Cabinet Office
110 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 133.6%
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 (110)
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 | 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2025-05-27 | 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. | ||
| 2025-03-25 | Meeting with Chief Executive of IOMG | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought questions, minutes, and communications regarding a March 2025 meeting between the Public Services Commission Chair and the Isle of Man Government Chief Executive. The authority disclosed the list of prepared questions but indicated that not all requested information was held. | ||
| 2025-01-20 | Part time employment | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the total number of part-time employees and zero-hour contract workers across the Isle of Man government. The Cabinet Office disclosed that it does not hold data for the entire government but provided figures for 21 specific departments and offices, excluding the judiciary and elected officials. | ||
| 2025-01-07 | Legal Aid Case Management System project | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the project specification and timeline status of the Legal Aid Case Management System, but the Cabinet Office disclosed only that it holds no signed-off definition documents and that the project is listed as 'on hold' in internal records. | ||
| 2025-01-02 | Pay Negotiations | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought attendance records for former Public Services Commission Chair Kate Lord-Brennan regarding union pay negotiations and other meetings between September 2021 and December 2024. The authority disclosed that she attended 5 pay negotiation meetings and 4 other direct meetings with unions, while noting that earlier negotiations were officer-led and the Chair was not present. | ||
| 2024-11-26 | Equality Impact Assessments & Related Training | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought details on the rollout of Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) toolkits, training records, and a list of completed EIAs since 2023 for the Cabinet Office and other departments. The Cabinet Office clarified it only holds information for itself and centrally recorded training, subsequently disclosing EIA workshop materials and screening templates while noting it does not hold EIA lists for other departments. | ||
| 2024-11-20 | How many people will be affected by the withdraw of cash paid pension | Some information sent but not all held |
| The IOM WI requested specific numbers and locations of pensioners receiving cash payments ahead of the MiCard service withdrawal in December 2025. The Cabinet Office disclosed that approximately 1,000 pensioners use the service but confirmed it does not hold data regarding their specific localities. | ||
| 2024-11-05 | Return to work salaries | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought salary costs for workers on phased return to work over the last 8 years, but the Cabinet Office could only provide data from April 2018 onwards due to system limitations. The response disclosed total costs for 2018-2024 based on full pay assumptions, noting that not all phased returns were captured in the records. | ||
| 2024-10-10 | Posts created in Manx Care | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the number and cost of non-clinical posts graded HEO and above created in Manx Care since its inception, specifically focusing on PSC terms at Noble's Hospital. The Cabinet Office disclosed data on new position reference numbers and FTE changes between April 2021 and October 2024 but noted it could not distinguish between genuinely new posts and amendments to existing roles. | ||
| 2024-09-03 | Contracted expert on communications | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought details on a contracted communications expert, including their name, brief, tender process, and costs. The Cabinet Office disclosed the consultant's name, the scope of work, and current costs, but withheld specific tender details citing a procurement exemption. | ||
| 2024-08-16 | Ukraine Refugees | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought data on Ukrainian refugees, conflict-related entries, and associated costs in the Isle of Man since 2024. The Cabinet Office disclosed visa numbers and scheme costs but noted it does not hold data on asylum seekers or spending by other departments. | ||
| 2024-07-30 | Deaths in Noble's Hospital Calendar Month By Month From 1st Jan 2019 | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for monthly data on deaths, COVID-19 deaths, ventilation numbers, and Remdesivir usage at Noble's Hospital from 2019 to July 2024. The Cabinet Office provided mortality data for 2019-2023 and COVID-related deaths but stated they do not hold 2024 mortality data or the requested clinical treatment statistics. | ||
| 2024-07-29 | Information related to the proposed runway at Jurby | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request for details regarding the drafting of plans for the proposed Jurby runway was partially fulfilled by the Cabinet Office, which identified the responsible department but stated it did not hold information on staff qualifications, terms of reference, or instruction dates. | ||
| 2024-03-11 | Cost of Public Health Fluoride research paper. | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2024-02-26 | Statistical information related to the Finance Sector | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2024-02-21 | Incidence of Glioblastoma | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2024-02-08 | Covid deaths | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2024-01-30 | Total Deaths of 'Manx' People in 2023 | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2024-01-17 | WHO 2021 donation follow up | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-11-10 | Working hours and pay policies | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-11-07 | DHSC work permits | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-10-16 | Yellow card data, who reviewed it | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought correspondence and governance details regarding Yellow Card data and COVID-19 vaccine adverse reactions between December 2020 and December 2021. The Cabinet Office responded with partial information, providing specific email exchanges from April 2021 concerning a death and anaphylaxis incident, while noting that not all requested information was held. | ||
| 2023-09-14 | Agency Staff | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-08-22 | Meta data on Council of Ministers minutes dated 16 March 2020 | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-08-15 | external legal costs | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-08-11 | Office of Human Resources | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-07-07 | Civica iCasework cloud hosted system user licences and contract | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-07-06 | Immigration statistics | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-05-09 | Quantity of Contractors employed by government by department | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-05-04 | The Dr Ranson Affair | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-05-04 | PHE delay and 'Toning down' of DHSC Medical Director clinical advice | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-04-26 | Supplemental to, the partial answer dated 17 April 2022 to my FOI | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-03-16 | Medical assurance | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-02-07 | Carbon emissions associated with Chief Minister's air travel | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-02-06 | GTS whitelist email address policy | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-01-20 | Suicide figures 2022 | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-01-11 | Staff Numbers | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-01-10 | Equality Champion | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2022-11-03 | Central Registry - why no FOI capability? | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2022-10-11 | Police Pension scheme transfers | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2022-09-13 | Public Health and Vaccines | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request for data on adverse reactions and deaths related to Covid-19 vaccines on the Isle of Man was partially fulfilled, with the Cabinet Office clarifying that the Public Health Directorate does not collate this specific data as the island participates in the UK MHRA Yellow Card Scheme. | ||
| 2022-06-21 | All cause mortality | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for all-cause mortality data split by month from 2016 to the present day. The Cabinet Office provided data from January 2016 to December 2021 but could not supply 2022 figures as they had not yet been coded by the ONS. | ||
| 2022-05-30 | Office of Human Resources (OHR) and people information programme (PiP) | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought data on PiP payslip complaints, system capabilities for 'rolled up' holiday pay, and financial statistics for hourly workers in 2020/2021. The Cabinet Office disclosed that complaint records were not held, confirmed the system's legal compliance, and provided specific worker counts and remuneration totals. | ||
| 2022-04-27 | Covid border costs | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought costs for Covid border infrastructure and staffing at Parade Street Car Park and Ronaldsway between June 2021 and April 2022. The Cabinet Office disclosed specific staffing and equipment costs but noted it did not hold infrastructure data for Ronaldsway, suggesting the Department of Infrastructure be contacted instead. | ||
| 2022-03-30 | Number and cost of IOM Government employees. | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought total government employee numbers, full-time/part-time breakdowns, historical data, and salary costs for the Isle of Man Government. The Cabinet Office disclosed current headcount and salary figures but withheld historical data for 2018-2020 as publicly available and confirmed they did not hold the specific monthly cost for the 770 new employees. | ||
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