The Treasury Minister has told Tynwald that none of Manx National Heritage’s submissions in the past five years were resubmissions of previously unsuccessful bids.
Chris Thomas added that no further consolidated loan fund bids for the Nautical Museum had been received.
Mr Thomas set out the loan submissions made by Manx National Heritage over the last five financial years during this morning’s sitting.
He said MNH is an independent charitable trust, established by statute but not part of government, and therefore does not submit capital bids through the same process as departments, boards and offices.
Mr Thomas explained that MNH’s capital expenditure is supported primarily through repayable loan requests to the Consolidated Loans Fund, administered by Treasury under the Isle of Man Loans Act 1974.
Heritage Costs
In the past five financial years, MNH has received:
• 2022/23: three loan approvals totalling up to £530,000;
• 2023/24: six submissions, with up to £1.758m approved;
• 2024/25–2026/27: no standalone project bids, but recurring minor‑works loans of up to £400,000 each year.
None were resubmissions.
Jason Moorhouse pressed the Minister on whether a major Nautical Museum upgrade had been abandoned.
Funding Rejected
Mr Thomas said the only loans‑fund request was a £90,000 project‑development loan in 2022/23. A later £4million proposal to the Economic Strategy Fund was rejected by the board before reaching Treasury.
He added that no further Nautical Museum bids had been made to either funding route.
Mr Moorhouse also questioned whether MNH’s reported plan to sell a key asset highlighted problems with the current funding model.
Concluding his answer, Mr Thomas said: “In June this year, I’m expecting a discussion about the budget process, which includes the consolidated loans fund and capital funding bids process.
“I think the point the questioner is making is that Manx National Heritage has received minor capital works funding from the consolidated loans fund bid in the last three years and that’s factually correct. Does heritage cost? Yes.”
You can listen to the exchange below:
