Reforms promise vital savings - Bell

The chief minister says government needs to shrink if the Island is to live on drastically reduced budgets in future. 

Allan Bell yesterday unveiled a package of reforms designed to create a smaller, simpler and less bureaucratic government structure.

If Tynwald agrees to the proposals in January, the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure will disappear, while Health and Social Care, split-up in 2010, will re-unite. 

A new Minister for Policy and Reform would be charged with speeding-up change and efficiency programmes.

A new Utilities Authority would see the MEA and Water Authority merge.

Allan Bell also wants to introduce a Cabinet Office, bringing together  central functions including the Chief Secretary's Office.

Mr Bell says the new scaled-down structure will result in substantial savings long-term.

But there's no word yet on how many jobs will go or where from.

He admits the uncertainty will cause concern: