Department for Enterprise
6 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 2700.0%
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-02 | FoI Costs | Not required to fulfill request |
| The requester asked for the cost of providing Freedom of Information responses over the past three financial years. The Department for Enterprise refused the request, stating they do not hold this specific data and would need to create it through substantial analysis. | ||
| 2024-07-17 | #3705689 difference of opinion on omissions v "new" information | Not required to fulfill request |
| 2020-09-08 | Purchase of Triumph | Not required to fulfill request |
| A request was made for the purchase date and cost of the Triumph building in Onchan, but the Department for Enterprise stated they do not hold the information. | ||
| 2018-04-27 | Expenditure on single use plastics within the department | Not required to fulfill request |
| A request for expenditure figures on single-use plastics within the Department for Enterprise was refused because the department does not individually record such costs and compiling them would require substantial manual collation. The response noted that the department has appointed a champion for this issue and the government is developing a reduction plan. | ||
| 2017-10-16 | TT/Festival of Motorcycling | Not required to fulfill request |
| The Department for Enterprise responded to requests for total costs regarding the 2017 TT and Festival of Motorcycling, disclosing specific salary and operational figures while refusing to provide a breakdown of individual costs due to the requirement for substantial compilation. | ||
| 2017-10-04 | TT/Festival of Motorcycling | Not required to fulfill request |
| The Department for Enterprise partially fulfilled a request for total costs related to the 2017 TT and Festival of Motorcycling, disclosing specific salary and operational figures while refusing to compile data on individual safety equipment costs as requested. | ||