Cabinet Office
610 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 24.1%
The Freedom of Information requests to the Isle of Man Cabinet Office reveal an authority that is generally cooperative regarding historical data, spending totals, and employment statistics, but fiercely protective of its internal deliberative processes and contingency planning. A clear pattern emerges where the government readily discloses the *cost* of its actions—such as the £425,000 legal retainer for Lansons (464233) or the £57,000 paid to John Barrett QC (1001057)—while withholding the *strategy* behind them. This is most evident in the Brexit cluster, where documents on 'Operation Yellowhammer' (937314) and food supply chains (984789) were entirely exempted, suggesting a 'need-to-know' approach to national security and economic stability that overrides public transparency.
Key Cases
Case 937314 — The complete refusal to disclose any documents regarding 'Operation Yellowhammer' (No-Deal Brexit contingency) is a critical case. It reveals the government's decision to keep its most sensitive emergency planning entirely hidden from public scrutiny, citing exemptions that prevent any insight into how the island prepared for a potential economic and logistical collapse.
Case 464233 — This case disclosed a massive £425,000 annual retainer for the law firm Lansons, plus an additional £70,000 for 'international scrutiny.' It highlights the significant financial burden of legal defense and reputation management on the public purse, likely linked to the island's financial crime investigations.
Case 354247 — The disclosure of the Cabinet Office paper regarding the UK Investigatory Powers Bill is notable for its intersection of national security and local legislation. It shows the Isle of Man's active role in shaping its own surveillance laws in alignment with the UK, raising questions about privacy and state powers.
Case 1001057 — Revealing that John Barrett QC was paid over £57,000 for a single planning inquiry (the East Area Plan) underscores the high cost of independent legal advice in government planning. It connects to a broader narrative of expensive external consultants being used to navigate complex land-use disputes.
Case 354255 — The full release of the 'Beamans Report' on modernizing ministerial government is significant because it provides a rare, unredacted look at internal critiques of senior management structures. Unlike many policy papers, this was fully disclosed, offering a benchmark for what transparency looks like when the government is willing to share reform documents.
Related FOI Stories
Brexit Contingency and Border Security — #354247, #358517, #354299, #354301, #354303
Legal Costs and High-Profile Appointments — #354269, #354289, #354291, #464233, #980113
Government Transparency and Policy Formulation — #354255, #354267, #354309, #354357, #357735
Public Sector Employment and Workforce Data — #354221, #354313, #354315, #354321, #354327
Ministerial Conduct and Travel Expenses — #354249, #354287, #354305, #357737, #622865
All (610)
Information not held (171) ·
All information sent (147) ·
Some information sent but not all held (110) ·
Some information sent but part exempt (95) ·
No information sent - all held but exempt (31) ·
Not upheld (25) ·
Upheld - partial (10) ·
Upheld - full (6) ·
Not required to fulfill request (4) ·
Decision Notice - Complaint not upheld (3) ·
Request lapsed - requested information not provided (2) ·
Decision Notice - Complaint part upheld (2) ·
Withdrawn (1) ·
Vexatious request (1) ·
Information Notice (1) ·
Decision Notice - Complaint upheld (1) ·
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-03 | Information on the Lease between Orsted and Isle of Man Government | Information not held |
| A request was made for documents regarding the 2015 seabed lease between the Isle of Man Government and DONG Energy (now Ørsted) for the Mooir Vannin offshore wind project, including financial terms and amendments. The Cabinet Office responded that the requested information is not held. | ||
| 2026-03-03 | one-time and recurring expenses for software and software licenses | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for 2025 software expenses including one-time purchases, recurring licenses, and external assistance costs for all government departments. The Cabinet Office disclosed that no one-time purchases were made, but provided specific figures for recurring software expenses and external assistance costs. | ||
| 2026-02-17 | Government Transformation Team - wireless network | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request for detailed technical specifications and maintenance records regarding the wireless network at Castle Rushen High School was partially fulfilled, with the Cabinet Office disclosing only that it supports RF-emitting devices like computers and phones, while stating it does not hold records on installation, standards, or future plans. | ||
| 2026-02-17 | Reports missing online | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for missing mortality, cancer, and outbreak surveillance reports and data tables to be uploaded and provided. The Cabinet Office disclosed the location of the 2023 Mortality Report and publication schedules but confirmed that 2024 reports, specific data tables for 2021-2023, and reports for 2015-2016 do not exist or have not been created. | ||
| 2026-02-17 | Equality Council | Information not held |
| The requester asked for details regarding the Tynwald Equality Consultative Council, including its remit, minutes, and membership. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold the information because the relevant section of the Equality Act 2017 establishing the council has not yet been brought into operation. | ||
