Latest news with #TimJohnston
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Isle of Man private school receives £2.2m 'repayable grant'
The Isle of Man's only private school will receive £2.2m to help with construction costs as it brings together its primary and secondary school facilities on one William's College (KWC) has been awarded the "repayable grant" under the Department for Enterprise's Financial Assistance Scheme for island year the institution confirmed its campus would be consolidated to include its primary school, the Buchan, with its former site sold to developers in Minister Tim Johnston said the loan was to help cover significant spending on building works and was due to the imposition of 20% VAT on private school fees. The UK government last year announced the standard rate of VAT would be added to private school fees from January, with KWC announcing in September it would absorb the costs for the spring and summer said that change had presented a "challenge" for the school, which had coincided with it going through "major investment" as part of the consolidation but the money was not "to pay a VAT bill" but to make it a "sustainable business". 'Select few' But MHK Joney Faragher said it "feels wrong that the government is propping up private schools when state schools are under such pressure" and it could "exacerbate educational inequality".It was public money and "should benefit the whole island's young people rather than just a select few".Lawrie Hooper MHK said the grant was awarded at the same time as the Department of Education, Sports and Culture was trying to find £400,000 in savings for swimming told the House of Keys he was "perfectly comfortable" the school was eligible for the support under the scheme and the funds would be paid back within five years, with interest applied from year said with 185 staff KWC was one of the largest employers in the south of the island and brought £1.3m in exchequer benefits as well as £2.8m in local economy spending each minister said he recognised the concerns raised by members, but the application received by his department had satisfied the criteria for the loan had received approval from the Council of Ministers and Treasury concurrence so had "gone through the normal processes", he a statement Chairman of Governors for KWC Peter Clucas said the funding enabled the college to move forward with its consolidation project, which "underpins the school's long-term financial sustainability".He said the school was working toward a completion date of later this year for the project. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Plans to expand whistleblower list put forward
Plans to expand the list of bodies that whistleblowers can make disclosures to are set to be considered by the Isle of Man's parliament later this month. The Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2025 would see the inclusion of various medical regulators in the prescribed persons list from 1 April. Brought forward by the Department for Enterprise, it follows a public consultation on who should be included in the list, including proposals to include politicians which was rejected by Tynwald. Enterprise Minister Tim Johnston said it was "crucial" whistleblowers could "have confidence in the organisation they wish to make a disclosure to, and are protected in doing so." The move would see the inclusion of the General Medical Council, The General Dental Council, the General Optical Council, the General Pharmaceutical Council, the General Osteopathic Council and the Health and Care Professions Council in the list. The Department of Home Affairs and the Tynwald Auditor General would also be included as prescribed persons. Other changes under the order include the expansion of the remit in which someone can make a disclosure within the Department of Health and Social Care and the Gambling Supervision Commission which would come into effect from 1 April. Tynwald approval would also be sought for the Prescribed Persons (Duty to Report) Regulations 2025 requiring prescribed persons to report annually on disclosures made to them. The government said those reports would help "identify gaps and areas for improvement" in the handling of disclosures and provide assurance to the public and whistleblowers that the prescribed body takes disclosures seriously. The changes come as part of a move to strengthen protections for whistleblowers, with the introduction of a public interest test and the removal of a good faith requirement already approved by Tynwald. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. Call to add members to whistleblower list rejected Call to add Tynwald members to whistleblowers list Employment law plan includes whistleblowing reforms Isle of Man Government - Employment Law Changes Department for Enterprise
BBC News
11-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Isle of Man: Tynwald to consider plans to expand whistleblower list
Plans to expand the list of bodies that whistleblowers can make disclosures to are set to be considered by the Isle of Man's parliament later this Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2025 would see the inclusion of various medical regulators in the prescribed persons list from 1 forward by the Department for Enterprise, it follows a public consultation on who should be included in the list, including proposals to include politicians which was rejected by Minister Tim Johnston said it was "crucial" whistleblowers could "have confidence in the organisation they wish to make a disclosure to, and are protected in doing so." The move would see the inclusion of the General Medical Council, The General Dental Council, the General Optical Council, the General Pharmaceutical Council, the General Osteopathic Council and the Health and Care Professions Council in the Department of Home Affairs and the Tynwald Auditor General would also be included as prescribed changes under the order include the expansion of the remit in which someone can make a disclosure within the Department of Health and Social Care and the Gambling Supervision Commission which would come into effect from 1 April. Tynwald approval would also be sought for the Prescribed Persons (Duty to Report) Regulations 2025 requiring prescribed persons to report annually on disclosures made to them. The government said those reports would help "identify gaps and areas for improvement" in the handling of disclosures and provide assurance to the public and whistleblowers that the prescribed body takes disclosures changes come as part of a move to strengthen protections for whistleblowers, with the introduction of a public interest test and the removal of a good faith requirement already approved by Tynwald. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
