The Isle of Man Government (Manx: Reiltys Ellan Vannin) is the government of the Isle of Man. The formal head of the Isle of Man Government is the Lieutenant Governor, representing Queen Elizabeth II, Lord of Mann. The executive head is the Chief Minister.
Douglas, the largest town on the Isle of Man, is its capital and seat of government, where the Government offices and the parliament chambers (Tynwald) are located.
The Civil Service has more than 2,000 employees and the total number of public sector employees including the Civil Service, teachers, nurses, police, etc. is about 9,000 people. This is somewhat more than 10% of the population of the Island, and a full 23% of the working population. This does not include any military forces, as defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom.
The Government consists of 7 departments, 9 statutory boards, 5 offices, and 9 other quasi-independent agencies (Public Lottery Trust, Manx Heritage Foundation, Arts Council, Sports Council, Swimming Pool Authorities, Local Government, Planning Authority, Health and Safety Executive Authority, Road Transport and Licensing Committee) all reporting to the Council of Ministers. The departments all report directly to the Council of Ministers.
Council of MinistersGeneral RegistryAttorney General's ChambersInformation CommissionerManx Industrial Relations ServiceCabinet OfficePublic Services CommissionTreasuryFinancial Services AuthorityIsle of Man Gambling Supervision CommissionPublic Sector Pensions AuthorityPublic Lottery TrustDepartment of Home AffairsCommunications CommissionDepartment of Health and Social CareDepartment of Education and ChildrenManx Heritage FoundationArts CouncilSports CouncilSwimming Pool AuthoritiesDepartment of Economic DevelopmentIsle of Man Post OfficeOffice of Fair TradingManx National HeritageDepartment of InfrastructureManx Utilities AuthorityLocal GovernmentPlanning CommitteeHealth and Safety Executive AuthorityRoad Transport and Licensing CommitteeDepartment of Environment, Food and AgricultureChief Minister and Minister for the Cabinet Office – Hon. Howard Quayle MHKMinister for Policy and Reform - Hon. Chris Thomas MHKChief Secretary: Will GreenhowPublic Services CommissionChairman: Minister for Policy and ReformSecretary: Jon CallisterThe TreasuryMinister for the Treasury Shirveishagh Tashtee: Hon. Alf Cannan MHKChief Financial Officer: Sheila LoweDepartment of Economic DevelopmentMinister for Economic Development Shirveishagh son Lhiasaghey Tarmaynagh: Hon. Laurence Skelly MHK]Chief Executive Officer: Chris CorlettDepartment of Home AffairsMinister for Home Affairs Shirveishagh son Cooishyn Sthie: Hon. William Malarkey MHKChief Executive Officer: Mark KellyDepartment of Education and ChildrenMinister for Education and Children Shirveishagh son Ynsee as Paitchyn: Hon. Graham Cregeen MHKChief Executive Officer: Professor Ronald BarrDepartment of Health and Social CareMinister for Health and Social Care Shirveishagh son Slaynt as Kiarail y Theay: Hon. Kate Beecroft MHKChief Executive Officer: Dr Malcolm CouchDepartment of InfrastructureMinister for Infrastructure Shirveishagh son Bun-troggalys: Hon. Ray Harmer MHKChief Executive Officer: Nick BlackDepartment of Environment, Food and AgricultureMinister for Environment, Food and Agriculture Shirveishagh son Chymmyltaght, Bee as Eirinys: Hon. Geoffrey Boot MHKChief Executive Officer: Richard LoleOffice of Fair TradingChair: David Quirk MHKFinancial Services AuthorityChair: Geoff KarranChief Executive: Karen BadgerowIsle of Man Post OfficeChair: Ray Harmer MHKChief Executive: Mike KellyManx Utilities AuthorityChair: Alfred Cannan MHKChief Executive:Gambling Supervision CommissionChair: Jon AllenChief Executive: Steve BrennanPublic Sector Pensions AuthorityChair: Jerry CarterChief Executive: Ian MurrayGeneral RegistryChief Registrar: Stephen CregeenAttorney General's ChambersHM Attorney General: John QuinnIsle of Man Data Protection SupervisorData Protection Supervisor: Iain McDonaldCommunications CommissionChair: Juan Watterson MHK (Minister of Home Affairs ex-officio)Communication Commissioner: Dr Carmel McLaughlinManx Museum and National Trust (commonly called Manx National Heritage)Chair: Tony PassNational Heritage Director: Edmund SouthworthInformation CommissionInformation Commissioner: Iain McDonaldCulture Vannin (Manx Heritage Foundation)Chair: Hon. Phil Gawne MHKDirector: Dr Breesha MaddrellArts CouncilChair: Geoff Corkish MBE MLCIsle of Man SportChair: Geoff KarranRoad Transport and Licensing CommitteeChair: Hon. Juan Watterson MHKSecretary: Noel CapewellSwimming Pool AuthoritiesvariousLocal GovernmentvariousThe structure and functions of the Departments were re-organised with effect from 1 April 2010. The existing Departments, except the Treasury and the Departments of Education and Home Affairs, were dissolved, and the Department of Education was renamed "the Department of Education and Children". The Departments and their functions are now as follows:
Treasurytaxation, internal audit, currency, census, electionsDepartment of Community, Culture and Leisurepassenger transport, culture, sport and recreationDepartment of Economic Developmenttourism, employment, merchant shipping, civil aviation, trade, industry, intellectual property, companies, information technology, e-business, financial servicesDepartment of Education and ChildreneducationDepartment of Environment, Food and Agricultureagriculture, fisheries, animal health and welfare, plant health, food safety, burial and cremation, water pollution, environmental health, medicinal productsDepartment of Healthhealth servicesDepartment of Home Affairspolice, fire services, prisons, probation, emergency planning, civil defenceDepartment of Infrastructurelocal government, road traffic, highways, harbours, airports, health and safety at work, planning and conservation, building control, waste disposal, public utilities, mines and minerals, licensing and registration of vehiclesDepartment of Social Caresocial services, social security, mental health, social housingBefore modern times the government of the Isle of Man was in the hands of the Governor (or Lieutenant Governor), who was the representative of the Lord of Man, assisted by his Council, consisting of the other permanent officials (the Bishop, Archdeacon, Deemsters, Attorney General, etc.). The Council evolved into the Legislative Council, the upper chamber of Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man.
