Cabinet Office
6 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 2450.0%
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
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-10-18 | Electricity; Gas and Vehicle Fuel | Upheld - full |
| The requester asked for electricity, gas, and vehicle fuel usage records for the 2018-19 to 2020-21 financial years, but the Cabinet Office stated it does not hold data by financial year or for 2021, instead directing the requester to the 'Isle of Man in Numbers' publication for calendar year data. | ||
| 2021-03-15 | Entry Certificates | Upheld - full |
| The request sought daily statistics on entry certificates issued by the Isle of Man Cabinet Office between February and March 2021, categorized by key workers, compassionate grounds, and other reasons. The authority fully upheld the request, disclosing a detailed daily breakdown of certificate numbers for the specified period. | ||
| 2017-10-15 | Cabinet Office family tree/structure charts | Upheld - full |
| The request sought the latest family tree and structure charts for the five divisions within the Isle of Man Cabinet Office. The authority provided the charts but redacted specific staff names where disclosure would contravene data protection principles regarding personal information. | ||
| 2017-09-18 | Council of Ministers paper regarding Single Resident Record – Presentation for the creation of a Smart Service Framework | Upheld - full |
| A request was made for a Council of Ministers paper regarding the 'Single Resident Record' and Smart Service Framework, but the Cabinet Office refused disclosure citing the formulation of government policy exemption. | ||
| 2017-04-20 | Legal advice provided regarding the removal of electors from the Register of Electors during the annual canvas | Upheld - full |
| The request sought legal advice and communications regarding the removal of electors from the Register of Electors during the annual canvas. The Cabinet Office confirmed it does not hold pre-2015 advice as it was oral, and withheld post-2015 communications citing legal advice and privilege exemptions. | ||
| 2017-01-31 | The official diary of the Chief Minister and Minister for Policy and Reform | Upheld - full |
| A request was made for the official diary of the Chief Minister and Minister for Policy and Reform for October to December 2016. The Cabinet Office provided a partial response containing the diary entries for the Minister for Policy and Reform, while noting the Chief Minister's diary would be provided separately. | ||