The Legislative Council takes centre stage today (Tuesday), with the principles of the Abortion Reform Bill due to be discussed by the upper chamber for the first time.

If you need to find a counterpoint to the high-speed and largely behind-closed-doors decision-making of politicians with regards to buying the Steam Packet - done and dusted last week before the public had chance to draw breath - it is the long, careful and very public scrutiny of Dr Alex Allinson’s proposals to relax the island’s restrictive abortion laws.

We can expect more of the same as Bill Henderson puts forward the bill for a first reading in Legislative Council. Unlike in the House of Keys, where a first reading is purely a formality with no debate, there can be discussion of a bill at the first reading stage in Legislative Council.

Many eyes will be on Attorney General John Quinn to see if he will offer any legal opinion on some of the issues raised in the House of Keys, ranging from human rights implications to the bill’s definition of ’health’. Mr Quinn could opt to wait until the more detailed second reading and clauses stage.

Bishop Peter Eagles’ views as the bill progresses will also be watched with interest.

While there may well be amendments made to address legal and technical issues with the bill, it would be astonishing if the Legislative Council voted to oppose the political will of the House of Keys on any of the substantive measures. Such action would probably speed up calls for the abolition of the unelected upper chamber.

Supporters of change - which will allow abortion upon request up to 14 weeks and sets out the circumstances when abortion would be permitted in the 15- to 24-week period, as well as emergency circumstances after that - are hoping the Legislative Council will adopt a role of technical and legal scrutineer.

Before MLCs even reach consideration of abortion reform, the Central Registry Bill, which will create - you guessed it - a central registry, is due a third reading.

Kerry Sharpe will also ask what plans are in place to ensure gender-neutral language is used in new legislation.

The House of Keys may, for once, be happy to be sit in the shadow of the Legislative Council. There are just four questions down for answer and no bills to scrutinise.

Those questions cover gynaecological mesh implants, the sale of the Middlemarch site, civil service posts to deal with Brexit and healthy activities in schools.

Such a short agenda means that MHKs may well be finished in time to pop up and watch the MLCs in action.

Just as long as they leave a space on the press bench â?¦