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
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-08-15 | Cost of Lieutenant Governor | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Cabinet Office for detailed cost breakdowns of the Lieutenant Governor's position, including staff, allowances, and running costs for Government House in 2023. The authority confirmed the position carries no occupational pension or personal allowances for food, drink, or fuel, though the full response regarding 2023 expenditure figures is truncated in the provided text. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2024-07-30 | 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 | 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. | ||
| 2024-07-29 | North and West Area Plan submissions | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought emails regarding submissions by Savagechadwick Architects to the North and West Area Plan Inquiry, specifically focusing on distribution to the Inspector and internal correspondence. The Cabinet Office provided some information but withheld parts of the response under exemptions. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2024-07-23 | Information held in Human Resources | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for all personal information held by the Cabinet Office's Human Resources department. The authority refused to disclose the information under FOI, stating it is absolutely exempt as personal data and directing the requester to make a separate subject access request under GDPR. | ||
| 2024-07-18 | Manx Utilities Authority | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought records of interactions between the Cabinet Office and Manx Utilities Authority regarding area and strategic plans, but the response provided details on the Department of Infrastructure's review of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2015 instead. | ||
| 2024-07-16 | Recruitment and retention allowance - GTS | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought detailed statistics and criteria regarding recruitment and retention allowances for Government Technology Services (GTS) roles, including breakdowns by grade and job descriptions. The Cabinet Office responded with a partial disclosure, providing a specific job description for a Service Desk Analyst while withholding the requested statistical breakdowns and policy criteria. | ||
| 2024-07-09 | Recruitment for Information Commissioners Office | Upheld - partial |
| The request sought details on recruitment, vacancies, and appointments at the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) between 2022 and 2024. The Cabinet Office partially upheld the request, providing a table of advertised roles, application statistics, and appointment dates, while noting that some senior interim positions were not advertised. | ||
| 2024-06-04 | Airfield Operations Electricians Market Rating Exercise | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for emails and evidence regarding a Market Rating exercise for Airfield Operations Electricians between 2021 and 2024, resulting in the disclosure of some correspondence while parts were exempt. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2024-05-17 | Anonymised survey responses | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for anonymized survey responses regarding a government conference promoted on social media. The Cabinet Office disclosed the data, including quantitative attendance figures and qualitative feedback on content and execution, though the response was marked as partially exempt. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2024-04-16 | Annual defence contribution to the UK | All information sent |
| The request sought details on the Isle of Man's annual defence contribution to the UK, including funding sources, payment history, and a list of services covered. The authority disclosed specific payment amounts from 2021 to 2024 and attached the 1994 Contribution Agreement, but stated it does not hold a breakdown of specific services or how the funds are spent on the Island. | ||
| 2024-04-15 | Age of deaths | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for annual age brackets and average ages of death in the Isle of Man from 2015 to 2023. The Cabinet Office provided the average age of death for 2015-2022 but stated they do not hold the data for 2023 or the specific age brackets requested. | ||
| 2024-04-04 | Wooler Report March 2023 and Council of Ministers Response June 2023 | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2024-03-20 | CoMIN committees, sub-committees and boards minutes | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for meeting dates and minutes since inception for three CoMIN committees: Justice, Legislative, and Operational Performance Board. The Cabinet Office responded with a partial disclosure, providing some information while withholding parts due to exemptions and the volume of records requiring consultation. | ||
| 2024-03-19 | Cost of Report into complaints of ministerial bullying | All information sent |
| 2024-03-12 | HSCC complaint against Lawrie Hooper and Tanya August Hanson report | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2024-03-11 | Cost of Public Health Fluoride research paper. | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2024-02-29 | Overpaid pensions (Civil Service and Police Pensions) | All information sent |
| 2024-02-27 | HSCC complaint investigation | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 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 |
| 2024-02-12 | Call Recording in GP Practices and ARC Call Handling Systems | Information not held |
| 2024-02-09 | Cost of rolled-up holiday backpay | Request lapsed - requested information not provided |
| 2024-02-08 | Covid deaths | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2024-02-06 | Equality Training figures | All information sent |
| 2024-02-02 | Airfield Operations Electricians JEGS/Market Rating Exercise | Not upheld |
| 2024-01-30 | Total Deaths of 'Manx' People in 2023 | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2024-01-24 | Equality Survey | All information sent |
| 2024-01-19 | Election Donations | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2024-01-17 | WHO 2021 donation follow up | Some information sent but not all 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 |
| 2024-01-08 | Homes for Ukraine Scheme - Payments | All information sent |
| 2024-01-02 | chief secretary advice panel, freedom of information act section 57 | All information sent |
| 2023-12-20 | Minister Expenses 2022 / 23 | All information sent |
| 2023-12-20 | CRHS | Information not held |
| 2023-12-14 | Equality training & public administration decision making | All information sent |
| 2023-12-13 | Health Learning &. Social Policy board | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-12-12 | information for university degree | Information not held |
| 2023-12-08 | Planning Appeals 2015 to date | All information sent |
| 2023-12-05 | Castletown house | Information not held |
| 2023-11-28 | Fuel prices | Information not held |