Julie Edge MHK has questioned the use of more than £280million in Treasury approved funding after analysis showed only a small share reached frontline services.
The figures, released in response to a written question, cover 311 separate bids submitted by departments and ministers between 2021/22 and 2026/27.
According to the breakdown, around £280.3 million was approved across ten spending categories.
Not Frontline
The Onchan MHK said the data showed that just 3.8% of the total went to frontline health and social care delivery, with a further 3.6% directed to capital and infrastructure projects.
By contrast, the largest allocations were for economic stimulus and enterprise support (21.2%), Covid‑19 recovery (15.9%) and climate, energy and environmental schemes (15.4%). Around 13.2% was categorised as structural subsidies or “bail‑outs”.
She said the findings raised questions at a time when waiting lists were growing, families were struggling to access support and schools were under pressure.
She also highlighted that roughly 40% of the total spend related to what she described as “prop‑up” or recurring support funding.
Ms Edge said the key issue was ensuring that Treasury approvals translated into real‑world improvements, adding: “The question now is what this £280 million has actually delivered on the ground for the people of the island.”
The full written answer can be found here.