| 2026-02-03 | Letters between External Relations, and the UK Ministry of Justice | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request for correspondence between the Isle of Man Cabinet Office and the UK Ministry of Justice regarding the Assisted Dying Bill was refused as all information was held but exempt under international relations provisions. While the specific letters were withheld, the authority provided links to a summary letter to Tynwald Members and upcoming Hansard records as an alternative. | ||
| 2026-02-03 | Correspondence between External Relations and the BMA | Information not held |
| A request was made for correspondence between the Isle of Man Cabinet Office's External Relations and the British Medical Association regarding the Assisted Dying Bill since February 2025. The authority responded that no such information is held as no correspondence took place during that period. | ||
| 2026-02-02 | Get Online Centre | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought comprehensive cost, usage, and governance data for the Isle of Man's Get Online Centre, but the response only disclosed a partial document detailing the project's funding history and revised cost estimates due to pandemic delays. | ||
| 2026-01-21 | Conferences | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought itemised lists of all purchases made by Isle of Man officials at the 2024 Labour and Conservative Party Conferences. The Cabinet Office provided partial information regarding travel, accommodation, and conference passes, but withheld specific meal details and personal data under exemptions. | ||
| 2026-01-02 | Overseas Aid | Not upheld |
| The requester asked for an organizational chart, salary maximas, and senior staff names for a non-existent 'Overseas Aid Division' within the Cabinet Office. The authority clarified that no such division exists, but provided a chart for the External Relations Team and noted that only one Executive Officer primarily handles International Development policy. | ||
| 2026-01-01 | costal erosion line a new request | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought internal Cabinet Office records regarding the coastal erosion line for Kirk Michael in the Draft Area Plan for the North & West. The authority provided partial information, including a 2021 email discussing the Coastline Management Zone and excerpts from a 2016 JBA Consulting report on flood risks. | ||
| 2025-12-31 | Move from Microsoft Exchange Unified Messaging to Cisco Unity | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for details regarding the migration of voicemail services from Microsoft Exchange to Cisco Unity, including costs and decision documents. The authority disclosed an options paper outlining the technical rationale and migration strategy but withheld specific cost figures and internal correspondence. | ||
| 2025-12-30 | Human trafficking | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Cabinet Office for details regarding a human trafficking case involving 17 counts, including victim numbers, accommodation costs, and social security expenses. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold the requested information and directed the requester to the Treasury and the Isle of Man Constabulary. | ||
| 2025-12-12 | Calf of Man general election voting provision | Information not held |
| The requester asked about planned polling station provisions for the Calf of Man for the September 2026 General Election, but the Cabinet Office stated it does not hold this specific information. | ||
| 2025-11-18 | costal erosion line | Not upheld |
| The requester sought maps, criteria, property lists, and reports regarding the coastal erosion line in Kirk Michael for the Draft Area Plan. The Cabinet Office disclosed that the map and supporting reports are publicly available online, while stating they do not hold the criteria or property lists, directing the requester to the Department of Infrastructure. | ||
| 2025-11-05 | Western Amenity Site Monthly Running Accounts. | Information not held |
| A request was made for monthly running accounts for the Western Amenity Site, but the Cabinet Office responded that the information is not held by them. | ||
| 2025-10-28 | Territorial Seas - UK's response to Chief Minister's request | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought correspondence between the Isle of Man Chief Minister and the UK Government regarding the territorial sea median line and EEZ from May 2024 onwards. The response disclosed internal Isle of Man emails from January and February 2024 discussing the drafting and potential release of a letter to the UK Ministry of Justice, though the outcome was noted as partially exempt. | ||
| 2025-10-13 | Moving to the Isle of Man | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Cabinet Office for statistics on people moving to the Isle of Man citing the TT as a reason and the most common reason for relocation. The authority responded that it does not hold this information and suggested contacting the Department for Enterprise instead. | ||
| 2025-10-08 | Civil service credit cards | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Isle of Man Cabinet Office for data on the number of government procurement cards in circulation and total spending on them from 2019 to 2024. The authority responded that it does not hold this information and directed the requester to contact The Treasury instead. | ||
