Importance of Manx relations to the region

I also met the Chief Minister for the Isle of Man, Alan Bell MHK. The Chief Minister reiterated his support for our area and indicated he would be supporting my application for an Enterprise Zone at White Lund.

I will keep having regular meetings with the Chief Minister as I believe it is important to keep the relationship strong between our two areas and work together wherever we are able.

I also participated in a debate on stability in Egypt. I think it is crucial the Government in Egypt are forcefully putting forward a democratic mandate in the country as stability in Egypt helps stability in the region.

It is important to recognise that Egypt has had its unique problems since the Arab spring but the Government in Egypt are pushing for stability which is only a good thing for us here in the UK and the rest of the Arab regions.

I also had a meeting with the chairman of a project who is proposing a huge transport bridge with turbines from Liverpool up towards Barrow.

It was interesting to hear from the chairman of how their idea came to being, however, as I am sure you all know there are numerous environmental protections on the Bay which have stopped this projects in the past.

Until this project can progress and I can support it I will need to see a full environmental study and this has been promised within 12 months.

It will be an interesting proposal if it can find a way to comply but at the moment it is a case of wait and see until the idea can progress further.