Treasury
60 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 173.3%
The Freedom of Information requests to the Isle of Man Treasury reveal an authority that is highly transparent regarding aggregate financial data but increasingly protective of operational details and specific contractual arrangements. The most striking disclosures concern the 'Aircraft VAT Refund' scheme, where the Treasury confirmed over £300 million in refunds between 2016 and 2019 before the practice ceased entirely (Cases 679571, 1121225, 2695289). Similarly, the Treasury has been open about systemic administrative challenges, admitting to a backlog of over 7,000 unassessed tax returns due to staffing shortages (Case 1178052) and providing detailed breakdowns of high-profile expenditures like the Manx Care CEO office (Case 4159610). However, a pattern of obstruction emerges in requests concerning legal aid and investment specifics. The Treasury has moved from providing aggregated legal aid costs to refusing to confirm or deny specific payments (Case 3851581) and labeling persistent inquiries as 'vexatious' (Case 4004962). Furthermore, while the Treasury discloses high-level asset allocations, it consistently withholds detailed pension fund holdings and consultancy billable hours, citing commercial sensitivity and ongoing tender processes (Cases 823766, 2592433). This suggests a government that welcomes public scrutiny of its bottom line but resists deep dives into the mechanics of its decision-making and specific vendor relationships.
Key Cases
Case 679571 — Discloses a staggering £253 million in VAT refunds for 68 aircraft between 2016-2018, revealing the scale of a specific tax incentive scheme that has since vanished from the records.
Case 4159610 — Provides a full breakdown of the £27.8 million expenditure by the Manx Care CEO office, a significant disclosure regarding healthcare leadership costs that was previously opaque.
Case 1178052 — Explicitly links a backlog of 7,424 unassessed tax returns to staffing shortages, offering a rare internal admission of administrative failure affecting revenue collection.
Case 4004962 — Marks a shift in the Treasury's approach to transparency, where a request for legal aid data was classified as 'vexatious' due to the frequency of correspondence, effectively blocking further scrutiny on that topic.
Case 2249733 — Directly addresses corruption concerns by confirming that no Covid-19 Salary Support Scheme payments were made to businesses linked to former Chief Minister Howard Quayle, providing a clear 'all clear' on a high-profile allegation.
Related FOI Stories
Aircraft VAT Refund Scheme — #679571, #1121225, #1651945, #2695289
Legal Aid Expenditure and Administration — #356063, #356067, #356065, #2541489, #2594293
Pension Fund Investments and Ethics — #433135, #823766, #847165, #1037461, #1558209
Tax Arrears and Collection Efficiency — #654168, #684267, #688567, #1178052, #1193049
Strategic Consultancy and 'Our Big Picture' — #2592433, #2594494, #2306897
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-04-25 | Manx Gas | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought minutes of a Treasury meeting with Manx Gas and details of government support since September 2021; the response disclosed the full minutes of a February 2022 meeting regarding unpaid debts and regulatory pricing issues, though the outcome was noted as partially exempt. | ||
| 2022-04-22 | external auditor procurement | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for external auditor procurement papers and the contract awarded to Grant Thornton, including specific details on the Audit Act 2006 and whistleblowing policies. The Treasury responded with 84 pages of documents, primarily the 2019 Invitation to Tender, but withheld some information citing commercial confidentiality. | ||
| 2022-03-28 | MHK, MLC, Minister Expenses | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought expense figures for current MHKs and MLCs between the last general election and December 2021, broken down by category. The Treasury disclosed two specific departmental travel claims but refused to provide parliamentary travel data (already public) or a list of members with no claims (information not held). | ||
| 2022-02-24 | Red diesel representations | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought records of direct discussions between the Isle of Man Treasury and the UK Government regarding red diesel reform in 2021 and 2022. The Treasury released some correspondence but withheld specific details citing an exemption for personal data. | ||
| 2021-07-30 | DESC Social Equity Funding Business Case (Pupil Premium) | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought the Treasury's response to a 2019 business case for Social Equity Funding (Pupil Premium) and related internal documents, including correspondence and pandemic-related costs. The Treasury disclosed the original business case and a 2020 paper regarding the Free School Meals Voucher Scheme, but withheld some information citing partial exemptions. | ||
| 2021-05-26 | Bona Vacantia Business Cases | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought business cases funded by the Bona Vacantia Fund over the last five years. The Treasury disclosed five specific business cases but redacted personal information under absolute exemption. | ||
| 2021-03-17 | Steam Packet Report | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought a specific Steam Packet report on Coronavirus and related correspondence from the Treasury. The Treasury withheld the report and correspondence under a public business exemption to protect an ongoing independent review, though it confirmed the report will be published later as part of that review's final conclusion. | ||
| 2018-06-07 | Tax caps research | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked the Isle of Man Treasury for research supporting the economic, social, and environmental benefits of income tax caps for the ultra-wealthy. The Treasury responded that some information was sent, but parts of the request were exempt from disclosure. | ||
| 2018-05-28 | Appointment of Sir Jonathan Michael for Review of Healthcare System | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought emails, interview details, applicant lists, and conflict of interest forms regarding Sir Jonathan Michael's appointment to lead a healthcare system review. The Treasury disclosed correspondence confirming his acceptance of the role and discussions on terms, but withheld information on the interview panel, other applicants, and specific costs. | ||
| 2018-02-19 | Information relating to the acquisition of Glenfaba House site for the proposed Sewage Treatment Works | Some information sent but part exempt |