Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture
71 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 170.4%
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
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-02-03 | Fallen Livestock | Information not held |
| A request was made for detailed statistics on fallen livestock including causes of death, species, and disposal numbers, but the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture responded that they do not hold this information. | ||
| 2019-12-10 | DEFA // Katya Katkova // eastlondonmornings | Information not held |
| A requester asked the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture for all correspondence and financial documentation regarding Katya Katkova in 2019, but the authority responded that it does not hold the requested information. | ||
| 2019-11-14 | Proposed implementation of all island 5G Masts coverage | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture regarding the number, location, and environmental impact of proposed 5G masts on the Isle of Man. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information. | ||
| 2019-11-12 | Planning - Designated Voluntary Organisations s40 TCPA 1999 | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the names of voluntary organisations designated under section 40 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1999 that submitted rules and accounts around 2005/2006. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture responded that the information is not held, noting that the request predates the current FOI Act and that the relevant policy function has since moved to other departments. | ||
| 2019-11-07 | Planning Application: 18/00811/C | Information not held |
| A request was made for the Independent Planning Inspector's report regarding minibus parking at Kirk Michael School, but the information was withheld as it is exempt under Section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 because it is held for future publication. | ||
| 2019-10-15 | What wildlife was found and where in Braddan, in particular, in 2012? | Information not held |
| The requester asked the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture for wildlife survey results from Braddan in 2012 and subsequent years, but the authority stated it does not hold this specific information. | ||
| 2019-10-02 | Recycling of plastic food packaging waste, tetra pack materials | Information not held |
| The requester asked the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture about the final destination of plastic food packaging and tetra pack waste collected via roadside boxes. The authority responded that it does not hold this information, as recycling collection is managed by local councils and the Department of Infrastructure. | ||
| 2019-09-26 | Michael Hurley | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture for employment records of Michael Hurley regarding his work on the east area plan inquiry. The department responded that it does not hold this information because the relevant functions fall under the Cabinet Office. | ||
| 2019-05-10 | Glyphosate Useage | Information not held |
| The requester asked about government use of glyphosate in schools and plans to monitor its use on private agricultural land. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture stated it holds no information on other departments' usage and confirmed there are currently no plans to monitor glyphosate use on private land. | ||
| 2018-08-24 | Oil spill from Manx Radio land 2013 | Information not held |
| 2018-08-23 | Oil spill from Manx Radio land | Information not held |
| A request was made for details regarding an oil spill from Manx Radio land in February 2018 affecting the applicant's property. The request was withdrawn and closed because the applicant noted an incorrect date and submitted a new request with the correct information. | ||
| 2018-04-16 | Hydrocarbon licensing in Manx waters | Information not held |
| The requester asked the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture about hydrocarbon licensing offers and impact assessments following the 2017 round. The department responded that it does not hold the requested information because responsibility for the Petroleum Act and licensing was transferred to the Department of Infrastructure in 2017. | ||
| 2018-04-06 | Number of perished lambs after sub zero temperatures | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture for the number of ewes and lambs that perished due to sub-zero temperatures between December 2017 and April 2018. The authority responded that the requested information is not held. | ||
| 2018-01-28 | Building Regulations | Information not held |
| The requester asked for statistics on meetings where landlords abandoned tourist accommodation plans due to insulation regulations, but the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture stated this specific data is not held. Instead, the authority disclosed that 36 applications for change of use to tourist accommodation have been processed since 2014, all of which proceeded with necessary upgrades. | ||
| 2017-12-18 | Pinfold Act | Information not held |
| A request was made for the locations and contact numbers of Pinfolds under the Pinfolds Act 1963, but the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture responded that no such information is held because the government currently maintains no pinfolds. | ||
| 2017-11-08 | Accident at IOM Meats | Information not held |
| A requester sought all documentation related to a 2016 accident at Isle of Man Meats, including payslips and reports, but the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture stated it does not hold this information as the company is privately owned. The request for personal data was also refused under an absolute exemption. | ||
| 2017-10-15 | Eastern Area Plan | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture regarding the next document in the Eastern Area Plan process, but the department stated it does not hold this information as the function has been transferred to the Cabinet Office. | ||
| 2017-08-15 | Richmond Hill CC minutes etc | Information not held |
| The request sought minutes and agreements regarding the Richmond Hill Consultative Committee, but the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture stated it did not hold the specific 2016 meeting minutes or the signed 2012 agreement, while refusing to re-supply previously provided briefing notes and minutes under a practical refusal reason. | ||
| 2017-07-08 | Peel Marina dredging & Raggatt Leachate | Information not held |
| The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture stated it does not hold specific data regarding Peel Marina dredging and Raggatt Leachate disposal, referring those queries to the Department of Infrastructure. Information regarding policy formulation for these issues was withheld under FOI exemptions due to ongoing reviews and cross-departmental work. | ||
| 2017-05-04 | Hill Farm Payments | Information not held |
| 2017-03-19 | Brazilian Meat | Information not held |