Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture
52 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 232.7%
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 (52)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-06 | Meat Plant Subsidy | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The applicant requested a breakdown of Treasury subsidies for IOM Meats from January 2015 to January 2026. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to provide the data directly, citing that the information is already reasonably accessible via the Government Accounts website. | ||
| 2026-01-30 | Reports | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for all DEFA commissioned reports on Isle of Man Meats since 2022, but the Department withheld the information citing an exemption for material intended for future publication. | ||
| 2025-12-10 | Tree felling | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture regarding revenue from tree felling shipped by Mezeron Freight, but no information was disclosed. | ||
| 2025-11-26 | Agri-Environmental Budget | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for Agri-Environment Annual Payment Reports for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 to investigate rumors of budget reallocation to a meat plant. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture withheld the reports under Section 41 as they are held for future publication, but confirmed the budget was not reallocated. | ||
| 2025-11-06 | Reayrt Vradda | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester sought documentation regarding the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture's alleged failure to enforce planning conditions at the Reayrt Vradda glamping site concerning permanent residence. The authority withheld all requested information, citing an ongoing investigation that could lead to criminal proceedings. | ||
| 2025-10-10 | Understanding of tender process | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request for specific rent amounts from the Swiss Chalet tender was partially refused under commercial interest exemptions, though a summary rental range was disclosed. | ||
| 2025-10-09 | Statute enabling removal of an ADS application from annual mailing. | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for statutory documentation permitting the arbitrary removal of ADS participants from annual mailings or the refusal of application forms. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to provide the documents under Section 20, stating the information is already reasonably accessible via the ADS Farmers' Handbook and the Agricultural Development Scheme 2019 legislation. | ||
| 2025-09-09 | The latest food hygiene breaches and scores of one or zero | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for a list of food premises with hygiene scores of zero or one and associated enforcement actions between May and September 2025. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture withheld all information under Section 41, citing that the data is held for future publication as part of a new hygiene scheme. | ||
| 2025-08-13 | DEFA responds to former MHK's calls for referendum - 13.08.25 | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for data on resident support, evidence for government statements, and cost-effectiveness analyses regarding the Isle of Man's net-zero targets. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture responded that while the information is held, it is exempt from disclosure, resulting in no information being sent. | ||
| 2025-08-05 | IOM Meats Accounts | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester sought audited financial accounts for Isle of Man Meats from 2021 to the latest year, but the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture withheld the 2022-23 accounts under a future publication exemption and stated it did not hold the 2023-24 and 2024-25 accounts. | ||
| 2025-07-24 | Snuff the Wind | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The applicant requested data proving that the closure of Snuff the Wind stopped silting in Peel harbour, but the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to provide new information. | ||
| 2025-06-02 | Advice given to DEFA by the AG's Office regarding Charlie the XLB type | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for legal advice correspondence between DEFA and the Attorney General's Office regarding the euthanasia of a dog named Charlie. The authority withheld all information, citing legal professional privilege as the exemption. | ||
| 2025-05-28 | Alleged breach of planning control | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for the original complaint letter regarding an alleged planning breach at 2 Windsor Road, but the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to disclose it. | ||
| 2025-04-08 | Port Erin Beach Huts | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for clarification on whether a revised planning application was submitted for Port Erin Beach Huts regarding permanent concrete bases. The authority responded that no information was sent because the relevant planning details are already reasonably accessible online under Section 20 of the Act. | ||
| 2025-04-04 | Cair Vie Windfarm EIA criteria | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for specific criteria and internal guidance regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Cair Vie Wind Farm. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to provide the information, stating it was already reasonably accessible via published scoping reports. | ||
| 2024-11-22 | Planning Application 13/91461/B, aka former Ramsey gasworks site | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A resident requested the complete planning file for the former Ramsey gasworks site to investigate unfulfilled planning conditions, but the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to send documents, citing that the information is already reasonably accessible via their website or public archives. | ||
| 2024-11-06 | Feral Wallaby & Feral Goat Populations | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for specific population counts and a report regarding feral wallabies and goats following a 2024 drone survey. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to provide the information directly, citing that it was already reasonably accessible via a public news article. | ||
| 2024-07-23 | Planning Application Independent Assessment | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for the average number of planning application refusals overturned by independent assessment per year, specifically for 2023. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to provide the data directly, citing that it is already reasonably accessible via the government's Open Data webpage. | ||
| 2024-04-18 | Live farm animal exports | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request for data on live farm animal exports, veterinary costs, and government subsidies for the IOM Meat Plant was made to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture. The authority refused to disclose the information, citing that monetary values are held by private farmers, questions regarding necessity and food security seek opinions rather than recorded data, and the response was cut off before addressing cost-related queries. | ||
