Department of Infrastructure
123 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 366.7%
The Freedom of Information requests to the Isle of Man Department of Infrastructure reveal an authority that is selectively transparent, often prioritizing commercial confidentiality and administrative convenience over public scrutiny. A recurring theme is the 'black box' nature of major transport procurement; while the Department readily discloses the existence of projects like the Douglas Promenade or the purchase of Mercedes buses, it consistently withholds specific financial figures, citing commercial sensitivity (Cases 355921, 361167). Furthermore, the Department frequently relies on the 'information not held' exemption to avoid answering questions about specific costs for major events like the TT (Case 355883) or historical road adoptions (Case 355761), suggesting significant gaps in data retention and financial granularity.
Key Cases
Case 355857 — This case marks a critical turning point where the Department invoked the 'vexatious' exemption to block a series of requests regarding the Douglas Promenade and steam locomotives. It highlights the tension between persistent public scrutiny and the administrative burden, effectively shutting down a line of inquiry that had previously yielded partial results.
Case 355921 — A significant disclosure regarding the procurement of Mercedes buses, where the Department explicitly cited commercial sensitivity to withhold pricing and contract details. This case exemplifies the 'black box' nature of major transport spending, where the public knows buses were bought but not the specific financial terms.
Case 449033 — This case is notable for being 'Upheld - partial' following an internal review. The Information Commissioner found the Department had incorrectly applied a 'not held' exemption to the ZipTrip app costs, forcing a re-processing. It serves as a rare instance of the Department's initial refusal being challenged and corrected, revealing hidden financial data.
Case 355883 — The refusal to provide specific costs for TT (Tourist Trophy) road repairs, claiming they are not recorded separately from normal activities. Given the TT is the island's most significant economic event, the inability to isolate its infrastructure costs raises questions about financial accountability for major events.
Case 358461 — The complete withholding of information regarding a 2013 electric shock incident on the Manx Electric Railway due to 'ongoing legal proceedings.' This case underscores how legal risk is used as a blanket exemption to prevent the public from understanding the safety history of heritage transport.
Related FOI Stories
The Douglas Promenade: From Transparency to Vexatious Refusal — #355795, #355857, #355859, #355861, #355863
Commercial Secrecy in Transport Procurement — #355763, #355921, #361167, #355893, #356129
Data Gaps and 'Not Held' Defenses — #355761, #355773, #355883, #355895, #361191
Safety Incidents and Legal Exemptions — #358443, #358461, #355863, #355921, #548540
Housing and Social Welfare Opacity — #355805, #358449, #358451, #355925, #647165
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-06-20 | Airport issues Menzies Aviation | Information not held |
| 2023-06-16 | car parks | Information not held |
| 2023-06-16 | Flight delays | Information not held |
| 2023-06-16 | Airport extension to curfew | Information not held |
| 2023-06-08 | 2017 Porch Structure Repairs 7/8 The Promenade, Castletown, IM9 1BJ | Information not held |
| 2023-05-22 | Purchase of peat company locos | Information not held |
| 2023-05-16 | Employment Tribunals | Information not held |
| 2023-05-02 | Felling of Trees | Information not held |
| 2023-04-27 | Revenue collected for recordal fees | Information not held |
| 2023-04-06 | Regional Sports Hub Terms of Reference | Information not held |
| 2023-03-03 | Reasons for closure of airport each morning | Information not held |
| 2023-01-24 | Requesting a list for the full number of Disabled Parking Bays | Information not held |
| 2023-01-18 | DOI/Housing Matters - The Steadings | Information not held |
| 2023-01-09 | Ballacallin Hotel | Information not held |
| 2023-01-05 | ET Phone DOI | Information not held |
| 2022-10-13 | Manx utilities gas import | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for data on gas import volumes, costs, and suppliers for the Isle of Man. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information and suggested contacting the Manx Utilities Authority instead. | ||
| 2022-10-11 | Right of way to the Staarvey Road | Information not held |
| 2022-10-04 | Land adjacent to MER terminus in Ramsey by Parsonage Road | Information not held |
| 2022-08-11 | Legal advice | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for legal advice sought by the Cabinet Office in 2020 regarding quarantine charges and the use of the Comis Hotel. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information and suggested contacting the Cabinet Office directly. | ||
