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
All (359)
All information sent (162) ·
Some information sent but part exempt (59) ·
Information not held (53) ·
Some information sent but not all held (43) ·
No information sent - all held but exempt (18) ·
Not upheld (8) ·
Not required to fulfill request (6) ·
Upheld - partial (3) ·
Upheld - full (2) ·
Request lapsed - requested information not provided (2) ·
Withdrawn (1) ·
Neither confirm or deny information held (1) ·
Information Notice (1) ·
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-05-26 | Staffing | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for the Department for Enterprise's organization chart, staff names, job titles, grades, and salary details. The authority provided a temporary organization chart and directed the requester to existing public websites for staff names and titles, but withheld specific salary data and unpublished personal details citing data protection principles. | ||
| 2022-05-06 | TT Races Radio Commentary Tender | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought details on the 2019/20 TT radio commentary tender, its cancellation, and the subsequent 2022 contract awarded to Manx Radio without competition. The Department for Enterprise released some information but withheld specific financial costs and legal advice regarding the tender decision. | ||
| 2022-05-04 | Open Skies | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for the publication of a review into the Isle of Man's air services referenced by the Minister for Enterprise in November 2021. The Department for Enterprise refused to disclose the information, citing that it relates to the formulation of government policy and that releasing it would be contrary to the public interest. | ||
| 2022-05-04 | Grants and Financial Assistance | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for details on grants and financial incentives provided to non-Isle of Man companies relocating to the island, but the Department for Enterprise refused to disclose specific information citing economic prejudice. | ||
| 2022-04-22 | Finance Isle of Man event sponsorship costs 2021 | All information sent |
| The request sought detailed cost breakdowns for Finance Isle of Man sponsored events in 2021, including sponsorship fees, travel, and accommodation. The Department for Enterprise disclosed that 11 events were sponsored with a total of £87,100 in fees and £24,497.97 in travel costs, providing specific details for several events. | ||
| 2022-04-19 | Registered Deaths | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the number of registered deaths in the Isle of Man for December 2021 through April 2022. The Department for Enterprise provided figures for December 2021 to March 2022 but noted that April 2022 data would not be available until May 2022. | ||
| 2022-04-18 | LoveIOM gift card recipients | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the total number of LoveIOM gift cards purchased since their public launch in November 2021. The Department for Enterprise disclosed that 2,027 cards had been bought as of May 3, 2022, and explained the platform's purpose to support the local economy. | ||
| 2022-04-08 | Aircraft deregistrations | All information sent |
| The requester asked for records of all vehicles deregistered by the Isle of Man Aircraft and Ship Registries from 20 February 2022 onwards. The Department for Enterprise responded by providing full lists of deregistered aircraft registration marks and ship IMO/Official numbers in appendices. | ||
| 2022-04-08 | Love IOM | All information sent |
| The Department for Enterprise disclosed details regarding the 'Love IOM' initiative, confirming that KBH Limited was appointed to deliver gift card services and marketing, with all work completed to standard. The response provided a breakdown of payments made to the main supplier and other vendors between June 2021 and April 2022. | ||
| 2022-03-24 | List of DEA Assessors | All information sent |
| The request sought a list of Domestic Energy Assessors on the Green Living Grant Scheme framework, including their names, addresses, qualifications, and employment status. The Department for Enterprise disclosed the names of three businesses and their assessors, confirmed the required qualification, but could not provide specific employment arrangements between companies and individuals. | ||
| 2022-03-22 | publication of summarised employment rights | All information sent |
| The requester asked for information on the publication of summarised employment rights under Section 172 of the Employment Act 2006 for the most recent three years. The authority disclosed that the section was repealed in 2017 and provided a 2014 document detailing the proposal to repeal it due to high costs, while noting that summaries are now distributed via booklets and the website. | ||
| 2022-03-15 | Secrecy Agreements | Information not held |
| The requester asked the Department for Enterprise for all agreements and secrecy records regarding Loganair since January 2022. The Department responded that it does not hold the requested information and suggested contacting the Department of Infrastructure instead. | ||
| 2022-03-15 | MiQuando | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought the contract and payment details between the Department for Enterprise and MiQuando regarding Homestay services. The authority provided the contract and a full breakdown of payments made in 2020 and 2021, noting that some information was part exempt. | ||
| 2022-03-09 | Green Living Grant Scheme | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department for Enterprise regarding the qualifications, employment status, and payment rates for Domestic Energy Assessors under the Green Living Grant Scheme. The authority disclosed that assessors require a Level 3 Diploma, can be either employed or self-employed, and are paid fixed rates of £225 for initial audits and £50 for subsequent audits. | ||
| 2022-03-09 | Information surrounding surveys conducted for The Green Living Grant | All information sent |
| A request was made for statistics regarding the Isle of Man's Green Living Grant, including applicant numbers, survey counts, and staffing details. The Department for Enterprise disclosed that while over 1,500 applications were received, no grant funding had been issued yet, and surveys are conducted by external contractors rather than direct staff. | ||
| 2022-03-08 | Financial Assistance Scheme | All information sent |
