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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | ||
| 2017-05-21 | Information on TT trademark contract | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for payment details and work descriptions regarding Eversheds' TT trademark services contract. The authority disclosed the scope of work performed but withheld payment amounts citing commercial interest exemptions. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2017-04-21 | Information relating to land registered below the Bayview Hotel Port St Mary. | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought correspondence and file notes regarding the registration of two land titles below the Bayview Hotel in Port St Mary, specifically questioning the omission of public rights of way and the legality of government land disposal. The Department for Enterprise released a memo explaining the registration decision but withheld other documents citing pre-Act creation dates and exemptions related to Land Registry rules and the conduct of public business. | ||
| 2017-03-31 | Statistical information on the volume and value of house sales on the Isle of Man over the past 3 - 5 years. | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for statistical data on the volume and value of house sales on the Isle of Man over the past 3-5 years in a specific tabular format. The Department for Enterprise responded that the exact format was not held but provided links to existing public datasets, reports, and the Land Registry where the information could be accessed. | ||
| 2017-03-30 | Value of estates registered for probate in the Isle of Man in recent years. | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for statistical analysis of estate values registered for probate in the Isle of Man between 2013 and 2016. The Department for Enterprise refused to provide the data, citing that the information is publicly accessible via the Probate Registry indexes and is therefore exempt under Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014. | ||
| 2017-02-08 | Policies and procedures relating to Tiers 2 & 5 of the Points Based System. | Some information sent but not all held |
| An advocate's firm requested internal policies and procedures regarding Tier 2 and 5 Points Based System sponsorship applications, but the Department for Enterprise stated it holds no such internal documents beyond those already publicly available. | ||