THE political embarrassment over the bus timetable fiasco has raised its head again in Tynwald this morning with East Douglas MHK Brenda Cannell making a statement to the chamber over her part in the controversy.

Mrs Cannell was granted permission by President of Tynwald Noel Cringle to make a statement over her involvement in the issuing of a new bus timetable which was eventually withdrawn after massive public opposition.

A Tynwald question during the debate asked about “whose fingerprints” were on the documents which led to the new timetable and its subsequent withdrawal.

Mrs Cannell said, “I wish to state for the public record that they are not my fingerprints.  For the sake of accuracy my delegated responsibility was limited to holding monthly meetings with the Public Transport Division.

She added, “I was told I would receive a draft of the new timetable to review before it went to print. However, I did not see a draft of the new bus timetable. I was told there was not sufficient time for me to see it.”

Regarding the cost to government of the new timetable, which was also mentioned in a Tynwald question, Mrs Cannell said that she had been told that the timetables would cost 10p per copy and that 35,000 copies would be printed. “However, I eventually found out that the 35,000 timetables were printed, but at an approximate cost of 40p per copy not 10p a copy as told to Tynwald court.”

President of Tynwald Noel Cringle interrupted Mrs Cannell to remind her to keep to the statement when she mentioned that Tynwald had been “misinformed”. Mr Cringle said, “You have been granted permission to make a statement; please keep to that and do not enter into making comments about the situation.”