Department of Infrastructure
6 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 7516.7%
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-03-06 | Refusal of Multiple FOI requests | Vexatious request |
| The Department of Infrastructure refused multiple Freedom of Information requests regarding airport scanners, port construction, and sea wall heights, classifying them as vexatious due to their frequency and burden on resources. | ||
| 2018-02-28 | The Manufactuers name for the extra eqt for the return ttrays and reeders/tender process | Vexatious request |
| The requester asked for manufacturer details, pricing, and tender information regarding extra equipment for return trolleys and reeders at the Department of Infrastructure. The authority refused to disclose any information, classifying the request as vexatious due to the high volume and burden of requests submitted by the individual. | ||
| 2017-07-11 | Douglas Prom Contractors | Vexatious request |
| The Department of Infrastructure refused a series of Freedom of Information requests regarding the Douglas Promenade construction, steam locomotive costs, and transport director interests, classifying them as vexatious due to their frequency and burden on resources. | ||
| 2017-07-11 | Legislation for cyclists | Vexatious request |
| The Department of Infrastructure refused a series of Freedom of Information requests regarding cyclists' legislation, steam locomotives, and the Douglas Promenade, classifying them as vexatious due to their frequency and burden on resources. No information was disclosed as the requests were rejected under Section 11(3)(d) of the FOIA 2015. | ||
| 2017-07-10 | Douglas Prom Construction | Vexatious request |
| The Department of Infrastructure refused a series of Freedom of Information requests regarding the Douglas Promenade construction and steam locomotive operations, classifying them as vexatious due to their frequency and burden on resources. | ||
| 2017-07-05 | Refusal of Multiple FOI requests | Vexatious request |
| The Department of Infrastructure refused multiple Freedom of Information requests regarding locomotive costs, train breakdowns, and the Douglas Promenade construction, classifying them as vexatious due to their frequency and burden on resources. | ||