The Chief Minister is defending the new system of performance based pay increases for the Island's senior civil servants.

Tony Brown accepts there is discomfort among his political colleagues, but says he was as concerned as anybody until he appreciated the benefits.

He is stressing that, under the new system, holders of top positions will have to earn any increased rewards:

Mr Brown was speaking before a debate in Tynwald this week which saw an attempt to cancel the formation of the so called "Corporate Leadership Group" fail by the narrowest of margins.



(Images, left to right: The legislative buildings and central government offices, from manxscenes.com; government crest; Chief Minister, Tony Brown).