The treasury minister says his department's plan for a Manx Pension Guarantee has triggered a 'national debate' but UK press attention has confused matters.

The measure, if approved by Tynwald, would mean the state pension - for those who retired after 2019 - would rise annually from April 2025 by either the preceding September’s figure for Manx CPI inflation or 2 percent, whichever is higher.

It's a bid to try and maintain the National Insurance fund which forecasts suggest will be depleted by 2047.

But in recent weeks a number of articles have appeared in the UK press stating that the Isle of Man is 'scrapping' the Triple Lock entirely.

Treasury Minister Alex Allinson returned to Manx Radio Breakfast this morning (Friday, 7 February) to address some of the questions and concerns being put his way.

An Onchan MHK says she has concerns about whether proposed changes to the Island's pension triple-lock comply with the Equality Act.

Julie Edge is set to bring a motion to the House of Keys next week in a bid to separate the proposed changes from the rest of the budget process.

On budget day, politicians vote for the entirety of the document, rather than individual elements.

Ms Edge told Christian Jones more debate is needed by politicians over what she feels could amount to 'age discrimination'.

You may remember a couple of weeks ago we spoke to Brett, Patrick and Richard.

They were about to set off on an adventure of a lifetime, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

It was all to raise money for Looky's Aid - a charity set up in memory of their son, brother and friend Lucas Martin.

He was just 21 when he died suddenly of meningitis.

They've now returned from Africa and have been telling Amy Griffiths how they got on:

The farming community is one that generally goes quietly about its critically important role. But, there are many issues which are making their work more challenging. Simon Richardson caught up with MNFU General Secretary, Sarah Comish, to find out more.

Manx Deaf Society puts spotlight on condition that affects 1 in 7 of us

Plans to increase the Island's Minimum Wage in two phases this year have been revised.

The original proposal, announced last month, would have seen the rate increase from £11.45 per hour to £12.25 from 1 April, and then up to £13.05 from 1 October.

Now, however that second planned uplift is to be put on hold.

It means Tynwald will only be asked to approve the single increase up to £12.25 from April.

The Department for Enterprise and Treasury says the decision to defer the second increase - which would've aligned the Minimum Wage with the Living Wage - follows feedback from industry and a range of representatives.

Instead, the department says it will 'prioritise a review into the current methodology of agreeing proposals in respect of the Minimum Wage and its link with the Living Wage, with the aim to report on findings to Tynwald in July 2025.'

In this edition of Newscast, Enterprise Minister Tim Johnston speaks to Sian Cowper about the new proposals and why aligning the Minimum Wage with the Living Wage is still the direction of government.

The chief minister says there 'clearly' needs to be a rethink on how policies and their impacts are communicated to the public.

Alfred Cannan has been speaking to Manx Radio following this week's revelation of further cuts within Manx Care.

In this Newscast he talks to Siobhán Fletcher about those cuts, government response and whether or not he'll be calling for the health minister to resign.

Manx Care has denied attempting to ‘gag’ its staff from speaking out over cuts being made in the health service.

It says no specific directive has been issued instructing them not to discuss the current reduction in services.

Earlier this week Douglas East MHK Joney Faragher had planned to ask an urgent question in the House of Keys about planned cuts to services.

However this did not go ahead due to the absence of Health and Social Care Minister Claire Christian.

Ms Faragher told Manx Radio the ‘information vacuum’ about off-Island surgery was ‘unforgivable’: