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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-10-24 | House purchase scheme | Information not held |
| A request was made for statistics on businesses operating from properties under the House Purchase Assistance Scheme, including permission status and registration details. The Department of Infrastructure responded that it does not hold the specific data requested and cannot compile it without creating new information. | ||
| 2018-09-19 | Democratic representation | Information not held |
| The requester asked about unspoken policies protecting government staff accused of criminality and the procedure for whistleblowing. The Department of Infrastructure stated it does not hold information on unspoken policies as they are not valid FOI requests, but provided a link to the official government whistleblowing policy. | ||
| 2018-08-31 | Bus Vannin - patient transfer contract with DHSC | Information not held |
| The requester asked for detailed capital and revenue costs associated with Bus Vannin's non-emergency patient transfer contract with the Department of Health and Social Security. The Department of Infrastructure responded that specific cost breakdowns were not held because no new capital expenditure was incurred and the service was in its early stages of operation. | ||
| 2018-07-30 | Flight cancellations | Information not held |
| A request was made for statistics on flight cancellations and delays to London City, Liverpool, and Manchester in 2018. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held because they only record aircraft movements that actually touch the runway, not cancellations. | ||
| 2018-07-20 | Changing facilities | Information not held |
| The requester asked for a breakdown of government properties with showers, changing facilities, and cycle storage, as well as plans to introduce these in central Douglas. The Department of Infrastructure responded that it does not hold this information because its property lists do not track specific amenities and there are no recorded plans for new facilities. | ||
| 2018-05-21 | Shoprite Car Park Ramsey | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding responsibility, reporting, and repair statistics for potholes in the Shoprite car park in Ramsey. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information and advised the requester to contact Ramsey Town Commissioners instead. | ||
| 2018-04-13 | Sheltered Accommodation | Information not held |
| The requester asked for statistics on individuals under 65 living in sheltered accommodation on the Isle of Man, but the Department of Infrastructure responded that they do not hold this information as they do not manage such housing. | ||
| 2018-03-08 | IM123949I Inspection fire doors | Information not held |
| A request was made for the qualifications of personnel inspecting fire doors in Isle of Man Government buildings. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held because there are no specific qualification requirements for carrying out these inspections. | ||
| 2018-03-07 | Yearly Heating costs of Cronk -Y-Berry Primary School each year from 2010 to present date | Information not held |
| A request was made for the yearly heating costs of Cronk-y-Berry Primary School from 2010 to 2018, but the Department of Infrastructure responded that they do not hold this information. | ||
| 2018-03-05 | cost of repairing damage caused to Ramsey and Douglas Promenades by Storm Emma | Information not held |
| A request was made for the estimated cost of repairing damage to Ramsey and Douglas Promenades caused by Storm Emma. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held because the damage assessment was still ongoing at the time. | ||
| 2018-03-05 | IM123388I Ramsey and Douglas Prom Repair estimates | Information not held |
| A request was made for cost estimates regarding storm damage repairs to the Ramsey and Douglas Promenades. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the requested information is not held. | ||
| 2018-02-27 | Map of Government land in Braddan | Information not held |
| The requester asked for a map of the Nobles Hospital site in Braddan showing government, private, and public land ownership. The Department of Infrastructure responded that they do not hold such a map and suggested contacting the General Registry for land ownership details. | ||
| 2018-02-07 | Employee use of vehicles | Information not held |
| A request was made regarding the number of government vehicles taken home by employees and the rules surrounding their use, fuel costs, and start times. Although the Department of Infrastructure initially stated the information was not held, they provided a detailed breakdown of policies and vehicle counts for each division under a 'Business as Usual' response. | ||
| 2018-01-18 | Estates Section - Training and salary costs | Information not held |
| The request sought training costs, meeting frequencies, and management salary details for the Estates Section over three years. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed training figures for 2016 and 2017 and salary bands, but withheld earlier training data and specific individual salaries due to lack of records and data protection concerns. | ||
| 2017-12-28 | Ramsey Harbour vessels & public liability insurance | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding Ramsey Harbour vessels and public liability insurance. The authority responded that the requested information is not held. | ||
| 2017-10-29 | Strang New Consultation questions | Information not held |
| A request for detailed costs regarding traffic calming surveys, maintenance, and consultations for Strang Road was largely refused because the Department of Infrastructure does not record these specific figures separately. The authority disclosed only the number of incidents involving damaged planters and directed the requester to a website for general cost information. | ||
| 2017-10-18 | Flight cancellations | Information not held |
| 2017-09-07 | Cost of helicopters used in TT/MGP | Information not held |
| A request for costs related to TT/MGP rescue helicopters and medical services was partially answered by the Department of Health and Social Care, which stated it did not hold helicopter cost data but provided figures for extra staff, bed costs, and patient transfers. | ||
| 2017-08-16 | Rates outstanding | Information not held |
| 2017-07-24 | Marina Road tender | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding the Marina Road tender, but the authority responded that the information is not held. | ||
| 2017-07-03 | Scooil Vallajeet - Transport consultation etc | Information not held |
| A request for information regarding transport consultation for Scooil Vallajeet was submitted to the Department of Infrastructure. The authority responded that the specific information requested is not held and cannot be found after reasonable steps. | ||
| 2017-03-18 | Landing stage Mersey | Information not held |
| A request was made for plans regarding a proposed new landing stage in the Mersey, but the Department of Infrastructure responded that no such plans or drawings exist as the project is in its early stages. | ||
| 2017-01-23 | Highways Adoption Oakhill Close | Information not held |
| The applicant requested proof of when the Department of Infrastructure adopted a section of land outside number 47 Oakhill Close as a public highway. The Department responded that it does not hold the requested information because the responsibility for roads constructed before the mid-1980s was transferred from Douglas Borough Council without specific adoption documentation. | ||