The chief minister has confirmed he will be involved in high level talks with the United Kingdom Government on the Reciprocal Health Agreement.

Health Minister Eddie Teare is due to meet his UK counterpart Andy Burnham, MP, and Tony Brown says he will also be in the Manx delegation.

Mr Teare is awaiting a formal reply to a letter to Mr Burnham last month, in which he requested a meeting to discuss the agreement.

Mr Brown says the Manx Government is happy to continue trying to persuade the UK that ending the agreement is neither party's best interests.

The UK intends to terminate the arrangement at the end of the current financial year, and Mr Brown says the signs so far haven't been encouraging (play audio file):

The Manx Government has been informally told the meeting will take place.