The reshuffle, which takes effect on 1 April, had been expected following Tynwald’s approval last month of a restructuring programme aimed at “producing greater efficiencies within government”, according to a statement on the Isle of Man Government’s website.

The creation of a Department for Economic Development is a key element in this restructuring, the statement noted. 

Announcement of the restructuring and ministerial reshuffle comes almost five months after the Isle of Man learned it would have to contend with a £90m income shortfall in its 2010/2011 budget after UK chancellor Alistair Darling unexpectedly revised the island’s 400-year-old customs revenue-sharing agreement with Britain.  The shortfall resulting from the UK’s revenue clawback rises in subsequent years to £140m. Because the island's net public spending is about £570m annually, savage cuts in public services are going to be difficult to avoid.

No new faces

In the reshuffle, only Home Affairs Ministers Adrian Earnshaw, stays where he is, but there are no new faces, Isle of Man observers note.

Anne Craine, who had been education minister, will move to the Treasury, where she will be responsible for preparing the annual budget, formerly Bell’s task.  

In a statement chief minister Brown noted that the Isle of Man was entering “an important new era in [its] political and social history”, and said the ministerial and organisational changes “will sharpen our focus on growing the economy and revenues”.

In addition to Bell and Craine’s moves, the other new ministerial appointments are: David Cretney, Community, Culture and Leisure; Eddie Teare, Education and Children; John Shimmin, Environment, Food and Agriculture; David Anderson, Health; Martyn Quayle, Social Care; and Phil Gawne, Infrastructure.

Yet to be named will be the chief executives of the various departments -- the civil servants who will work alongside the ministers in each department. These are expected to be announced within the next two weeks.