| 2025-10-07 | public consultation dates | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for metadata and dates regarding public consultations from 2024 to date, specifically mentioning the Legal Aid Bill 2025. The Cabinet Office responded that no consultation on the Legal Aid Bill 2025 has occurred and does not hold the specific date records requested, but provided the standard pro forma used to initiate consultations. | ||
| 2025-10-06 | Advice provided by OHR | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for all correspondence between the Office of Human Resources and Castletown Town Commissioners from May 2025 to October 2025. The Cabinet Office released some information but withheld personal data under an absolute exemption. | ||
| 2025-10-03 | External Advice | All information sent |
| 2025-09-30 | Office of Human Resources - selection procedure | All information sent |
| The request sought details on the Isle of Man Government's recruitment and selection procedures, specifically regarding the role of the Office of Human Resources (OHR), AI usage, and shortlisting criteria. The response disclosed that hiring panels review all applications, no AI is used for selection, and OHR only performs pre-sift reviews for a small number of senior roles. | ||
| 2025-09-08 | Manx residents/visitors serving in the IDF? | Information not held |
| The requester asked the Cabinet Office for details on systems to identify Manx residents serving in the IDF and the legal mechanisms to prosecute them. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold this information and suggested contacting the Customs and Immigration Division instead. | ||
| 2025-09-02 | 2011 & 2016 Census Occupation Data | Information not held |
| The requester asked for raw job title data from the 2011 and 2016 Isle of Man Censuses, but the Cabinet Office responded that this information is not held. | ||
| 2025-09-02 | Meningitis | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought details about a single meningitis case reported in September 2022 and the notification procedures for Manx Care and schools. The Cabinet Office withheld specific case details as personal data under an absolute exemption but provided the general regulatory framework for disease notification. | ||
| 2025-08-27 | CO MEMO to Planning Inspector AP25/0003 | Upheld - partial |
| The request sought drafts, circulation details, and meeting records regarding a Cabinet Office memo on housing need for Planning Appeal AP25/0003. The authority partially upheld the request by disclosing a detailed summary update on residential approval data, land supply, and housing projections from 2011 to 2025. | ||
| 2025-08-26 | Camlorke Planning Appeal AP25/0003 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought all notes, emails, and letters attached to the distribution of the Inspector's report for Planning Appeal AP25/0003. The Cabinet Office disclosed the email sent to the Minister of the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture but withheld other information citing exemptions for personal data. | ||
| 2025-08-21 | Due Diligence report on the purchase of the Steam Packet boat the Manx | Information not held |
| A request was made for the due diligence report regarding the purchase of the Steam Packet boat 'Manxman', but the Cabinet Office confirmed it does not hold this information. | ||
| 2025-08-13 | Information regarding controller / processor relationship(s) for PiP | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought the Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) and documents identifying controller/processor relationships for the PiP payroll system. The authority provided a partial response containing risk assessments and mitigation strategies from the DPIA, though some information was withheld under exemptions. | ||
| 2025-08-12 | Asylum seekers | Information not held |
| The requester asked for statistics on asylum seekers, benefits, housing, and deportations in the Isle of Man. The Cabinet Office responded that no information is held because the Isle of Man lacks the legislative framework to process asylum claims, meaning no asylum seekers are present. | ||
| 2025-08-11 | Public health | All information sent |
| A request was made for monthly meningitis case statistics reported to public health between 2021 and 2022. The Cabinet Office disclosed that only one case was reported during this entire period, occurring in September 2022. | ||
| 2025-08-05 | Staff networks | All information sent |
| The requester asked for a list of all staff networks within the Isle of Man civil service, similar to those in the UK. The Cabinet Office responded that it holds information only for its own department, disclosing two recently established networks focused on wellbeing and carbon reduction. | ||
| 2025-08-05 | Welfare | All information sent |
| The request sought statistics on staff contacting welfare services in the Isle of Man public sector over the last three years, broken down by department. The Cabinet Office disclosed total assessment numbers and a departmental breakdown, noting that smaller departments were grouped to protect anonymity. | ||
| 2025-07-16 | New employment positions created in last five years | All information sent |
| The request sought data on new government employment positions created over the last five financial years, specifically asking for a departmental breakdown. The Cabinet Office disclosed that precise data on 'new' roles versus amended roles is not captured, but provided tables showing the net increase in open positions by department for each financial year from 2020 to 2025. | ||
