The Treasury Minister's budget speech will include reference to the money the Isle of Man receives from V.A.T. through the customs agreement with the United Kingdom.

Indirect taxation now accounts for about 70 per cent of the Manx government's annual income, and Allan Bell says the Island must be very protective of such an important source of revenue.

He is also expected to make some provision for the government pension deficit, although he denies there is any sort of crisis (audio file attached):

With a growth rate of around eight per cent over the past 12 months, Treasury Minister Allan Bell is delighted with the performance of the Manx economy (audio file attached):

You can hear the whole of the 2007 Budget debate, starting with the Treasury Minister's speech to Tynwald, on our AM frequency of 1368, from shortly after 10.30 this morning.