Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture
121 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 100.0%
The Freedom of Information requests to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) reveal an authority that is selectively transparent, often releasing historical or aggregate data while vigorously protecting current operational details, enforcement identities, and policy formulations. A clear pattern emerges regarding financial accountability: while the department disclosed a comprehensive list of 346 farmer payments for 2015 (355013), subsequent requests for similar granular data were frequently blocked as 'repeated' (914723) or redirected to public websites (462340). This suggests a reluctance to provide real-time financial scrutiny of agricultural subsidies, even as significant public funds, such as the £500,000 in meat plant subventions (355069), are acknowledged.
Key Cases
Case 355013 — A rare instance of full transparency where the department disclosed a list of 346 individual farmer payment amounts for 2015, setting a benchmark for financial openness that was not consistently maintained in later years.
Case 675466 — The release of the full 53-page investigation report into the Snaefell Mountain Railway runaway tram incident, overturning a previous refusal (563738) and demonstrating that safety data is eventually accessible once legal proceedings conclude.
Case 355047 — A complete refusal to disclose details of a planning enforcement complaint on Kella Road, citing confidential information and ongoing investigations, highlighting the department's strict protection of enforcement processes from public view.
Case 355057 — The withholding of heavy metal analysis and leachate results for Peel Marina under 'policy formulation' exemptions, raising concerns about the transparency of environmental risk assessments and waste management data.
Case 355035 — A request regarding Lorne House was deemed 'vexatious' after partial fulfillment, illustrating the department's use of resource burden arguments to halt persistent inquiries into specific planning or housing issues.
Related FOI Stories
The Meat Plant Saga: Funding, Tenders, and Safety — #355069, #355075, #355099, #355087, #625866
Planning Enforcement and Whistleblower Protection — #355047, #355079, #361141, #856665, #922953
Environmental Data: Leachate, Dredging, and Water Quality — #355045, #355057, #500235, #935114, #1165449
Agricultural Subsidies and Farmer Payments — #355013, #355063, #462340, #914723, #973789
Safety Incidents: Railways and Transport — #355051, #563738, #675466, #682066
All (121)
All information sent (121) ·
Some information sent but part exempt (90) ·
Information not held (71) ·
No information sent - all held but exempt (52) ·
Some information sent but not all held (38) ·
Not upheld (22) ·
Request lapsed - requested information not provided (16) ·
Not required to fulfill request (12) ·
Upheld - partial (6) ·
Repeated request (4) ·
Withdrawn (1) ·
Vexatious request (1) ·
Upheld - full (1) ·
Decision Notice - Complaint not upheld (1) ·
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-11-09 | Funding of mountain bike trails | All information sent |
| 2021-10-29 | Quine Brothers Prosecution/Appeal | All information sent |
| The request sought details on the financial relief and legal costs awarded in the Quine Brothers vs DEFA Chancery Court case. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed that £11,000 plus VAT and disbursements had been agreed and paid, while noting that further costs remain subject to detailed claim. | ||
| 2021-10-11 | planning enforcement officer notes and assessment form | All information sent |
| The requester sought meeting notes and a harm assessment form regarding a planning breach on Gelling's Avenue, Port St. Mary. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture confirmed that all requested information was sent and the case was closed. | ||
| 2021-10-04 | Schedule 4 species since 2016 | All information sent |
| The request sought data on Schedule 4 birds kept, imported, exported, died, or escaped on the Isle of Man since 2016. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed full species counts by year, specific import/export records, and lists of deceased and escaped birds. | ||
| 2021-08-09 | Applications for Trees felling on the government house land. | All information sent |
| The request sought all tree felling applications on Government House land over the last two years. The authority disclosed five specific tree felling licences issued by the Agriculture & Lands Directorate but noted that planning-related tree removal information is exempt and accessible via a public search facility. | ||
| 2021-07-06 | Proposals to Register that do not make the National Register | All information sent |
| The request sought details on buildings researched but not registered on the Isle of Man's Protected Buildings Register, specifically focusing on the South Area Plan and the tenure of Registered Building Officer Ross Brazier. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed a comprehensive list of buildings with their research status, proposal dates, and registration outcomes, though the response text appears truncated before fully addressing the specific statistical queries regarding Ross Brazier. | ||
| 2021-06-25 | St Mark's Elm Trees - Application 20/01215/B | All information sent |
| The requester asked for metadata evidence regarding the online publication dates of planning documents for application 20/01215/B concerning works at Ballavarvane Farm. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed a list of 36 documents with their specific publication dates derived from file metadata. | ||
| 2021-06-23 | Wildlife control licenses | All information sent |
| The requester asked for details on specific wildlife control licenses issued by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture since 2016, excluding general licenses. The authority disclosed that 28 individual licenses were issued under the Wildlife Act and Curraghs Acquisition Act, detailing the species targeted, control methods, and justifications such as livestock protection and air safety. | ||
| 2021-05-19 | Premises health inspections re. The Marine Hotel, Peel, IM5 1AH | All information sent |
| A request was made for inspection dates and results for The Marine Hotel in Peel following adverse media reports. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed that inspections occurred on May 14 and 19, 2021, and confirmed that current conditions do not reflect the negative media attention. | ||
| 2021-05-17 | Former Groudle Glen Hotel | All information sent |
| A request was made for all information regarding discussions on registering the former Groudle Glen Hotel as a protected building, to which the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture responded by providing a full consultation report and related documents. | ||
| 2021-04-28 | Minutes of DEFA meetings | All information sent |
| The request sought minutes of DEFA meetings regarding the Environmental Protection Unit's actions at the Middle Park Recycling facility, and the authority disclosed all information including a detailed site visit report from October 2020. | ||
| 2021-03-15 | Register of Heathland | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the Register of Heathland maintained under the Heath Burning Act 2003 and inquired about its availability on the MANNGIS website. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture provided the register map listing specific areas and confirmed that while it is not currently online, it is being considered for inclusion in a new system. | ||
| 2021-02-22 | Building Control queries with regard to Sandygate House, IM7 3AF | All information sent |
| The requester asked for all correspondence regarding Sandygate House from September 2009, and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed all requested information, including a 2015 demolition direction. | ||
| 2021-01-11 | importattion of red necked wallabies | All information sent |
| The requester asked if animal health legislation prohibits importing red-necked wallabies from the UK to the Isle of Man. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture confirmed no specific prohibition exists under animal health laws but noted that importation is currently impossible due to the lack of an agreed export certificate with the UK. | ||
| 2020-12-24 | Desginations of Grenaby Garey Area | All information sent |
| The request sought documents and meeting records regarding the three designations of the Grenaby Garey Area as an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) between 2018 and 2020. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed all requested information, including 227 pages across 5 documents containing landowner objections and internal meeting notes. | ||
| 2020-12-11 | Planning Committee Member Interests | All information sent |
| The request sought copies of the Planning Committee Members Register of Interests, and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed the full registration details for members Belinda Pilling and Peter Young. | ||
| 2020-12-04 | Waste disposal and treatment | All information sent |
| A request was made for planning rules, waste storage regulations, and licensing details regarding the Middle Incinerator site and hazardous waste removal. The authority responded by disclosing the full text of the Collection and Disposal of Waste Regulations 2000, which defines waste categories and licensing requirements. | ||
| 2020-11-26 | planning enforcement officer's site notes | All information sent |
| The requester asked for site notes and measurements taken by a Planning Enforcement Officer at a vacant plot in Port St Mary on 11 June 2020. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture confirmed that all requested information was sent. | ||
| 2020-11-11 | Tree felling licences 2014 to present day | All information sent |
| The requester sought full written details and pictorial diagrams for two specific tree felling licences issued in 2014 and 2015 for potential use in legal proceedings. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture responded by enclosing copies of the requested information, confirming that all data was released. | ||
| 2020-10-16 | Tree removal licenses | All information sent |
| The request sought a list of tree removal licenses issued for Sandygate House since 2014. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed three specific licenses and noted that other removals may have occurred under plant health legislation or planning approvals. | ||
| 2020-10-09 | Glamping proposal south Barrule plantation | All information sent |
| A request was made for financial details and officer time committed to a glamping proposal at South Barrule plantation. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed the total external costs, confirmed no specific budget was set, and provided meeting minutes. | ||
| 2020-10-06 | Pre-Planning Advice given in respect of PA 20/01080/B | All information sent |
| The applicant requested all pre-application advice and meeting details regarding a proposed 200-house development in Milntown, Ramsey, involving Dandara and government officers. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed all requested information, including emails and planning advice, confirming the outcome as 'All information sent'. | ||
| 2020-10-05 | Report by planning enforcement | All information sent |
| A request was made to confirm if Tel's Limited's operations at Snugborough Trading Estate complied with existing planning permission, specifically regarding a crusher and re-graded land. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed a full enforcement report detailing the site visit findings and relevant legal case law regarding planning scope. | ||
| 2020-09-16 | Request for information regarding Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) | All information sent |
| A Freedom of Information request was made to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture regarding Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) policies and statistics. The department disclosed employee counts, TOIL balances, and recording methods, but declined to provide financial costings or average accrual times due to the substantial data compilation required. | ||
| 2020-08-05 | Grey Partridges | All information sent |
| The requester asked for all advice and proposals received by DEFA regarding a July 2020 Tynwald motion to ease grey partridge imports and extend hunting seasons. The authority disclosed a single email extract from a member of the public sent to the DEFA Minister on 6th January 2020. | ||
| 2020-06-01 | Planning appeals - incomplete answer to previous request 1043161 | All information sent |
| The requester sought statistics on planning appeals determined by hearing for 2018 and 2019, including processing times, after a previous response only covered written considerations. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture provided data for 2017, 2018, and 2019 regarding the number of appeals and average days to inspector reports, but could not provide specific timescales to the Minister's decision due to data recording limitations. | ||
| 2020-03-27 | Silt leachate tests and licence for Peel Marina Dredging | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the licence and leachate test results required before authorizing the discharge of silt dewatering waste into Peel Marina. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture confirmed that both the report and the licence were enclosed and released in full. | ||
| 2020-03-09 | Sea Fisheries Licensing | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture for statistics on Isle of Man sea fishing licences issued to vessels registered in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Isle of Man, broken down by species. The authority responded with specific licence counts for English registered vessels for the period April 2019 to March 2020, though the response text provided is truncated before covering other regions. | ||
| 2020-03-02 | Eelgrass within the Ramsey Bay Marine Nature Reserve | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the full scientific findings of a 2019 eelgrass survey in Ramsey Bay Marine Nature Reserve, and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed the complete report including methodology and results. | ||
| 2020-01-09 | Births, deaths and escapes at Curraghs Wildlife Park | All information sent |
| A Freedom of Information request was made to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture regarding animal statistics, financial data, and welfare practices at Curraghs Wildlife Park since 2015. The authority responded by providing a comprehensive species list with population counts as of December 2019 and detailed records of specific animal transfers, including donations and loans. | ||
| 2019-12-24 | Boot's personal appointments of the unlawful Planning Committee | All information sent |
| The requester sought copies of appointment letters for Planning Committee members after being told they were not held by the initial contact. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed a sample appointment letter for a member named Mrs. Comish, detailing the terms of service, remuneration, and conduct requirements. | ||
| 2019-12-09 | Biomass | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture regarding the costs, fuel usage, and efficiency of a biomass installation at a sawmill. The authority disclosed full details including installation costs, weekly fuel consumption, boiler efficiency, and the absence of additional manpower costs. | ||
| 2019-11-19 | Control of Wool Order | All information sent |
| The requester asked about prosecutions under the Control of Wool Order and the management process since 2011. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture confirmed no violations or prosecutions have occurred and explained that the annual Order was replaced by a Minister-approved pricing process to make the service cost-neutral. | ||
| 2019-11-12 | Planning Appeals Time Taken | All information sent |
| The requester asked for average processing times for written and hearing-based planning appeals for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019. The authority responded by disclosing a specific instance of a 2019 decision that took 1,399 days, without providing the requested average statistics. | ||
