HM Queen Elizabeth II holds the title Lord of Man, and is ultimately responsible for the government of the Island, and all legislation passed by Tynwald has to have Royal Assent before being enacted. The Isle of Man is served by Ronaldsway Airport in the South of the Island, some eight miles from Douglas. There are regular services on at least a daily basis to London, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Dublin, Belfast, Blackpool, Liverpool and Glasgow, and services on a less frequent basis to other cities in the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands. There are no direct international links. The Island has some 800 km of road, mostly maintained to a high standard and main roads connect all the major centres of population.
Rail services are seasonal and largely provided for tourist purposes.
The Isle of Man, confronted with a decline in its two principal sources of income, agriculture and tourism, now places greater reliance upon industrial investment and its financial centre activities. The official and spoken language is English. However, owing to the Celtic origins of the Island it also has its own Gaelic language that is spoken by enthusiasts. The Island issues its own notes and currency, which are interchangeable with UK currency on the Island. TYPE OF LAW Common Law, based on English Common Law.