Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture
38 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 318.4%
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
All (38)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-09 | Patrick Commoners' Allotment Management & Restrictions | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for legal title deeds, byelaw documentation, and environmental surveys regarding the Patrick Commoners' Allotment and motorcycle restrictions. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture responded that some information was sent, but not all requested data is held by the department. | ||
| 2026-01-29 | Costs of engaging the off-Island Planning Consultant re silt PAs | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture for detailed costs and justification regarding the engagement of off-Island Planning Consultant Mr Andrew Sierakowski for three specific silt management planning applications. The authority responded with a partial disclosure, stating that some information was sent but not all was held, though the provided text cuts off before detailing the specific costs or reasons for withholding data. | ||
| 2025-11-26 | Carbon Literacy Training | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request sought the specific benefits and efficiency impacts of £50,450.38 spent on Carbon Literacy training, but the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture clarified the actual cost was £42,350.38 and refused to provide interpretative opinions on the training's value, instead directing the requester to a project review document. | ||
| 2025-05-07 | Fisheries 3-mile limit | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought GPS coordinates, boundary software, and enforcement guidance regarding the Isle of Man's 3-mile fisheries limit. The authority responded by providing a 2016 consultation document on the Inshore Marine Zoning Plan, though the outcome indicates not all requested information was held. | ||
| 2025-05-06 | Earthscope - reference FoI request 4082318 | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for detailed correspondence and minutes regarding the tender process for the Earthscope project, specifically questioning adherence to procurement rules and potential interference. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture responded that some information was sent, but not all requested data was held. | ||
| 2025-04-01 | Houses of multiple occupancy | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for statistics on registered Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) and the number of properties known to be non-compliant with fire legislation. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed the total number of registered HMOs and inspection details but stated it does not hold records on the number of unregistered or non-compliant properties. | ||
| 2025-03-13 | Export of live farm animals destined for slaughter | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought data on live farm animal exports for slaughter from the Isle of Man between January 2023 and March 2025, including destinations, species, and slaughter methods. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed export numbers and destinations for cattle but stated it does not hold information on specific slaughter methods or government policies to reduce live transport. | ||
| 2025-02-13 | Equality Assessment | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought data on equality impact assessments since the Equality Act 2017, including screening numbers and rationales for non-production. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed the total number of screened decisions and a list of assessments by year, but refused to provide the specific rationale for not producing full assessments as it was not held in the requested format. | ||
| 2025-01-30 | Info related to Climate Change Access for Local Authorities/Boards | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for documentation regarding Climate Change Funding access for local authorities and statutory boards between April 2024 and February 2025. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed that no such records exist for local authorities, provided a public link for statutory boards, and confirmed no process changes occurred since January 2024. | ||
| 2024-10-29 | Windfarms | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for confirmation and a copy of a cost-benefit analysis comparing the Orsted Offshore Windfarm and Cairns Vie Onshore Windfarm. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture confirmed that no such analysis was ever carried out, meaning no information could be disclosed. | ||
| 2024-09-25 | Commitees, Board, Agencies and Offices | Some information sent but not all held |
| The applicant requested a list of committees, boards, and agencies associated with the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, including their terms of reference, membership, funding, and delegated powers. The authority responded by providing details for eight specific bodies, noting that some information was already publicly accessible via links rather than being sent directly. | ||
| 2024-02-06 | Schedule 4 birds kept in captivity | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-11-14 | Risk Assessment | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-10-04 | RdSAP 10 Implementation in the Isle of Man | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-08-22 | Meat Plant | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2022-05-26 | Repair Notice relating to Former Newson's Trading Building | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought all information regarding the decision to issue a Section 33 Repair Notice for the Former Newson's Trading Building, including communications and the rationale for not issuing a Section 32 notice. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed an enforcement assessment report detailing the building's condition, historical significance, and recommended actions, though not all requested information was held. | ||
| 2022-03-17 | Illegal access to DEFA managed land | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for a list of illegal access incidents to DEFA managed land, including dates, locations, and actions taken. The authority disclosed five specific incidents resulting in successful prosecutions and directed the requester to a public database for further exempt information. | ||
| 2021-10-08 | Waste of money and resources hassling the guy who lives in the forest | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought all records regarding a dispute between the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture and a resident of Nut Glen, later narrowing the request to financial records only. The authority disclosed specific costs incurred for a boundary review and expert discussions, totaling £1,560, while withholding other details. | ||
| 2021-08-18 | Metadata Request for Documents in FOI Response | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for original file formats and comprehensive metadata for documents previously released in a separate FOI response regarding environmental assessments. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture responded by providing metadata extracted from the file properties of the documents contained in Appendix 3. | ||
