Cabinet Office
171 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 86.0%
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 (171)
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. | ||
| 2026-02-17 | 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 | 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2025-11-05 | 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. | ||
| 2025-10-13 | 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. | ||
| 2025-09-08 | 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. | ||
| 2025-08-21 | 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. | ||
| 2025-08-12 | 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. | ||
| 2025-04-25 | 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. | ||
| 2025-04-15 | Copy correspondence between Mr Bob Ringham & UK OPCAT | Information not held |
| The requester sought correspondence regarding OPCAT protocols and the use of the Comis Hotel as a quarantine facility involving Mr Bob Ringham and Isle of Man officials. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold the requested information but directed the requester to an independent review by Kate Brunner, KC. | ||
| 2025-04-11 | Cost for hire of tankers | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Cabinet Office for the cost of hiring Bridman tankers used by Manx Utilities for sewage transfer over the last four years. The Cabinet Office responded that they do not hold this information and advised the requester to contact Manx Utilities directly. | ||
| 2025-03-25 | Human resources policies | Information not held |
| A request was made for policies and employee counts regarding service and emotional support animals within the Isle of Man Government. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold this specific information, noting that the Public Services Commission has a general Pets at Work Policy that excludes these categories. | ||
| 2025-03-25 | DoI MHK | Information not held |
| The requester asked the Cabinet Office for the number of emails received in support of 20mph zones and general context. The Cabinet Office responded that they do not hold this information and suggested contacting the Department of Infrastructure instead. | ||
| 2025-03-25 | Cost of House of Keys and tynwald questions | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the average cost of researching parliamentary questions and the number of questions asked by Jason Moorhouse MHK. The Cabinet Office stated it does not hold cost data as officers do not account for time in that manner, but directed the requester to the Clerk of Tynwald for the question count. | ||
| 2025-03-20 | Correspondence between the UK Ministry of Justice and Peter Boxer 2020 | Information not held |
| The requester asked for correspondence between Peter Boxer and the UK Ministry of Justice regarding 2020 events at Abbotswood nursing home. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold the requested information. | ||
| 2025-03-19 | Election Eligibility | Information not held |
| A request was made for correspondence regarding candidate eligibility between the Cabinet Office and Port Erin Commissioners from January 2022 to April 2025. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold the requested information, noting that such queries are often resolved via unrecorded telephone calls. | ||
| 2025-03-04 | Bonus Payments | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Cabinet Office for details on bonus payments made to Manx Care staff since its inception. The authority responded that it does not hold this information as no such payments are recorded in their payroll or terms and conditions. | ||
| 2025-02-20 | Legal Aid Provided, Cost and Time Frame For Court Proceedings | Information not held |
| The requester asked the Cabinet Office for statistics on legal aid recipients, costs, and court timeframes for the 2023-2024 tax year. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold this information and directed the requester to contact The Treasury instead. | ||
| 2025-02-03 | Freedom to Flourish | Information not held |
| A request was made for the backing track 'Ellan Vannin' from the 'Freedom to Flourish' government video, but the Cabinet Office confirmed they do not hold the audio file or specific details. | ||
| 2025-01-20 | Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) | Information not held |
| A request was made for records of correspondence received from the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) between October 2023 and January 2025. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold the requested information. | ||
| 2024-12-03 | Cost of painting IOM Courts of Justice. | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Cabinet Office for the costs associated with painting the exterior of the Courts of Justice buildings in 2024. The authority responded that they do not hold this information and advised the requester to contact the Department of Infrastructure instead. | ||
| 2024-11-18 | MT buyout | Information not held |
| A request was made for all correspondence held by Minister Kate Lord-Brennan regarding Manx Telecom's offer for the Isle of Man Government to buy out the provider. The Cabinet Office responded that they do not hold the requested information. | ||
| 2024-10-10 | Immigration / | Information not held |
| A request for data on work permits, benefits for non-EU immigrants, and refugee status statistics was submitted to the Isle of Man Cabinet Office. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information, noting that work permits and benefits are managed by other departments and that the Isle of Man cannot grant refugee status. | ||
