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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-08-30 | compassion leave and special leave | All information sent |
| The requester asked for departmental figures regarding bereavement and compassionate leave following a previous request. The Cabinet Office disclosed statistics on paid and unpaid special leave for Civil Service and Manual & Craft staff across various government departments from 2015 to 2020. | ||
| 2019-08-27 | Operation Yellowhammer | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for all Isle of Man Government documents and meeting notes regarding 'Operation Yellowhammer' (No-deal Brexit contingency planning), but no information was disclosed as it was deemed exempt. | ||
| 2019-08-27 | special leave & compassion leave | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2019-08-20 | Cost of questions | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the cost in civil servant time to answer 132 questions on the August 2019 Tynwald Question Paper. The Cabinet Office responded that this specific information is not held as they do not record time taken for individual questions across all departments. | ||
| 2019-07-29 | Centralisation of secondary legislation drafting | Not upheld |
| The requester sought documents and details regarding the centralisation of secondary legislation drafting agreed by the Council of Ministers in February 2019, including consultation records and implementation plans. The provided response text is incomplete and cuts off mid-sentence, preventing a determination of what information was actually disclosed or withheld. | ||
| 2019-07-22 | DBS Checks | Upheld - partial |
| The request sought details on DBS checks for Department of Education, Sport and Culture (DESC) employees, including numbers, policies, and costs. The authority partially upheld the request, disclosing specific employee counts requiring checks, the relevant recruitment policy, and contact details for HR, while noting that some roles are exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 2001. | ||
| 2019-07-10 | Voters canvass 2018 and 2019: forms sent and returned | All information sent |
| The request sought statistics on household enquiry forms sent and responses received for the 2018 and 2019 Isle of Man voters canvass. The Cabinet Office disclosed all requested figures, confirming the number of forms distributed and the total responses for both years. | ||
| 2019-07-08 | Tynwald guests | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Cabinet Office for details on who paid for and how much was spent on travel, accommodation, food, and transport for Tynwald guests. The authority responded that it does not hold this information because the guests are invited by the Parliament, not the Cabinet Office. | ||
| 2019-07-02 | Armed Forces Day Committee Minutes | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for the minutes of the Isle of Man Armed Forces Day Committee for the past two years. The Cabinet Office released some information but withheld specific details citing exemptions for personal data. | ||
| 2019-07-02 | Vat on planes | Information not held |
| A request was made for a report from Her Majesty's Treasury regarding VAT on planes and whether the practice continues. The Cabinet Office responded that the information is not held as the report is still awaited from the UK Treasury. | ||
| 2019-07-02 | Chief Minister trip to Australia | Information not held |
| A request was made for details regarding the cost and logistics of the Chief Minister's trip to Australia for the Commonwealth Games. The Cabinet Office responded that no government funds were used as the trip was a personal family holiday paid for entirely by the Chief Minister. | ||
| 2019-06-26 | Household occupancy data | All information sent |
| The requester asked for 2018 and 2019 summary statistics on household vacancy reasons from the voters register canvas, broken down by local authority. The Cabinet Office disclosed the 2019 data broken down by local authority and polling district but did not explicitly provide the 2018 data in the response. | ||
| 2019-05-20 | Human Resources | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for government employment statistics, an on-boarding policy, details on payroll errors, and the HR CEO's salary. The Cabinet Office provided the on-boarding policy but withheld the other requested information, citing partial exemptions. | ||
| 2019-05-01 | Number of FOI Requests which have not been publically disclosed. | All information sent |
| The requester asked for statistics on unpublished FOI requests across all Isle of Man government departments for the 2018-2019 financial year, along with guidelines and appeal processes. The Cabinet Office disclosed that it does not hold these statistics for other departments but provided its own unpublished request data for the 2018-2019 period, the relevant publication policy link, and confirmation that departments decide individually on publication. | ||
| 2019-03-26 | GTS Audits Reports | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for GTS audit reports, managerial structures, and complaint statistics from 2016 onwards, resulting in the partial release of an internal ISO 20000-1:2011 audit report while other information was withheld. | ||
| 2019-03-18 | Qualifications of Crown Officers | All information sent |
| The request sought details on character checks and moral standards for Crown Officer appointments in the Isle of Man. The Cabinet Office disclosed that a well-established process exists involving criminal conviction declarations, character references, and adherence to integrity and impartiality standards. | ||
