Vehicles provided by the DHSC.

Summary

A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care regarding the number of motor vehicles provided to disabled customers, but the authority responded that the information is not held.

Key Facts

• The Department of Health and Social Care does not hold information on the number of vehicles provided to disabled customers.
• The refusal is based on Section 11(3)a of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 as a practical reason.
• Social Security within the Department of Treasury administers Disability Living Allowance which can be used for Motability vehicles.
• Arrangements for Motability vehicles are between the individual claimant and Motability, so the Department has no data on take-up.
• The request was received on 11 November 2019 and closed on 15 November 2019.

Data Disclosed

• 1038561
• 2019-11-11
• 2019-11-15
• 65
• Section 11(3)a

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)a of the Freedom of Information Act 2015

Original Request

How many motor vehicles are being provided for mentally and physically disabled customers of the Department of Health and Social Care at the current time?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Interim Chief Executive: Angela Murray Freedom of Information Team Department of Health & Social Care Chief Executive’s Office Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3QA Telephone: (01624) 642621 Email: dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc

Our ref: 1038561 15th November 2019

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on the 11th November 2019 and states:

"How many motor vehicles are being provided for mentally and physically disabled customers of the Department of Health and Social Care at the current time?"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care (“the Department”) is unable to provide the information that you have requested. This is in line with Section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. However you may wish to contact Social Security within the Department of Treasury who may be able to help you. Social Security does administer disability related benefits (Disability Living Allowance) for adults under 65 years old. Individuals who qualify and are entitled to a mobility component of the benefit can use this towards a Motability vehicle. However, the arrangements would be between the individual social security claimant and Motability and therefore no information is available in relation to the take up of the Motability scheme. Please quote the reference number 1038561 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely