Public Accounts Committee

The Public Accounts Committee examines the value for money of Government projects, programmes and service delivery. It also scrutinises the efficiency and effectiveness of the implementation of Government policy and public spending more broadly.

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Current Inquiries and Areas of Focus

An inquiry is an investigation into a particular topic, which usually results in the publication of a report. Areas of focus are shorter pieces of work which do not usually result in a report.

Committee Members

    Vacant

    Committee Chair

    Lawrie Hooper MHK

    Committee Vice-Chair

    Tanya August-Phillips MLC

    Committee Member

    Ann Corlett MHK

    Committee Member

    Rob Mercer MLC

    Committee Member

    Jason Moorhouse MHK

    Committee Member​

    The Committee reserves the right to publish any evidence sent to it in the absence of any agreement that the evidence will be confidential.

    Contact the Committee

    For enquiries or to submit written evidence please contact:

    Joann Corkish
    Clerk to the Committee

    Contact details for a Committee of Tynwald
    Clerk to the Committee
    Legislative Buildings
    Finch Road
    Douglas
    Isle of Man
    IM1 3PW
    Tel: 01624 685500
    Email: committees@tynwald.org.im

    Committee Remit

    3.1 There shall be a Standing Committee of the Court on Public Accounts.
    3.2 Subject to paragraph 3.6, the Committee shall have –
    (a) a Chairman elected by Tynwald,
    (b) a Vice-Chairman elected by Tynwald,
    (c) four other Members, who shall be Chairman of each of the Policy Review Committees (ex officio) and the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs and Justice;
    and a quorum of three.
    3.3 Members of Tynwald shall not be eligible for membership of the Committee, if, for the time being, they hold any of the following offices: President of Tynwald, member of the Council of Ministers, member of the Treasury Department referred to in section 1(1)(a) of the Government Departments Act 1987.
    3.4 The Committee shall –
    (a) (i) consider any papers on public expenditure and estimates presented to Tynwald as may seem fit to the Committee;
    (ii) examine the form of any papers on public expenditure and estimates presented to Tynwald as may seem fit to the
    Committee;
    (iii) consider any financial matter relating to a Government Department or statutory body as may seem fit to the Committee;
    (iv) consider such matters as the Committee may think fit in order to scrutinise the efficiency and effectiveness of the implementation of Government policy; and
    (v) determine within six months of a General Election whether it will report on a year ending on the last day of March, August or December. Once that determination has been made, the Committee must make an annual report within six months of its year-end, unless during that period it has made an end-of term report under sub-paragraph (vi). An annual report may be in the form of a statement; and
    (vi) no sooner than three months before a Dissolution, make an endof-term report on its activities during each term of the House of Keys.
    (b) be authorised to require the attendance of Ministers for the purpose of assisting the Committee in the consideration of its terms of
    reference;
    (c) be empowered to issue directions under Standing Order 5.6(3), provided that any direction so issued shall be reported to Tynwald
    within a year;
    (d) be the Accounts Committee referred to in section 3 of the Tynwald Auditor General Act 2011, with the relevant powers and responsibilities in relation to the Tynwald Auditor General; and
    (e) be the Tynwald Public Accounts Committee referred to in section 3 of the Tynwald Commissioner for Administration Act 2011, with the relevant powers and responsibilities in relation to the Tynwald Commissioner for Administration.
    3.5 The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and any member of the Committee shall not sit when the accounts of any body of which that person is a member are being considered.
    3.6 Should the need arise in relation to a particular matter, such as a conflict of interest, Tynwald may elect an alternate member for the purpose and duration of the Committee’s consideration of that matter. Subject to paragraph 3.5, a conflicted member so replaced shall continue to serve as a member of the Committee for all other purposes.

    Standing Orders of Tynwald Court, Schedule: The Standing Committees of Tynwald (Revised Edition June 2024)

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