| 2019-03-04 | HM INSPECTOR OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE ON THE ISLANDS TREATMENT OF VAT ON | Information not held |
| A request was made for a report from HM Customs and Excise regarding the Isle of Man's treatment of VAT on registered planes. The Cabinet Office responded that the information is not held as the report is still awaited from Her Majesty's Treasury in the UK. | ||
| 2019-02-21 | Planning Appeal Decisions | Information not held |
| The requester asked for a list of planning appeal decisions influenced by the 2012 Draft Planning Policy Statement, but the Cabinet Office refused to compile this specific list, citing that it does not hold the information in that format. | ||
| 2019-02-19 | Appeal decision given by the DEFA Minister | Information not held |
| 2019-01-26 | Staff | Upheld - partial |
| A request for detailed staffing data, contracts, and budget information for the Isle of Man Cabinet Office was partially upheld, with some data provided via external links and previous disclosures while other specific metrics were refused as not held. | ||
| 2019-01-23 | East Plan | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought costs for drafting and consulting on the East Area Plan and the specific budget for Tynwald approval. The Cabinet Office disclosed total costs of £54,854.15 incurred since April 2016 but confirmed no specific budget exists for the Tynwald approval stage. | ||
| 2019-01-23 | electoral register and credit reference agencies | Information not held |
| The requester asked for revenue data from credit reference agencies purchasing the electoral register and an assessment of regulatory compatibility with fintech innovations. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold this information as the General Registry is the agency responsible for selling the register. | ||
| 2019-01-14 | Gov plan | Not upheld |
| The requester asked if a government team was created to identify cost reductions and what savings were achieved. The Cabinet Office refused to provide the information directly, citing that it is already reasonably accessible via a public report on the Tynwald website. | ||
| 2018-12-28 | menopause policy | Information not held |
| A request was made for a standardized formal policy on female and male menopause within the Isle of Man public sector, but the Cabinet Office confirmed that no such specific policy is held. | ||
| 2018-11-30 | Cabinet Syrian Paper | All information sent |
| The requester sought the Cabinet Office paper regarding International Aid submitted in August 2018, and the authority disclosed the full document detailing a budget increase allocation. | ||
| 2018-11-26 | Chief Secretary | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for the full employment contract of the Chief Secretary, including salary and severance details. The Cabinet Office released a redacted version of the contract, withholding personal information under data protection exemptions. | ||
| 2018-11-02 | Council of Minister Report re: Planning Application | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for a Council of Ministers report from Independent Planning Advisor Mr. M. Ash regarding Planning Application 15/00124/B. The Cabinet Office released a redacted copy of the report, withholding specific sections under legal professional privilege. | ||
| 2018-10-08 | Downgrading of Qualifications Required for IOM Civil Service Posts | All information sent |
| The requester asked for a business case paper regarding the downgrading of GCSE requirements for civil service roles and details on remuneration and specific grade thresholds. The Cabinet Office provided the requested paper but did not include the specific remuneration ranges or GCSE grade details in this response. | ||
| 2018-10-05 | Party Conferences | All information sent |
| The request sought the taxpayer costs for Isle of Man ministers attending the 2018 Labour and Conservative party conferences, as well as the cost of sponsoring a reception for the Conservative Friends of the Commonwealth. The Cabinet Office disclosed full cost breakdowns for travel, accommodation, food, and passes for both conferences, along with the sponsorship fee. | ||
| 2018-09-18 | Karran Report Appendix C | Decision Notice - Complaint not upheld |
| A request was made for specific transcript pages (79-110) from Appendix C of the Karran Report regarding the Isle of Man parole system inquiry. The Cabinet Office refused to disclose the information, citing an absolute exemption under the Freedom of Information Act 2015 because the documents were created for an official inquiry. | ||
| 2018-09-05 | Determination and appeal of immigration applications | Not upheld |
| The requester asked for monthly immigration statistics regarding applications, approvals, refusals, and appeals from February 2016 to September 2018. The Cabinet Office refused the request because the specific data is not collated in their database, though they noted that annual reports are published publicly. | ||
| 2018-09-03 | Population growth and staffing in Isle of Man schools | Not upheld |
| A request was made for data on new Isle of Man residents employed in schools over the last seven years, but the Cabinet Office refused to provide it as they do not hold the information. | ||
| 2018-09-03 | Referral of applications by UKVI to the IOM Immigration Service | Not upheld |
| The requester sought statistics on UKVI's failure to refer Isle of Man visa applications to local officers and internal policies regarding these procedures. The Cabinet Office refused the request under a practical refusal exemption, stating they do not hold the specific statistics requested. | ||
