The tourism minister has assured Tynwald his department’s budget is now under control.

Unexpected increases in costs during last year’s TT and Manx Grand Prix, as well as rising fuel prices, are cited as the main reasons for an overspend.

However, Martyn Quayle (pictured) says the picture is now much healthier.

He told Manx Radio:

"Decisive action has been taken over the last two or three months to ensure that, as far as is practicably possible, we will bring the department's spending in under the amounts allocated.

"It will be very tight, we are having to look at the expenditure very, very carefully and we have had to 'hack away' at various cost headings within the department, simply to deal with this massive problem."

More on Wednesday's Mandate.