Costs associated with UK consultants

Summary

The requester asked for a cost breakdown, roles, and impact assessment of four UK consultants employed by the Department of Infrastructure's Highway services. The authority disclosed the total net cost and the reason for employment but refused to provide an opinion on whether the costs were detrimental to other services.

Key Facts

• The overall net cost for the four UK consultants was £177,340.
• The consultants were employed between 1 July 2019 and 25 March 2020.
• The agency workers were hired to fill staffing gaps within the Department.
• The Department refused to answer if the costs were detrimental to other services as it constitutes an opinion rather than recorded information.
• The request was handled by the Department of Infrastructure in the Isle of Man.

Data Disclosed

• £177,340
• 1 July 2019
• 25 March 2020
• 4 UK consultants
• 26 June 2020
• 10 July 2020
• 1347242

Exemptions Cited

• Request for opinion rather than information held

Original Request

Could the Department give a breakdown on cost's asssociated with the 4 UK consultants employed by the Highway services maintenance at Ellerslie from 1 July 2019 until 25 March 2020 and what was the role the were carrying out and was the cost detrimental to any other maintenance service the Department carry out?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team/DWG/MF Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 1347242 10 July 2020

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 26 June 2020 and which states (sic) numbered for ease of reference:

"1. Could the Department give a breakdown on cost's asssociated with the 4 UK consultants employed by the Highway services maintenance at Ellerslie from 1 July 2019 until 25 March 2020 and 2. what was the role the were carrying out and 3. was the cost detrimental to any other maintenance service the Department carry out?"

The answers to your questions are: 1. The overall nett cost was £177,340. 2. The agency workers were employed to fill the gaps in staffing that the Department had during that time. 3. This is asking for an opinion rather than being a request for ‘information held’.
For this reason, the Department is unable to provide an answer as no such opinion has been recorded.

Please quote the reference number 1347242 in any future communications.

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Yours sincerely

FOI Response Team