After the Revestment in 1765 the Lieutenant Governor and his officials were the agents of the British Government, and not democratically responsible to the Manx people. Conflict between the House of Keys (popularly elected after 1866) and the Lieutenant Governor came to a head during the tenure of Lord Raglan (1902–18).
After World War I the Lieutenant Governor gradually ceded control to Tynwald, a process guided by the reports of commissions and other bodies in 1911, 1959 and 1969. An Executive Council, chaired by him and including members of Tynwald, was established in 1949, and gradually thereafter became the effective government of the Island. Finance and the police came under local control between 1958 and 1976. The Lieutenant Governor ceased to chair the Executive Council in 1980, being replaced by a chairman elected by Tynwald, and the Council was reconstituted in 1985 to include the chairmen of the eight principal Boards; in 1986 they were given the title 'Minister' and the chairman was styled 'Chief Minister'. In 1990 the Council was renamed the 'Council of Ministers'.
During the 19th century several bodies, which came to be known as 'Boards of Tynwald', were created to exercise functions under democratic control. These included the Board of Education (1872), Highway Board (1874), Asylums Board (1888), Government Property Trustees (1891) and Local Government Board (1894). However, although direct taxation was levied by Tynwald, the Boards' freedom of action before the 1960s was limited by the Lieutenant Governor's control of the Island's budget and his power to appoint certain of their members.
The structure of the Boards of Tynwald, along with other bodies variously called 'Statutory Boards' and 'Commercial Boards', became increasingly unwieldy after the 1950s, and was eventually reformed in the 1980s, when a system of 'ministerial government' was set up.
The Departments and Statutory Boards which existed before the reorganisation in 2010, and their predecessors, are shown below:
Treasury, 1985–presentFinance Board, 1961–1985Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, 1986–2010Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 1946–86Board of Agriculture, 1914–1946Fisheries Board, 1927–1946Fishery Conservators, 1882–1927Forestry, Mines and Lands Board, 1950–86Common Lands Board, 1915–50Trustees of the Common Lands, 1866–1915Department of Education, 1987–2010Isle of Man Board of Education, 1946–2009Board of Education, 1872–99Council of Education, 1899–1946Isle of Man Education Authority, 1923–68Isle of Man Central Education Authority, 1920–23Department of Health and Social Security, 1986–2010Health Services Board, 1948–86Mental Hospital Board, 1932–48Asylums Board, 1888–1932Board of Social Security, 1970–86Board of Social Services, 1946–70Health Insurance and Pensions Board, 1939–46Old Age Pensions and National Health Insurance Board, 1920–39Department of Transport, 2004–2010Department of Highways, Ports and Properties 1986–2004Isle of Man Highway and Transport Board, 1946–86Highway Board, 1874–1946Committee of Highways, 1776–1874Isle of Man Harbour Board, 1948–86Isle of Man Harbour Commissioners, 1872–1948Commissioners for Harbours, 1771–1872Isle of Man Airports Board, 1948–86Government Property Trustees, 1891–1986Department of Home Affairs, since 1986Home Affairs Board, 1981–86Isle of Man Police Board, 1962–81Isle of Man Broadcasting Commission, 1965–81Civil Defence Commission, 1955–81Department of Trade and Industry, 1996–2010Department of Industry, 1986–1996Industry Board, 1981–86Department of Local Government and the Environment, 1986–2010Local Government Board, 1894–1986Department of Tourism and Leisure, 1994–2010Department of Tourism and Transport, 1986–2004Tourist Board, 1952–86Publicity Board, 1931–52Board of Advertising, 1904–31Advertising Committee, 1897–1904Isle of Man Passenger Transport Board, 1982–86Manx Electric Railway Board, 1957–82Isle of Man Office of Fair Trading, since 1998Board of Consumer Affairs (1981–1998)Consumer Council (1972–1981)Financial Supervision Commission, since 1982Insurance and Pensions Authority, since 1996Insurance Authority, 1986–96Isle of Man Post Office (1993)Isle of Man Post Office Authority (1972–93)Isle of Man Water and Sewerage Authority, since 2010Isle of Man Water Authority (1985–2010)Isle of Man Water and Gas Authority (1974–1985)Isle of Man Water Authority (1972–1974)Isle of Man Gas Authority (1972–1974)Isle of Man Water Board (1946–1972)Manx Electricity Authority, since 1983Isle of Man Electricity Board (1932–1984)Communications Commission (1989)Telecommunications Commission (1985–1989)Gambling Supervision Commission, up to present