| 2021-06-30 | Planning application 20/01215/B | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for officer notebooks, phone notes, diary entries, and additional material regarding planning application 20/01215/B for Ballavarvane, St Marks. The authority provided three additional photographs but refused to release other requested materials, citing that all relevant information is already publicly available on the government planning website. | ||
| 2021-06-04 | hardwood trees planted | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought monthly planting data for softwood and hardwood trees over six years, land ownership percentages, and root clearing policies. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture provided annual totals instead of monthly data, confirmed all trees were planted on department-owned land, and stated there is no written policy on burning roots as they are generally left in situ. | ||
| 2020-03-12 | Policy Paper / advice to Minister to Close Snuff The Wind | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought policy papers and evidence regarding the closure of Snuff the Wind at Cross Vein Mine, including health impacts and pollution sources. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture released some documents but withheld specific information to protect bird breeding sites and stated that certain requested reports on health and pollution causation were not held. | ||
| 2020-03-09 | Waste Licenses | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for waste licenses and inspection records for four civic amenity sites and an Energy from Waste site. The authority provided the licenses but confirmed that no information regarding site inspections was held. | ||
| 2019-11-07 | Control of Wool Order | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for statistics on wool sales licence applications and approvals since 2000. The authority disclosed that two applications were made since October 2011, neither of which were approved, but could not provide data prior to that date as the FOI Act does not apply. | ||
| 2019-10-15 | Agriculture financial support breakdown. | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for a five-year breakdown of agricultural financial support for Isle of Man farmers, categorized by sector and scheme. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture responded with partial information, providing a detailed table of specific grant applications, approvals, rejections, and payments rather than a full aggregated statistical breakdown. | ||
| 2019-08-30 | Are red grouse or other gamebirds being released on the Isle of Man? | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request asked for data on red grouse and gamebird releases on the Isle of Man since 2011, but the authority disclosed only one specific research project from 2014-15 while confirming no other records exist. | ||
| 2019-08-28 | How many Schedule 4 birds are kept on the IOM, and what species? | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought data on Schedule 4 bird species kept on the Isle of Man since 2011, including locations and reasons for keeping them. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture provided species counts for 2011/12, 2013/14, and 2015/16 but refused to disclose geographic locations, 2017/18 figures, or reasons for keeping the birds due to the substantial compilation exemption. | ||
| 2019-07-22 | Disclosure of financial payments in relation to these specific fields | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought agricultural financial payment data for specific fields from 2007 to 2019, but the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed that no field-by-field records existed prior to 2009 and no payments were made for the requested fields between 2009 and 2018. | ||
| 2019-03-14 | Planning Applications in 2016/2018 and Building Regulation Compliance | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought planning approval statistics for 2016-2017 and building regulation data on air tightness and U-values. The Department provided full planning approval numbers but refused to provide average air pressure results or specific U-value counts, citing that the information is not held in a retrievable format. | ||
| 2019-01-11 | Waste Licences | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought waste licences for a civic amenity site and Tels Ltd, along with financial data on recycling and operational details. The authority provided the requested licences but refused to answer questions requiring analysis or data creation, and directed the applicant to public planning records for permission details. | ||
| 2018-08-29 | Agricultural Holdings Act 1969 | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for statistics on farm tenancies under the 1969 and 2008 Acts, young farmer support, and government land holdings. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed that it no longer holds data for most questions due to legislative changes and refused to compile financial data, but provided specific counts of government tenants and their lease terms. | ||
| 2018-08-08 | Pre-planning advice where this formed the basis of an application | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought statistics on pre-planning advice leading to applications and specific correspondence for numerous replacement dwelling cases between 2014 and 2018. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture responded that the requested statistics are not collated and therefore not held, resulting in a partial disclosure. | ||
| 2018-07-12 | Meat Plant finances | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2018-06-11 | Raggatt leachate treatment | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for details on chemical reactions, dilution practices, and sampling data regarding Raggatt leachate treatment. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed that the treatment relies on physical adsorption rather than chemical reactions, provided specific contaminant levels and sampling dates, but refused to create new explanatory information for some questions. | ||
| 2018-03-01 | procurement of service and supply of fire extinguishers in its premises and vehicles | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for details on DEFA's procurement of fire extinguishers and spending between 2015 and 2018. DEFA disclosed that it holds no procurement records as the service is now managed by the Department of Infrastructure, but provided total spending figures for the requested period. | ||
| 2017-12-05 | Costs ass. with Pitbull dog | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for all costs associated with the seizure and quarantine of a pit-bull type dog named Rex. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture disclosed the travel costs for a visiting UK officer but confirmed it held no information regarding the dog's removal, quarantine, or trial costs. | ||
| 2017-10-19 | Workplace Compliance Solutions Ltd | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought the cost to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture for engaging Workplace Compliance Solutions Ltd, specifically regarding services for the meat plant. The department disclosed costs for a pre-assessment appraisal and SALSA training, noting that further BRC accreditation costs were paid directly by the meat plant. | ||
| 2017-02-05 | Dog numbers | Some information sent but not all held |