| 2018-08-30 | Translation costs to the tax payer | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the cost of EU translators to the Manx taxpayer and whether costs are clawed back from the EU. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold the requested information for all government departments and cannot find the specific annual costs for its own department from 2011. | ||
| 2018-08-17 | Gender demographic in LeAD | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for gender demographic data for the LeAD department over the last eight years, but the Cabinet Office only held and disclosed records for the past four years. | ||
| 2018-08-17 | Staff turnover at LeAD | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for staff numbers and turnover data for the LeAD department over the last eight years, but the Cabinet Office only held and disclosed data for the four years ending March 2018. | ||
| 2018-08-16 | Government media relations | Decision Notice - Complaint part upheld |
| A request was made for the Corporate Communications Service's media policy and correspondence regarding journalists since October 2017. The Cabinet Office withheld the information citing Section 35 exemptions to protect the free and frank exchange of advice, a decision that was later partially upheld following a complaint. | ||
| 2018-07-27 | Income received by IOM Government from Cruise Ships 1 Jan 2017-2018 | Information not held |
| A request was made for income received by the Isle of Man Government from cruise ships between January 2017 and January 2018. The Cabinet Office responded that the information is not held by them and suggested contacting other departments for assistance. | ||
| 2018-07-25 | IOM Cycle to Work Scheme | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Cabinet Office for statistics on private sector workers and companies benefiting from the Isle of Man Cycle to Work Scheme. The authority responded that the information is not held and suggested contacting the Treasury instead. | ||
| 2018-07-24 | Council of Ministers' paper | All information sent |
| The requester asked for a Council of Ministers paper regarding drafting instructions for a new Education Bill submitted by the Department of Education, Sport and Culture. The Cabinet Office disclosed the full confidential paper, which outlines the consultation process and seeks approval to submit drafting instructions to the Attorney General's Chambers. | ||
| 2018-07-24 | Recorded deaths by suicide on the Isle of Man in the last 20 years. | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request for suicide death records on the Isle of Man over the last 20 years was partially fulfilled, with the Cabinet Office providing data only for the years 2008 to 2014. | ||
| 2018-07-18 | Number of redundancies | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the number of Civil Servant redundancies and successful appeals over the past two years. The Cabinet Office responded that no civil servants were made redundant during the specified period, clarifying the distinction between redundancy and Mutually Agreed Resignation. | ||
| 2018-07-12 | Chief Minister's speech to the BIC in Guernsey last week | Information Notice |
| The requester sought a copy of the Chief Minister's speech or speaking notes regarding the EU Withdrawal Bill and financial crime from a British-Irish Council summit in Guernsey. The Cabinet Office responded that no pre-prepared speech or presentation was delivered, providing links to the relevant press release and official summit communique instead. | ||
| 2018-07-09 | Code Sect 60 | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for a copy of the Code of Practice required under section 60 of the Freedom of Information Act. The Cabinet Office refused to send the document directly, stating it is already reasonably accessible via their website under section 20 of the Act. | ||
| 2018-07-09 | Tynwald Day Banquet 2018 | Information not held |
| A request was made for the total cost of the 2018 Tynwald Day Banquet, including venue hire and food expenses. The Cabinet Office responded that they do not hold this information and suggested contacting the Office of Clerk of Tynwald instead. | ||
| 2018-06-28 | How many staff employed are employed in the Cabinet Office | All information sent |
| A request was made to determine the number of staff employed in the Isle of Man Cabinet Office. The authority responded by disclosing the total headcount and full-time equivalent figures as of July 2018. | ||
| 2018-06-26 | Steam Packet purchase | Upheld - partial |
| A request was made for all papers, minutes, and notes regarding the Council of Ministers' consideration of the acquisition of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. The authority partially upheld the request, releasing several documents while redacting personal data and information related to live policy formulation. | ||
| 2018-05-22 | Site G Knock Rushen Castletown | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought all correspondence regarding Site G on the Castletown land review plan between October 2015 and May 2018. The Cabinet Office provided the requested documents but redacted personal information under Section 25 of the Act. | ||
| 2018-05-22 | Complaint Against the ROAD TRANSPORT LICENSING COMMITTEE | Request lapsed - requested information not provided |
| 2018-05-22 | Russians and USA residing here | All information sent |
| The request sought the number of Russian and American nationals with permission to reside in the Isle of Man. The authority disclosed visa issuance statistics from 2008 to May 2018 but noted that current residency status cannot be confirmed due to a lack of exit checks. | ||
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