Tynwald dominated by pre-school concerns

Tynwald members will be going back to pre-school today, or at least the subject of pre-school.

Concerns about cut backs in provision dominate the question paper - and there's also a motion on the main agenda.

Nearly half of the 15 questions for oral answer are about the government's pre-school policy and they come from four separate members.

Former education member Dudley Butt MLC has another round of questioning for both the chief minister and education minister, with David Callister, Alf Cannan and Speaker of the House of Keys Steve Rodan getting behind the cause as well.

Mr Rodan will go further with his pre-school motion which calls on Tynwald to acknowledge the value of teacher-led provision and a public consultation on the subject with the results bought back to the court no later than July.

It's understood that at least one member of the Council of Ministers has been asked to forego a planned trip because of concerns about which way the vote will go.