| 2019-10-14 | RIDDOR information relating to falls in retail areas | All information sent |
| The requester asked for RIDDOR submissions from Marks & Spencer PLC in Douglas since 2011, and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture provided 6 redacted copies. | ||
| 2019-09-05 | s40 Voluntary Organisations | All information sent |
| 2019-08-30 | Control and culling of wildlife | All information sent |
| The request sought details on wildlife control and culling by the Isle of Man government since 2011, excluding rats and mice. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed annual statistics for predator control on its upland estate from 2011 to 2019, focusing on crows, magpies, gulls, rabbits, and ferrets to protect endangered ground-nesting birds. | ||
| 2019-08-05 | Field boundary inspections | All information sent |
| The requester asked for all documentation regarding field boundary inspections for Mount Karrin Farm, specifically concerning a dispute with the Cleaters. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture responded by releasing all requested information via attached documents. | ||
| 2019-07-04 | Agreed Extensions of 21 day period after planning decision notice. | All information sent |
| The requester asked for statistics on extensions granted to the 21-day appeal period for planning decisions over the last five years. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture responded that no such extensions exist under current statute, meaning no data was available to disclose. | ||
| 2019-05-29 | PA19/00462/B | All information sent |
| A request was made for all recorded contacts between the DEFA Planning Department and Manx Utilities Authority regarding planning application PA19/00462/B between May 17 and May 24, 2019. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture confirmed that all requested information was sent to the applicant. | ||
| 2019-05-17 | Ramsey Marina | All information sent |
| The request sought correspondence, meeting records, and awareness details regarding the proposed Ramsey Marina between DEFA and Ramsey Marina Ltd. The authority disclosed all requested information, including a detailed press release outlining the project's design, costs, and economic benefits. | ||
| 2019-05-06 | The Environmental impact of potential oil/gas exploration | All information sent |
| The requester asked for details on the environmental impact assessment for oil and gas exploration off the Isle of Man's north-east coast. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture responded by providing an attached 'Environmental Sensitivity Assessment' from Crogga Limited and links to public marine environmental reports. | ||
| 2019-05-03 | Overturned appeals | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the application numbers of seven planning appeals where Mr Boot rejected independent inspector advice. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture provided all seven requested planning application numbers in full. | ||
| 2019-05-02 | Disclosure of General Licence and Game Licence register | All information sent |
| 2019-02-20 | The number of planning appeals lodged over the last twelve months | All information sent |
| 2019-01-21 | Dog Warden | All information sent |
| The requester asked for annual costs and working hours for the Dog Warden service over the last 15 years. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture provided cost and hour details for contracted services between 2011 and 2017 but stated that specific cost and hour data for internal Pest Control Officers since 2014 is not held. | ||
| 2019-01-15 | Glenfaba House felling licence | All information sent |
| The requester asked for details regarding a felling licence for Scots Pine trees at Glenfaba House, including the date, reason, and specific trees involved. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed the information by providing a map and licence details from November 2016 and noted that no further felling would occur without a new licence. | ||
| 2018-12-17 | Health and Safety Investigation into Steve Mercer accident | All information sent |
| A request was made regarding the status and publication of the investigation into the 2018 TT accident involving Steve Mercer. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture confirmed the investigation is ongoing and stated that only a factual report will be published upon completion. | ||
| 2018-12-10 | Runaway tram accident investigation report | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate (HSWI) investigation report into the August 2017 Snaefell Mountain Railway runaway tram incident, noting that legal proceedings had concluded. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed all requested information, providing a 53-page report containing the executive summary, technical findings, and recommendations. | ||
| 2018-08-21 | What herbicides does the department use? | All information sent |
| The requester asked if the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture uses glyphosate (Roundup) and requested usage volumes and locations. The department confirmed usage across Forestry, Inland Fisheries, and the Wildlife Park, providing specific quantities and sites for the period from July 2017 to September 2018. | ||
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