Office of the Clerk of Tynwald
13 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 153.8%
The Freedom of Information requests to the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald reveal an authority that is highly protective of parliamentary privilege, often using it as an absolute shield against scrutiny of Member conduct, briefings, and internal investigations. Cases such as [2303135], [2324853], and [2598157] demonstrate a consistent refusal to disclose information regarding how Members are briefed or how conflicts of interest are managed, effectively creating a 'black box' around the political decision-making process. While the Clerk's Office is willing to release specific historical financial receipts for travel (e.g., [357251], [867165]), it frequently deflects broader questions about policy, staffing capacity, or legal costs by claiming the information is 'not held' or resides with other departments, highlighting a fragmented approach to government record-keeping.
Key Cases
Case 1620137 — This case resulted in the disclosure of 293 pages of documentation regarding a 2014 internship trial, revealing the detailed internal process of creating a cost-neutral trainee position. It stands out as one of the most voluminous and revealing disclosures regarding internal HR strategy.
Case 2303135 — An 'Upheld - full' decision where the authority refused to disclose briefings to Tynwald members, citing parliamentary privilege. This is a critical case for understanding the limits of FOI in the Isle of Man, as it confirms that the internal advice given to politicians is effectively shielded from public scrutiny.
Case 357251 — The disclosure of the Falkland Islands trip expenses included a correction of a previous transcription error in the total cost. This demonstrates the practical value of FOI in correcting the public record and ensuring financial accuracy for high-profile government travel.
Case 2598157 — This case involved a specific inquiry into whether MHK Andrew Smith declared a conflict of interest regarding a gas price vote. The refusal to disclose any investigation details, citing privilege, highlights the difficulty in holding individual members accountable for potential ethical breaches through the FOI route.
Case 4554501 — The request for a list of Freemasons in Tynwald roles resulted in the disclosure of three individuals who declared such interests. It is a notable example of the FOI Act being used to uncover specific, non-financial affiliations of public officials that might otherwise remain obscure.
Related FOI Stories
Parliamentary Privilege and Member Conduct — #525135, #2324853, #2303135, #2386337, #2598157
Government Travel and Expense Transparency — #357235, #357251, #357253, #357255, #867165
Legal Costs and External Services — #1446386, #1815433, #2562465, #4339578
Staffing, Employment, and Internal Governance — #1282345, #1620137, #1821233, #2127151, #4386569
Information Not Held vs. Jurisdictional Boundaries — #357237, #357243, #357245, #475038, #1624497
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-06 | cost to the Isle of man taxpayer of police attendance | Information not held |
| The request sought the total cost of police attendance at a specific unfinished building site over five years, but the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald responded that they do not hold this information as it relates to the finances of the Isle of Man Constabulary. | ||
| 2025-10-28 | Questions by the MHK for Malew and Castletown | Information not held |
| The request sought the person hours and financial costs incurred by government departments to answer questions tabled by the MHK for Malew and Castletown. The Office of the Clerk of Tynwald responded that this information is not held because departments do not record or submit such data. | ||
| 2024-02-06 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Tynwald Day Flypast | Information not held |
| 2023-10-09 | Former members of Tynwald re-employed by Gov | Information not held |
| 2023-09-26 | Funding for Epilepsy and Psychogenic Seizures | Information not held |
| 2022-12-23 | Internet cameras | Information not held |
| 2021-02-22 | DHSC Request Ref:1538749 | Information not held |
| The requester asked the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald to provide a copy of a document allegedly destroyed by a Minister or to investigate its destruction under the FOI Act. The authority responded that the information is not held as the document was received at the Minister's private home and never entered the official office records. | ||
| 2021-01-08 | indemnity insurance | Information not held |
| The requester asked for documentation on internal discussions regarding indemnity insurance, funding strategies, and past claims for the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information, confirmed there are no funding strategies or past claims, and directed the requester to the Treasury for insurance policy details. | ||
| 2020-12-29 | external reviews | Information not held |
| The requester asked for details on external reviews, benchmarking, and future plans for the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald over the last six financial years. The authority responded that no such external reviews were conducted and there are currently no plans for future reviews, resulting in an 'Information not held' outcome. | ||
| 2019-10-15 | Manx Radio | Information not held |
| The request asked for the number of Tynwald Members listening to Manx Radio and an estimate of total listeners. The authority confirmed it does not hold data on individual Members' listening habits but directed the requester to a public website for Manx Radio listener figures. | ||
| 2018-05-21 | International Criminal Arrest Warrants | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald regarding the applicability of international criminal arrest warrants in the Isle of Man and the number of residents with unactionable warrants. The authority responded that it does not hold this information as it falls outside its responsibilities, suggesting the applicant contact the Isle of Man Constabulary instead. | ||
| 2017-06-10 | Time spent on preparing answers to questions on order paper for 13/06/2017 by civil servants | Information not held |
| A request was made for the cost of civil servants' time spent preparing answers for the Tynwald Order Paper on 13 June 2017. The Office of the Clerk of Tynwald refused the request, stating they do not hold this information as it is recorded by individual Government Departments. | ||
| 2017-03-24 | Copy of VAT sharing agreement currently used | Information not held |
| A request for a copy of the current VAT sharing agreement was refused by the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald because they do not hold the information. The authority advised the requester to contact the Customs and Excise Division of the Treasury and provided links to previously published revenue sharing arrangements. | ||