Department for Enterprise
359 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 45.1%
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-05-31 | TT Drugs Tests | Information not held |
| 2023-05-16 | Employment Tribunals | Information not held |
| 2023-05-15 | Expected Economic Benefit from TT Races 2023 | All information sent |
| 2023-04-28 | Revenue received | All information sent |
| 2023-04-11 | TT Fan Park 2023 | All information sent |
| 2023-04-06 | TT Tourism 2023 | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-04-05 | How many applicants for Island Infrastructure Scheme | All information sent |
| 2023-04-04 | Departmental comments | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-03-23 | The 50 million loan for business | All information sent |
| 2023-03-23 | DfE figures | All information sent |
| 2023-03-22 | Working population percentage | Information not held |
| 2023-03-20 | TT Insurance costs | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-03-20 | Work Permits | All information sent |
| 2023-03-20 | ICE Conference 2023 | All information sent |
| 2023-03-16 | TikTok | Information not held |
| 2023-02-14 | Use of LoveIOM cards in Ramsey | All information sent |
| 2023-02-01 | public sector visitors in the PRO visitors log | Information not held |
| 2023-01-31 | List of all Dept of Enterprise bids to Treasury | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-01-25 | Isle of Man TT Merchandise Tender | All information sent |
| 2023-01-24 | How many companies have been dissolved | All information sent |
| 2023-01-19 | external legal support open data | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-01-05 | Malta Blockchain Summit | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2022-12-27 | Internet cameras | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2022-12-27 | UFO sightings | Information not held |
| 2022-12-07 | Teaching Union Returns submitted to the Dept. for Enterprise | Information not held |
| 2022-12-01 | November Steam Railway Data | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2022-11-21 | Payments made to Shore Media Limited | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2022-11-14 | Internet cameras | Information not held |
| 2022-10-24 | TT Consultation | All information sent |
| 2022-10-13 | Cost of government conference | All information sent |
| 2022-10-05 | Heathrow | Information not held |
| 2022-10-03 | Green Living Grant Scheme | All information sent |
| 2022-09-27 | Amnesty for Ineligible Covid-19 Financial Support Payments | All information sent |
| The requester asked for details on repayments made during the July-August 2022 amnesty for ineligible Covid-19 financial support and confirmation of ongoing formal reviews. The Department for Enterprise disclosed the total committed repayment amount, the sum received to date, and confirmed that a formal review of all claims is currently underway. | ||
| 2022-09-27 | Registered Deaths | All information sent |
| The requester asked for clarification on whether death statistics include residents dying in UK hospitals and requested monthly death data from 2016 to September 2022. The authority confirmed that deaths occurring outside the Isle of Man are not held in their registry and directed the requester to an open data portal for monthly figures, while also correcting previous errors in released data. | ||
| 2022-09-07 | Unpublished Respnses to FOI Requests | All information sent |
| The requester asked for copies of all unpublished Freedom of Information Act responses from the Department for Enterprise since the legislation's introduction. The authority confirmed that all requested information was sent to the requester. | ||
| 2022-09-02 | Covid Amnesty | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for statistics regarding the number of individuals and businesses who admitted to incorrect claims during the COVID-19 amnesty period, as well as data on returned funds and subsequent investigations. The Department for Enterprise disclosed that no individuals explicitly contacted the government to admit incorrect claims, though 14 requested further information, while noting that the broader review of schemes is ongoing. | ||
| 2022-08-30 | Love IOM | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department for Enterprise for data on Love IOM gift card sales, consumer spending, government incentives, and marketing costs between September 2021 and August 2022. The authority disclosed all requested information, providing specific figures for card purchases, monthly credit totals, incentive expenditures, and marketing service fees. | ||
| 2022-08-16 | Douglas High Street NCEF's | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for statistics on NCEF forms filed by retailers and businesses struck off the registry in specific Douglas streets over the last 12 months. The authority disclosed that it could not filter NCEF data by 'retailers' due to legal limitations, but provided total counts for NCEF submissions and various business deregistrations meeting the address criteria. | ||
| 2022-08-02 | Ramsey Bakery | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department for Enterprise regarding offers for the former Ramsey Bakery and any associated financial assistance sought or granted. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information. | ||
| 2022-07-29 | Green Living Grants | All information sent |
| The request sought statistics on applications, approvals, and payments for the Isle of Man Green Living Grant scheme as of July 31, 2022. The Department for Enterprise disclosed that while nearly 2,000 energy audits were received, only two grant applications had been approved and no payments had been made due to a policy review. | ||
| 2022-07-26 | Strategic Partnership Contract | Information not held |
| The requester asked for a copy of the contract appointing KPMG as a strategic partner, but the Department for Enterprise responded that it does not hold the document because the contract was entered into by the Treasury. | ||
| 2022-07-26 | Number of employees contracted for the Manx Home Energy Audit | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the number of domestic energy assessors employed by each company conducting Manx home energy audits. The authority responded that this information had already been disclosed in a previous request and directed the requester to search for case number 2348565 on the FOI website. | ||
| 2022-07-20 | Cost of KPMG 'Our Big Picture' work | Information not held |
| The request sought details on KPMG's costs, hours, and tender responses for the 'Our Big Picture' economic strategy project. The Department for Enterprise disclosed tender statistics but stated it does not hold financial or hourly data as the contract was managed by Treasury. | ||
| 2022-07-19 | employment practices liability insurance | Information not held |
| The requester asked for information on employment practices liability insurance for Department for Enterprise agencies and related legislation. The authority disclosed that executive agencies have such coverage via a Zurich policy but confirmed no information exists regarding legislative amendments to mandate this insurance. | ||
| 2022-07-15 | Non-arrival of scheduled cruise ship visits | Some information sent but not all held |
| The Guild of Manx Registered Tour Guides requested details on why two scheduled cruise ships failed to arrive in July 2022, citing confusion over official statements. The Department for Enterprise disclosed internal emails indicating the cancellations were decisions made by the cruise lines due to new public health testing requirements and logistical challenges, rather than government refusal. | ||
| 2022-07-14 | Land Transactions Fees Paid | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for a list of all land transactions since September 2019 including registry fees, and the Department for Enterprise provided a partial dataset containing deed numbers, addresses, parishes, and fees paid. | ||
| 2022-07-11 | CEG Orbit Report | All information sent |
| The Department for Enterprise disclosed the full preliminary casualty investigation report regarding the grounding of the cargo vessel CEG Orbit off the Isle of Man coast in August 2021. The document details the sequence of events, including the Chief Officer leaving the bridge due to illness, which led to the vessel running aground during a spring tide. | ||
| 2022-06-21 | Economic Interest in Co-Working Facilities | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for details on Department for Enterprise investments, subsidies, and financial support for co-working facilities on the Isle of Man. The Department disclosed information already published under the Enterprise Act 2008 and regarding Barclays Eagle Labs, but withheld specific details on other facilities citing economic prejudice. | ||
| 2022-06-13 | TT Plus | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department for Enterprise for statistics on TT+ website registrations and paid subscriptions for the 2022 racing season. The authority disclosed that 131,135 people registered and 57,020 paid the subscription fee. | ||
| 2022-06-06 | TT23 | All information sent |
| The requester sought the results of a public consultation regarding proposed changes to the Isle of Man TT schedule from 2023 onwards. The Department for Enterprise disclosed the full consultation response, including a summary of 37 submissions and anonymized individual feedback. | ||