| The requester asked if the Financial Assistance Scheme is statutory and for total payout figures. The Department for Enterprise clarified that the scheme operates under the Enterprise Act 2008 without requiring a specific signed scheme document, and disclosed that over £37 million has been paid out since 2009. | ||
| 2022-02-22 | Eagle Labs Subsidies | All information sent |
| The requester asked for an update on the payout status of a £324,062.50 underwriting figure for Eagle Labs and details on subsidy reduction measures. The authority's response contained only standard procedural information regarding complaints and appeals, with no actual data disclosed. | ||
| 2022-02-21 | Board demographics | Information not held |
| The requester asked for an age and gender demographic breakdown of executive and non-executive boards within the Department for Enterprise. The authority responded that the specific age data requested is not held, though it provided links to websites listing board member names and photographs. | ||
| 2022-02-17 | Strategic Capacity Scheme - Further Information | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the names of companies associated with successful claims for Strategic Capacity Scheme (SCS) rounds 1 through 8. The Department for Enterprise confirmed that all requested information was sent and noted that the supporting data had been published online. | ||
| 2022-02-11 | Taxpayer Funding to Play Computer Games | All information sent |
| The request sought all records regarding the sponsorship of X7 Esports by the Digital Isle of Man, including contracts, financial records, and correspondence. The Department for Enterprise disclosed all information, providing a timeline of 27 items covering the proposal, board approval, conflict of interest declarations, and contract finalization. | ||
| 2022-02-04 | Financial Assistance Support Schemes | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for a list of beneficiaries and payment amounts for the Salary Support Scheme, but the Department for Enterprise stated it does not hold this information as the scheme was administered by the Treasury. | ||
| 2022-02-03 | Locate | All information sent |
| The request sought total costs, staffing levels, advertising breakdowns, and ROI metrics for the Isle of Man's 'Locate' function since its inception. The Department for Enterprise disclosed detailed financial and staffing data but could not provide specific figures on the number of island residents who relocated directly as a result of the campaign. | ||
| 2022-02-02 | MHK's Covid payments | Request lapsed - requested information not provided |
| A request was made for a list of Covid support payments made to Members of the House of Keys (MHKs) and their associated companies, which was fulfilled with detailed payment records despite the case being marked as lapsed. | ||
| 2022-02-01 | Information Commissioner's Decision re Howard Quayle | Upheld - full |
| The requester sought approval documents for the Coronavirus Strategic Capacity Scheme (Tourist Accommodation) and evidence of Treasury and Council of Ministers concurrence for grant assistance. The Department for Enterprise admitted to procedural breaches and incorrect prior responses, subsequently releasing the requested guidelines, approvals, and communication records. | ||
| 2022-01-31 | Coronavirus Strategic Support Scheme/Business Support Scheme | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for detailed lists of businesses and individuals receiving grants under the Coronavirus Strategic Support Scheme and Business Support Scheme, including names, addresses, and payment amounts. The Department for Enterprise partially disclosed the information by providing published data on business names and payment amounts but withheld applicant addresses and specific personal names under data protection exemptions. | ||
| 2022-01-28 | Financial support | All information sent |
| The request sought details on financial assistance provided to businesses owned by Members of the House of Keys (MHKs) under various COVID-19 schemes. The Department for Enterprise disclosed payment data for seven MHKs across multiple support schemes, noting that salary support information was not held. | ||
| 2022-01-28 | Mortality | All information sent |
| The requester asked for total death statistics for the Isle of Man in 2020 and 2021, and whether deaths occurring off-island after patient transfer are included. The Department for Enterprise directed the requester to publicly available statistics from the Cabinet Office and clarified that off-island deaths are not recorded in their data. | ||
| 2022-01-24 | Information Commissioner's Decision 2022/0001 | Information not held |
| The requester asked the Department for Enterprise how many times it had failed to consider FOI requests on their own merits following a specific Information Commissioner's decision. The authority responded that it does not hold this information, stating that all requests are processed individually and only one ICO review has occurred in the last three years. | ||
| 2022-01-21 | Strategic Capacity Scheme Rounds 1 - 8 | All information sent |
| The requester asked for total payout amounts and per-claim breakdowns for Strategic Capacity Scheme Rounds 1-8. The Department for Enterprise confirmed that all requested information was sent to the requester. | ||
| 2021-12-06 | EU whistleblowing directive and Employment Act 2006 | All information sent |
| The requester asked for all documents regarding the EU Whistleblowing Directive and its relation to the Employment Act 2006, specifically citing a UK-EU trade agreement deadline. The Department for Enterprise responded by providing a summary of the directive's protections and an email detailing minor updates to a Tynwald Committee report regarding compliance timelines. | ||
| 2021-12-01 | employment law and interim relief to whistleblowers | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought information regarding the omission of interim relief provisions for whistleblowers in the Isle of Man's Employment Act 2006. The Department for Enterprise disclosed draft notes, correspondence, and emails explaining that the provision was not included because it was not raised as an issue at the time and would require a new bill to add. | ||
| 2021-11-24 | Registered Deaths | All information sent |