| 2022-07-26 | Airport closure June 16th 2022 | Information not held |
| A request for details regarding a suspicious item that caused an airport closure on June 16, 2022, was denied by the Department of Infrastructure. The authority cited national security exemptions, stating that disclosing the nature of the item could compromise security measures and aid terrorist activities. | ||
| 2022-06-21 | Regional swimming pool survey info | Information not held |
| The requester asked for details regarding the firm, costs, contracts, and personnel involved in surveying Isle of Man regional swimming pools. The Department of Infrastructure responded that they do not hold this information and suggested contacting the Department of Education, Sport and Culture instead. | ||
| 2022-05-11 | Menzies Aviation | Information not held |
| The requester asked the Department of Infrastructure why Menzies Aviation, which operates Ronaldsway Airport, is not registered with the Isle of Man Companies Registry. The authority responded that it does not hold this information and directed the requester to submit a new request to the Department for Enterprise. | ||
| 2022-04-27 | Forecast Losses | Information not held |
| A request was made for 2022 forecast operating costs, revenues, and losses for the Isle of Man's railways and horse trams. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held because the budget apportionment to specific services is still ongoing due to rising fuel and electricity costs. | ||
| 2022-04-25 | Airport | Information not held |
| A request was made for data on private jet cancellations in 2022, including dates and reasons. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held as it is managed by private companies. | ||
| 2022-04-06 | Interview process and procedure | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for details on interview panel decision-making procedures and marking criteria. The authority responded that they do not hold the requested information and suggested contacting the Cabinet Office instead. | ||
| 2022-03-22 | Result of safety survey on Douglas Promenade | Information not held |
| A request was made for the results of a safety survey on the Douglas Promenade, but the Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held because the audit has not yet been conducted. | ||
| 2022-03-17 | Connect Villages Scheme | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding the procurement process and fees for Grant Thornton's consultancy on the Connect Villages Scheme. The department responded that it does not hold the requested information, as the contract procurement was conducted by the Office of Fair Trading. | ||
| 2022-02-16 | Expected Losses | Information not held |
| A request was made for the 2022 expected operating costs, revenues, and losses for the Isle of Man's railways and horse trams. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held because the divisional budget calculations have not yet been completed. | ||
| 2022-02-08 | Performance Review Records | Information not held |
| The requester asked for aggregated Performance and Development Review statistics for the Department of Infrastructure ending March 2020 and related guidance documents. The Department responded that it does not hold these records and suggested contacting the Cabinet Office instead. | ||
| 2022-01-26 | Parking Tickets Douglas Area Merton Bank to Tynwald Street | Information not held |
| A request was made for detailed monthly parking ticket statistics for specific streets in Douglas for 2021 and January 2022, but the Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held in the requested format. | ||
| 2022-01-26 | Total Number and Value of parking tickets for full year of 2021 | Information not held |
| A request was made for the total number and value of parking tickets issued in the Douglas Area for 2021. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held in the requested format because their records do not specify the geographic area of the offence. | ||
| 2022-01-26 | Expected Losses | Information not held |
| A request was made for the 2022 expected operating costs, forecast revenue, and losses for the Isle of Man's railways and horse trams. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held because the 2022 budget has not yet been passed by Tynwald. | ||
| 2022-01-20 | Mountain Road Closure | Information not held |
| A request was made for all correspondence between Department of Infrastructure staff and media outlets regarding the Mountain Road closure. The authority responded that the information is not held, as relevant officers confirmed no such correspondence took place. | ||
| 2021-09-30 | Driving test Pass/Fail Quota | Information not held |
| The requester asked for compulsory pass and fail quotas for driving tests in the Isle of Man. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held because such quotas do not exist. | ||
| 2021-09-28 | Equality Impact Assessment Request | Information not held |
