Department for Enterprise
162 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 100.0%
The Freedom of Information requests to the Department for Enterprise reveal an authority that is selectively transparent, often disclosing aggregate statistics and operational timelines while rigorously guarding specific financial details and commercial relationships. A dominant theme is the 'commercial interest' exemption, which is repeatedly invoked to withhold data on the Isle of Man TT (357873, 357871) and major business grants (1373637, 522836). While the Department readily provides figures on trademark income (357847) or website development costs (1060362), it consistently refuses to compile or release data on safety expenditures, rescue operations, and the specific financial terms of government support for key industries like Triumph and Eagle Labs. This pattern suggests a strategy of maintaining public confidence in the event's popularity while obscuring the true fiscal risks and subsidies involved.
Key Cases
Case 357873 — This case represents a significant transparency failure regarding public safety. The Department withheld all information on the costs of rescue helicopters, safety equipment, and road barriers for the TT, citing 'commercial interests'. Given the life-or-death nature of these expenditures, the refusal to disclose safety spending is highly contentious.
Case 1060362 — A rare instance of full financial disclosure for a digital project. The Department revealed the exact cost (£137,144.18) of developing and running the 'iomttraces' website and timing system, providing a clear benchmark for the cost of government digital infrastructure that contrasts with the redactions seen in other tech cases.
Case 1373637 — This case highlights the 'economic prejudice' exemption used to shield major corporate relationships. The Department confirmed no grants were given for a new Triumph factory but withheld specific details on grants awarded since 2013, preventing public scrutiny of the financial support given to one of the island's largest employers.
Case 1854325 — A politically sensitive case involving the Chief Minister. The Department withheld details on whether Howard Quayle received public COVID-19 support for his holiday cottages, citing personal data and breach of confidence. This refusal to confirm or deny high-level political financial interests undermines public trust.
Case 357847 — This case provides a crucial baseline for the TT's commercial value. By disclosing the total income generated by licensing the TT trademark from 2012-2016, it reveals the revenue stream that often offsets the massive undisclosed costs seen in other cases, painting a partial picture of the event's financial reality.
Related FOI Stories
The True Cost of the Isle of Man TT — #357847, #357853, #354749, #357861, #357867
Enterprise Development Scheme & Business Support — #357891, #462337, #514142, #522836, #617366
Infrastructure: Broadband, Telecommunications & Digital Strategy — #1206549, #1327609, #1368137, #1470773, #1050263
Land Registry, Housing & Development — #354735, #357743, #357859, #357863, #357885
Immigration, Work Permits & Employment — #357739, #449057, #455234, #498133, #881965
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-06-01 | TT Isle of Man the game | All information sent |
| The requester asked if the Isle of Man Government provided financial support for the 'TT Isle of Man' video game and sought details on spending and returns. The Department for Enterprise confirmed there was no direct financial support, but rather a commercial licensing agreement involving revenue sharing and non-financial promotional assistance. | ||
| 2018-05-15 | TT | All information sent |
| A request was made for costs related to the 2018 TT promotional video, programme printing, and ACU payments, to which the Department for Enterprise disclosed specific figures for the video and ACU licence, while providing an estimated variable cost for the programme. | ||
| 2018-05-01 | Number of work permits issued | All information sent |
| The requester asked for annual data on work permits issued and denied between 2011 and 2018, distinguishing between EEA and non-EEA nationals. The Department for Enterprise provided the total numbers of issued and denied permits for the requested period but noted that the figures include renewals and that non-EEA nationals often use Immigration Rules instead of work permits. | ||
| 2018-04-24 | Holiday brochure | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department for Enterprise regarding the costs associated with the 2018 Isle of Man Holiday Brochure, including design, printing, and postage. The authority disclosed that the total production cost was £36,347.40, with 30,000 copies printed, and the total cost including postage reached £42,992.81 by May 2018. | ||
| 2018-04-16 | Transparency expectations for Department for Enterprise's Agencies | All information sent |
| The requester asked for confirmation that four specific arms-length agencies would be subject to the same transparency levels and timescales as the Department for Enterprise under the Freedom of Information Act. The Department responded by clarifying that requests for information regarding these agencies must be submitted directly to the Department for Enterprise under the Freedom of Information Act 2015. | ||
| 2017-11-30 | Contract with Sparks | All information sent |
| The Department for Enterprise released a redacted copy of the contract with Spark Impact for managing the Enterprise Development Scheme 2015. Personal data and specific commercial fee details were withheld under exemptions for data protection and economic interests. | ||
| 2017-10-19 | Homestay | All information sent |
| The request sought annual statistics on registered properties under the Isle of Man Homestay Scheme and details of investigations or prosecutions for non-registration between 2011 and 2017. The Department for Enterprise disclosed all requested data, showing registration numbers for each year and investigation counts, while confirming there were no prosecutions. | ||
| 2017-07-24 | Villa Marina/Gaiety Theatre policies and procedures for the disabled | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the Gaiety Theatre's disability policy and specific procedures for notifying disabled customers about seat suitability during online booking. The authority responded that no formal written policy exists, but detailed access information is available on their website and staff are trained to advise customers to contact them in advance for specific needs. | ||
| 2017-07-06 | Financial assistance | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department for Enterprise regarding financial aid provided to the Isle of Man Motor Museum and the Jacksons development. The authority confirmed that no loans or grants were provided to either entity. | ||
| 2017-06-26 | Acts booked by the Department May - June 2017 | All information sent |
| The Department for Enterprise disclosed details of acts booked for May-June 2017 at the Villa Marina and Gaiety Theatre, including names, venues, ticket sales, and base countries, but withheld fee information citing commercial interests. | ||
| 2017-06-12 | TT tickets | All information sent |
| A Freedom of Information request to the Isle of Man Department for Enterprise sought details on free and complimentary TT race tickets issued to VIPs, government staff, and politicians, as well as sales figures for VIP suites. The authority disclosed specific counts of complimentary tickets distributed to charities, families of deceased riders, and officials, alongside daily purchase statistics for VIP hospitality. | ||
| 2017-04-28 | Income from TT trademarks 2012-2016 | All information sent |
| A request was made for total income generated by licensing the TT trademark between 2012 and 2016, and the Department for Enterprise disclosed the figures held by financial year from 2011/2012 to 2016/2017. | ||