| 2024-02-27 | Land use costs | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2024-02-13 | Details of Scoping for the EIA for Earystane and Scard Turbine Site | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2023-11-21 | Reyart Vradda | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2023-10-25 | Enforcement cabin Kattegat | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2023-07-27 | FIELD 420426 - PLANNING APPLICATION 23/00359/B | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2023-07-27 | COLBY RIVER AND SCARD RESERVOIRS AND TRIBUTARIES | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2023-07-24 | LOCATION PLANS RE SCARD / EARYSTANE WIND TURBINE | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2023-07-20 | ENVIROMENTAL SURVEYS TO INCLUDE ALL FLORA AND FAUNA | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2022-11-29 | Works in Conservation Area, upper Gretch Veg waterfall area, Laxey | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2022-11-29 | Works in Conservation Area, Gretch Veg culvert area, Laxey | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2022-10-21 | FPV Barrule | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2021-10-06 | Snuff the Wind | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for reports and evidence regarding the closure of the Snuff the Wind motorcycle facility and its impact on Peel harbour silting. The authority refused to send new documents, stating the information was already reasonably accessible via a previous FOI response from August 2020. | ||
| 2021-09-23 | Farm support payments 2011-present. | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request for annual farm support payments for specific fields from 2011 to present was refused because the information is either already reasonably accessible online or would require the department to derive new data. | ||
| 2021-08-23 | Permitted Development 5G | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for a list of 5G mast installations and planned applications under Permitted Development on the Isle of Man. The authority refused to provide the specific lists, citing that the information is already reasonably accessible via their public online planning portal, though they did provide a sample list of historical 'telecommunication' applications. | ||
| 2021-08-18 | Information regarding complaints | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for copies of complaints regarding Ballakindry Mill Ballabeg, including dates and complainant details. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to disclose the information, stating it was held but exempt. | ||
| 2021-07-22 | Port St Mary skatepark | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for planning documents regarding a proposed skatepark in Port St Mary, specifically seeking the rationale for non-support. The authority responded that the information was already reasonably accessible online and clarified that the application was deemed withdrawn rather than refused. | ||
| 2021-07-08 | Alleged breach of planning control | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for the identity of the person who made a complaint regarding an alleged planning breach at their property. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to disclose this information, citing it as absolutely exempt personal data. | ||
| 2021-05-31 | Government's' land ownership in German, Patric and Malew Parishes. | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for maps showing government-owned land and watercourses in the parishes of German, Patrick, and Malew. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to provide the information under FOI, stating it is already reasonably accessible through the government's mapping unit. | ||
| 2020-12-01 | Buildings considered suitable for protected building status in Ramsey | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for a list of 47 buildings in Ramsey identified as potential protected structures but not yet registered. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to disclose the information, citing exemptions related to cultural heritage and the fact that similar data is already publicly available in other local plans. | ||
| 2020-09-02 | Buildings worthy of Registration in Ramsey | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2020-07-13 | SEISMIC SURVEYS TO CROGA LTD | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2020-04-27 | Species list assess by International Union for Conservation of Nature | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for a comprehensive list of IUCN-assessed species found in the Isle of Man across various threat categories. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to provide the list, stating the information is already reasonably accessible via the IUCN Red List website. | ||
| 2020-03-04 | Alleged Breach of Planning - Unit 269A Jurby Industrial Estate, Jurby | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester sought information regarding an alleged planning breach involving workers living in a mobile home at Unit 269A Jurby Industrial Estate, specifically asking for the identity of the accuser and investigation details. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to disclose any information, citing exemptions for personal data and ongoing investigations. | ||
| 2019-12-10 | Winning entrants of the Retrofit for the Future ideas competition | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2019-12-10 | PA 19/00466/B Ballaugh Planning Approval | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The applicant requested all correspondence and paperwork regarding planning application PA 19/00466/B, including a specific drawing and enforcement details. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture withheld enforcement information under law enforcement exemptions and personal complaint data under absolute personal information exemptions, while directing the applicant to online resources for general planning details. | ||
| 2019-08-22 | River Water Quality | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request for river water quality testing reports from the last 12 months was refused by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture. The authority cited that the 2018 report is being drafted for future publication and the 2019 data is incomplete, making disclosure exempt under Section 41 of the Act. | ||
| 2019-08-13 | Alleged Breach of Planning Control (Ref 19/00004/COU) | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made to identify the person or persons who lodged a complaint regarding an alleged breach of planning control (Ref 19/00004/COU). The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to disclose the information, citing that it constitutes absolutely exempt personal data. | ||
| 2019-08-06 | Weekly kill rate | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request for weekly livestock kill rates, export inspection details, mortality statistics, and transport locations was made to the Isle of Man Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture. The authority withheld information on kill rates and transport locations citing commercial and safety exemptions, while stating that data on inspections and mortality was not held. | ||
| 2019-06-13 | Requesting information regarding an informant to the planning control | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for the identity of an informant who reported a garage roof issue to planning enforcement, citing potential harassment. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to disclose the information, citing an absolute exemption for personal data under the Freedom of Information Act 2015. | ||
| 2018-05-08 | Grant | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for detailed payment statistics regarding the Countryside scheme for farmers, including total amounts and recipient counts by value bracket. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to provide the information directly, citing that it is already reasonably accessible on their public website. | ||
| 2018-04-09 | Food Hygeine | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for McDonald's inspection reports and statistics on pre-informed and unannounced inspections over the last three years. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to disclose any information, citing exemptions related to ongoing regulatory investigations. | ||
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