes that need to be made are effected. Data and information are vital assets, and fundamental in delivering excellent, safe, quality health and care services as part of Manx Care’s Mandate. We are committed to the actions we are implementing to improve trust and confidence in our services.

This enforcement has provided a stark and important warning to Manx Care about our current level of compliance with data protection legislation, and we hope that the public can be reassured around our future intent. Once again, we would like to take this opportunity to offer our sincere and unreserved apologies for the repeated failures and infringements that have occurred, and for the impact this will undoubtedly have had on those individuals whose data was breached through no fault of their own.