Sir Alan Beith MP, Chair of the Justice Committee.

The Justice Select Committee inquiry examined the relationship between the Crown Dependencies and the UK and highlighted a lack of consultation on issues such as the RHA.

‘The fault appears to lie primarily with the Department of Health but we are left with the clear impression that the Ministry of Justice failed to take responsibility for intervening to ensure that a proper procedure was followed.

‘It is simply unacceptable that the Isle of Man be told, without warning, at a meeting on 1 July 2008, that the agreement would be terminated.’

The committee said the issue was not the decision itself but the way in which the proposal was developed, considered and executed.

It said the Isle of Man’s case was a good example of how relations between the Crown Dependencies and the UK could be badly damaged by insensitive handling of an important issue, with many islanders having strong UK links.

Justice Select Committee chairman Sir Alan Beith, pictured, said after the report’s publication that the extension of the Isle of Man’s agreement by six months was in part due to evidence sought through the inquiry.

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