| The requester asked for monthly registered death statistics from 2016 to the present, split by age. The authority provided data for August to November 2021 but refused the 2016-2019 data due to lack of readily available format and confirmed that age at death is not recorded by the Department for Enterprise. | ||
| 2021-11-24 | Registered Deaths cause of death | All information sent |
| 2021-10-29 | Cost of Covid-19 public information advertising and notices. | All information sent |
| The request sought details on the Department for Enterprise's spending on Covid-19 public information advertising between February 2020 and September 2021, specifically targeting payments to Manx Radio and IOM Newspapers. The authority disclosed three distinct cost categories totaling over £212,000, breaking down the specific amounts paid to the requested media outlets for each campaign. | ||
| 2021-10-25 | Lateral Flow Devices | Information not held |
| A request was made for documents regarding the procurement of lateral flow devices since May 2021, including tender details and correspondence. The Department for Enterprise responded that the requested information is not held. | ||
| 2021-10-22 | Timeout Advertising | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the agreement, financial records, and performance metrics regarding a Timeout advertising article about the Isle of Man. The Department for Enterprise provided the agreement and financial details via email and disclosed specific traffic and engagement statistics for the campaign. | ||
| 2021-10-22 | Gifts | All information sent |
| The request sought records of all gifts given by the Department for Enterprise between 2017 and 2021, specifically for individual recipients. The authority disclosed five specific instances of gifts totaling £362.37, noting that no formal register exists for such items. | ||
| 2021-09-29 | Job creation | All information sent |
| The requester asked for annual figures on businesses moved or set up and jobs relocated since 2016, but the Department for Enterprise could not provide direct breakdowns due to data being held across various projects and divisions. Instead, the authority disclosed aggregate statistics on job creation, business support funding, and specific scheme outcomes over the last five years. | ||
| 2021-09-21 | UN COP26 invitations etc | Information not held |
| A request was made for details on Isle of Man Government employees invited to or attending UN COP26 summits, including funding and leave arrangements. The Department for Enterprise responded that they do not hold the requested information but directed the requester to a related FOI response from the Cabinet Office. | ||
| 2021-09-02 | Health care during TT | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the cost of healthcare provided to injured TT and FOM festival participants over the last five years. The Department for Enterprise responded that the requested information is not held. | ||
| 2021-08-16 | Red Arrows | All information sent |
| A request was made to determine the funding amount from the Domestic Events fund for the Red Arrows event on August 28, 2021. The Department for Enterprise confirmed that £7,500 was allocated to the event organized by Manx Radio. | ||
| 2021-08-12 | Details of the TT Homestay contract with Miquando.com | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for payment details to Miquando.com for the TT Homestay contract over the last five years and the contract's renewal date. The Department for Enterprise responded that some information was sent but part of the request was exempt, closing the case without providing the specific financial or renewal details in the provided text. | ||
| 2021-08-03 | Registered Deaths | All information sent |
| A request was made for monthly registered death statistics in the Isle of Man from July 2019 to July 2021, and the Department for Enterprise provided the complete dataset as requested. | ||
| 2021-07-21 | Cannabis licences numbers | Information not held |
| The requester asked the Department for Enterprise for statistics on cannabis licence applications and issuances, including a breakdown by licence type. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information and suggested contacting the Gambling Supervision Commission instead. | ||
| 2021-06-29 | Registered Deaths past 12 months | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the total number of registered deaths in the Isle of Man for the 12 months preceding May/June 2021, split by month. The Department for Enterprise disclosed the specific death counts for each month from June 2020 to May 2021. | ||
| 2021-06-23 | TT and MGP Marshals - numbers and training | Information not held |
| A request was made for detailed statistics on TT and MGP marshals, including numbers, age breakdowns, and training records from 2016 to 2019. The Department for Enterprise responded that the information is not held by the authority. | ||
| 2021-06-21 | Rearyt Vradda, Ballafesson Road, Port Erin | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for details on financial support for the Rearyt Vradda glamping site proposal in Port Erin. The Department for Enterprise refused to disclose any information, citing an absolute exemption under section 26 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 to prevent a breach of confidence. | ||
| 2021-06-18 | Chief Minister's financial interests | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made to confirm if Chief Minister Howard Quayle received public COVID-19 financial support for his holiday cottages and if it was declared. The Department for Enterprise withheld the specific details regarding grants or loans received, citing exemptions for personal data and breach of confidence, though they confirmed which schemes they administer. | ||
| 2021-06-07 | Changes to Immigration policy | All information sent |
| The requester sought correspondence, meeting notes, and policy papers regarding changes to Immigration Rules SD2021/0002 and SD2021/0155 concerning Worker Migrants and third-party employment. The Department for Enterprise responded by stating that all requested information had been sent and closed the request. | ||
| 2021-05-11 | Pricecooperwaterhouse Report. | All information sent |
| The requester asked for a copy of a PriceCooperWaterhouse report received in May 2019, an attached letter from PWC, and a schedule of proposed changes. The Department for Enterprise confirmed that all requested information was sent to the applicant. | ||
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