| A request was made for the Equality Impact Assessment regarding the Ramsey Quayside flood defence and carriageway regeneration scheme. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held as the assessment is currently in draft form and expected to be completed by December 2021. | ||
| 2021-09-21 | car park space size | Information not held |
| A request was made for legislation-based car parking space sizes and design standards, to which the Department of Infrastructure responded that no specific legislation exists and they do not hold the requested information, though they provided a link to their guidance document. | ||
| 2021-08-30 | 5G safety Data | Information not held |
| A request for safety data and research regarding 5G usage in the Isle of Man was submitted to the Department of Infrastructure, which responded that it does not hold the information as it is not the responsible authority. | ||
| 2021-06-30 | Planning application 18/00240/B | Information not held |
| A request was made for officer notebooks, phone notes, diary entries, and photographs related to planning application 18/00240/B for Ballavarvane, St Marks. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held because the officers involved have left the department and their personal accounts and notes were deleted. | ||
| 2021-06-02 | everbridge | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for detailed statistics and cost data regarding the Everbridge emergency notification system. The authority responded that the requested information is not held. | ||
| 2021-05-17 | Environmental Impact of the Promenade Redevelopment | Information not held |
| A request was made for environmental impact assessments, construction measures, and carbon footprint data regarding the Promenade Redevelopment. The Department of Infrastructure responded that none of this information exists as no assessments were undertaken or calculated for the project. | ||
| 2020-10-14 | Housing | Information not held |
| The requester asked for figures on public sector housing tenants who retained their homes after receiving over £100,000 or obtaining property over the last five years. The Department of Infrastructure stated it does not hold this specific historical data but confirmed that in every such case identified in the last five years, the tenancy was surrendered. | ||
| 2020-10-06 | Senior Management Meetings | Information not held |
| A request was made for Senior Management Team minutes of Bus Vannin meetings since 2014, but the Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held because the meetings are informal and not minuted. | ||
| 2020-09-28 | Mannin | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the business case regarding the refurbishment of the steam engine Mannin, but the Department of Infrastructure confirmed that no such document exists as the project is still in the evaluation phase. | ||
| 2020-06-04 | Number of Cars paying road tax | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the number of private cars paying road tax over the last five financial years, broken down by fuel type. The Department of Infrastructure refused the request under Section 11 of the Act, stating the data is not held in a format that allows for extraction without substantial manual compilation. | ||
| 2020-03-09 | Livestock figures for Isle of Man | Information not held |
| The requester asked for annual figures on livestock born and imported to the Isle of Man, as well as data on causes of death for fallen livestock. The Department of Infrastructure responded that it does not hold this information as it is not involved in monitoring livestock or collecting cause-of-death data. | ||
| 2020-02-06 | Road maintenance | Information not held |
| A request was made for road maintenance expenditure data for TT course and non-TT course roads since 2011. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held because maintenance costs are not recorded separately for TT roads. | ||
| 2020-01-28 | Tender for old buses | Information not held |
| The requester asked if the sale of old buses replaced by new Mercedes vehicles was put to tender and who the successful buyer was. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held because the buses have not yet been sold. | ||
| 2019-09-23 | Steam Packet Fuel. | Information not held |
| 2019-09-09 | Steam Packet Carbon Emissions | Information not held |
| A request was made for carbon emission figures for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Fleet per kilometre, mile, or journey. The Department of Infrastructure responded that they do not hold this information and noted that the Steam Packet Company is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. | ||
| 2019-01-04 | Flight cancellations and delays | Information not held |
| A request was made for 2018 flight cancellation and delay statistics from Ronaldsway Airport, but the Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held. | ||