| 2025-07-15 | OHR: Copy of Principal Clinical Psychologist JD & PS | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the job description and person specification for a Principal Clinical Psychologist position advertised in December 2015, along with confirmation of appointment. The Cabinet Office disclosed all requested information, providing the full job description and person specification documents. | ||
| 2025-07-08 | Fairness at Work upheld complaints | Not upheld |
| The requester asked for details regarding disciplinary actions and personal attributes of employees involved in four upheld Fairness at Work complaints between 2021 and 2025. The Cabinet Office refused to disclose any information, citing an absolute exemption for personal data under the Freedom of Information Act 2015. | ||
| 2025-06-12 | GTS Staff Recruitment and Rention | All information sent |
| The request sought a five-year breakdown of Government Trading Services (GTS) recruitment advertisements, staff departures, and failed hiring attempts. The Cabinet Office disclosed all requested data, providing annual figures for advertised positions, total leavers, and specific instances where vacancies were not filled in the first round. | ||
| 2025-06-02 | Extension of the Paris Agreement to IOM | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought documents regarding the Isle of Man's extension of the Paris Agreement, including formal requests, internal correspondence, and impact assessments. The authority released a confidential paper dated February 2021 detailing the background and current position, though the outcome indicates some information was withheld under exemptions. | ||
| 2025-06-02 | CPI and RPI line Items - December 2021 to April 2025 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for updated CPI and RPI line item indices from December 2021 to April 2025, along with specific weighting data. The Cabinet Office provided the index data but refused the weighting request under Section 20 of the Act, citing that the information was already reasonably accessible via a previous FOI response. | ||
| 2025-05-29 | Chief Officer Group minutes | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought unredacted Chief Officer Group minutes from 2011 to 2025 and documentation regarding an unpublished policy decision to cease publishing these minutes. The Cabinet Office provided some information, including specific meeting minutes from December 2011, but withheld other requested details, resulting in a partial exemption outcome. | ||
| 2025-05-28 | Onshore wind farms | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought minutes and records from the Energy Policy Board regarding onshore wind farm development, to which the Cabinet Office responded by releasing a confidential paper noting a Treasury Major Projects Board review of the Manx Utilities Cair Vie project. | ||
| 2025-05-27 | Public Service Payroll and Overpayment Recovery Policy | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought the official government policy on salary overpayment recovery and statistical data on employees asked to repay overpayments in the last five years. The Cabinet Office provided the policy document but withheld specific employee statistics citing an absolute exemption for personal data. | ||
| 2025-05-21 | Details of upheld bullying grievances across the Government | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought details on preventive actions and the number of upheld bullying grievances in the Isle of Man Government between January 2021 and May 2025. The Cabinet Office disclosed that only four cases were recorded as 'upheld' in their central HR system, noting that not all data is held centrally and some cases are resolved informally. | ||
| 2025-05-19 | KWC Engagement with the Chief Minister | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought all correspondence between King William's College and the Chief Minister from September 2022 to the present, resulting in the disclosure of two documents regarding event invitations and attendance confirmations. | ||
| 2025-05-19 | Investigation Officer | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2025-05-16 | Communications with Serco | All information sent |
| The requester asked the Isle of Man Cabinet Office about communications with Serco Group Plc and any resulting policies or legislation. The authority disclosed one unsolicited marketing newsletter received in October 2024 but confirmed no direct communications, policy impacts, or legislative influence occurred. | ||
| 2025-05-12 | Immigrants | All information sent |
| The requester asked if the Palace Hotel and Sefton Hotel were housing legal or illegal immigrants. The Cabinet Office responded by providing a media statement confirming that the Isle of Man cannot process UK asylum applications or house individuals awaiting UK immigration decisions. | ||
| 2025-04-29 | Consultation of charging people to access information that they own | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought Council papers and meeting extracts regarding the consultation on charging fees for Freedom of Information requests. The Cabinet Office disclosed minutes from July 2024 and February 2025 meetings where the proposal was discussed and agreed in principle, though the response indicates some information was withheld. | ||
| 2025-04-25 | FOI Reviews with the Information Commissioner | Information not held |
| The requester asked for a detailed list of 26 outstanding FOI review cases held by the Information Commissioner, including case numbers and titles. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold this specific information, as only summary statistics were provided to the Chief Minister, and advised contacting the Information Commissioner directly. | ||
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