| 2024-10-01 | New definitions, nouns or terms describing immigrants and/or migrants | Information not held |
| The requester asked the Isle of Man Cabinet Office for instructions on terminology for migrants and related correspondence with the UK Government. The authority responded that it does not hold any such information, as no specific instructions or internal discussions on these terms exist within the department. | ||
| 2024-09-17 | Dates & costs of briefings for Tynwald members | Information not held |
| The requester asked for dates, topics, and catering costs of briefings for Tynwald Members held by the Cabinet Office in the last 24 months. The authority disclosed that briefing details are publicly available online and confirmed a minimum catering spend of £1,469.25 by the Department. | ||
| 2024-09-03 | UK Government and immigration | Information not held |
| A request was made for data on UK Government immigration quotas, housing statistics for immigrants, and specific housing plans in the Isle of Man. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold the requested information, though it noted it publishes general emergency housing numbers without residency specifics. | ||
| 2024-09-03 | Use of off-Island recruitment agencies | Information not held |
| 2024-08-26 | Fire service pit lane duties | Information not held |
| A request was made for details on the Isle of Man Fire & Rescue Service's tendering and billing costs for pit lane coverage at the TT and MGP events over the past five years. The Cabinet Office responded that they do not hold this information and directed the requester to the Department for Enterprise and the Department of Home Affairs. | ||
| 2024-08-19 | Tynwald Expenses | Information not held |
| 2024-08-06 | Immigration | Information not held |
| A request for detailed immigration statistics, spending data, and illegal immigrant estimates for the Isle of Man was submitted to the Cabinet Office. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information and directed the applicant to the Treasury and Department for Enterprise. | ||
| 2024-08-02 | OHR - Covid Secondment | Information not held |
| A request was made for details on the number of OHR staff seconded during the COVID-19 lockdown and the duration of their redeployment. The Cabinet Office responded that this information is not held as staff were assigned duties on an ad-hoc basis without specific records. | ||
| 2024-07-31 | Copies of Minutes of Meetings | Information not held |
| The requester asked for meeting minutes from the last three years regarding a proposed runway extension at Jurby and a list of recipients, but the Cabinet Office confirmed it does not hold this information. | ||
| 2024-07-29 | Public Services Commission | Information not held |
| The requester asked for correspondence regarding the Public Services Commission, its pay offers, and union negotiations involving specific ministers. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold the information because the Public Services Commission is a separate public authority and the correspondence is held on its behalf. | ||
| 2024-06-04 | market Rating exercise completion date and back dated pay | Information not held |
| The requester asked the Cabinet Office for details on market rating exercise completion dates and backdated pay for Department of Infrastructure roles under the JEGS 2017 scheme. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold this information and directed the requester to contact the Public Services Commission instead. | ||
| 2024-05-21 | National Insurance holidays | Information not held |
| A request was made for data on National Insurance holiday costs and beneficiary counts for the Department of Education, Sport and Culture and all departments since 2017-2018. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold this information and suggested contacting The Treasury instead. | ||
| 2024-05-21 | GIS mapping layer of National Trust properties | Information not held |
| A request was made for a GIS mapping layer of land held by the Manx Museum & National Trust, but the Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold the information as it is managed by Government Technology Services on behalf of Manx National Heritage. | ||
| 2024-04-23 | political asylum claims due to Isle of Man Government corruption | Information not held |
| The requester asked for statistics on political asylum claims by Isle of Man residents against the government due to corruption for 2021-2023, but the Cabinet Office responded that no such information is held because asylum claims cannot be made within the Isle of Man. | ||
| 2024-02-12 | Call Recording in GP Practices and ARC Call Handling Systems | Information not held |
| 2024-01-16 | markets rating for PSC skills zone 4&5 | Information not held |
| 2024-01-10 | Absence from work procedure | Information not held |
| 2023-12-20 | CRHS | Information not held |
| 2023-12-12 | information for university degree | Information not held |
| 2023-12-05 | Castletown house | Information not held |
| 2023-11-28 | Fuel prices | Information not held |
| 2023-11-15 | Refugees and work permits | Information not held |
| 2023-10-30 | Energy Policy Board | Information not held |
| The requester asked for details on staffing positions, hours, grades, and budgets for the Energy Policy Board Secretariat and external experts. The Cabinet Office responded that the specific information was not held, though they provided context that secretariat duties are part of existing roles and a £500,000 funding request is pending Treasury approval. | ||
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