Declarations of Interest

Summary

A request was made for records of declarations of interest by members of the Citizens' Forum on Climate Change, but the Cabinet Office responded that no such information is held because members were not asked to declare conflicts of interest.

Key Facts

• The Cabinet Office does not hold records of declarations of interest for the Citizens' Forum on Climate Change.
• The Climate Change Team did not ask forum members to declare conflicts of interest.
• The forum consists of 36 members: 12 from the electoral register, 12 applicants, and 12 stakeholders.
• Stakeholders represent sectors such as business, agriculture, construction, and energy.
• The forum acts as a focus group for research rather than a policy-making entity.

Data Disclosed

• 36
• 12
• 2021-06-09
• 2021-06-15
• 1836429

Original Request

All records of declarations of interests by members of the Citizens' Forum on Climate Change. By "records" I mean as defined in the Freedom of Information Act. By "declarations of interests" I mean declarations of potential conflicts of interests as commonly used by the Isle of Man Government. By "Citizens' Forum on Climate Change" I mean the forum referred to online here: https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/departments/cabinet-office/climate-change-isle-of-man/citizens-forum-on-climate-change/

Data Tables (4)

Full Response Text

Government Office Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PN Telephone: (+44) 01624 686244 Website: www.gov.im/co

Our ref: 1836429 15 June 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 9 June 2021 and which states:

"All records of declarations of interests by members of the Citizens' Forum on Climate Change. By "records" I mean as defined in the Freedom of Information Act. By "declarations of interests" I mean declarations of potential conflicts of interests as commonly used by the Isle of Man Government. By "Citizens' Forum on Climate Change" I mean the forum referred to online here: https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/departments/cabinet- office/climate-change-isle-of-man/citizens-forum-on-climate-change/"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Cabinet Office does not hold the information that you have requested. The Isle of Man Government has set up the Citizens’ Forum on Climate Change. The Climate Change Team have not asked any of the Forum members to declare conflicts of interest. The membership of the group consists of 36 people – 12 from the electoral register, 12 applicants and 12 ‘stakeholders’. The latter represent a sector for example; · Business (Chamber of Commerce Climate Change group) · Land Users/Agriculture (Manx National Farmers Union) · Construction/Trade (Construction Isle of Man) · Young Business Leaders (Chamber of Commerce Think Tank group) · Climate Change Action Group (Isle of Man Climate Change Coalition) · Architects (Isle of Man Society of Architects) · Transport · Wildlife/biodiversity

· Small Businesses · Energy Users · Vulnerable · Students These stakeholders, by the very nature of their attendance, have a vested interest in the area in which they represent. The Forum is not a policy making entity, they act as a focus group for the Climate Change Transformation Team’s research and provide feedback and insights from a community perspective. To this extent the Climate Change Team does not feel that there would be any merit in asking members to declare conflicts of interest. Please quote the reference number 1836429 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