Disability impact assessment
| Authority | Cabinet Office |
|---|---|
| Date received | 2021-07-15 |
| Outcome | Information not held |
| Outcome date | 2021-08-11 |
| Case ID | 1907073 |
Summary
The requester asked for disability impact assessments regarding the reduction of border controls since moving from Level 3 of the pandemic framework. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold the specific documents requested, though it explained that equality considerations were integrated into the border control measures.
Key Facts
- The Cabinet Office does not hold the specific inequality disability impact assessments requested.
- Border control regulations apply to both Island residents and visitors.
- Digital access considerations included provisions for non-digital options before travel or at arrival.
- The government aims to end border restrictions by the end of August 2021, though this is not guaranteed.
- Vaccination status is not a protected characteristic under the Equality Act, but exclusion risks are recognized.
Data Disclosed
- 1907073
- 2021-07-15
- 2021-08-11
- Level 3
- end of August 2021
- IM1 3PN
- 01624 686244
Exemptions Cited
- Information not held
Original Request
I would request copies of any/all inequality disability mpact assessments for the reduction in border controls since we moved from Level 3 of the framework
Data Tables (2)
| The Regulations underpinning the border controls are applied to Island residents and |
|---|
| visitors alike. Where the Regulations require digital access consideration has been |
| given to the provision of additional non-digital options either before travel or at the |
| point of arrival. |
| The overall approach is designed to protect the population as a whole including those |
| people who could by the nature of a protected characteristic be particularly vulnerable |
| to COVID-19. The evidence is clear that the risk of serious illness or death is highest |
| amongst the elderly population and those with underlying health conditions. |
| The purpose of the border controls to date has been to enable the Isle of Man |
| Government to manage the pandemic and the effect on the Island and its people. |
| From the start of the pandemic it was clear to Government that a robust and urgent |
| response was required to protect the people of the Isle of Man and to ensure that the |
| health and care services on the Island were not overwhelmed. The approach is |
| considered to have been proportionate and necessary given the serious threat to life |
| that COVID-19 represents without the protection of vaccination. This includes |
| measures at the ports of arrival. |
| The introduction of the vaccine exemption for arrivals is clearly a sensitive issue for |
| some people however it represents an opportunity for society to start returning to |
| some degree of normality. This is an opportunity for all, including those most at risk |
| from COVID-19 due to age or health conditions. The vaccine represents a main route, |
| albeit not the only route, out of the pandemic globally not just for our Island. Although |
| being unvaccinated in itself does not represent a protected characteristic under the |
| Equality Act, it is recognised that it can lead to people feeling excluded if not dealt with |
| sensitively. The vaccine is one of several public health measures that also include hand |
|---|
| washing, use of face coverings, social distancing and other measures. |
| In terms of the border then the restrictions introduced remain relevant, proportionate |
| and necessary in the face of the continued threat from COVID-19 and where the |
| vaccination exemption is not available, then various testing pathways are available to |
| be utilised for the population as a whole. Government must have the flexibility to |
| respond to arguably the biggest public health threat in a century. |
| It is anticipated that the measures will be temporary with the ambition to end |
| restrictions at the border by the end of August 2021 however that remains an |
| ambition, informed by the virus and the global threat posed by it. Although an |
| ambition, it is not a certainty, and it should be recognised that some form of measures |
| will likely remain in place until the formal ending of the pandemic. |
| The Isle of Man is not alone in dealing with this challenge and the temporary |
| adjustment to border control based on vaccination status is also being adopted by |
| many countries around the world. |
Full Response Text
Government Office Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PN Telephone: (+44) 01624 686244 Website: www.gov.im/co
Our ref: 1907073 11 August 2021
Dear ###
We write further to your request which was received on 15 July 2021 and which states:
"I would request copies of any/all inequality disability mpact [sic] assessments for the reduction in border controls since we moved from Level 3 of the framework"
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Cabinet Office does not hold the information that you have requested. Whilst the information may not be held, this does not mean that the equality impact or the public sector equality duty has not been considered during the recent changes as will be explained below.
The Regulations underpinning the border controls are applied to Island residents and
visitors alike. Where the Regulations require digital access consideration has been
given to the provision of additional non-digital options either before travel or at the
point of arrival.
The overall approach is designed to protect the population as a whole including those
people who could by the nature of a protected characteristic be particularly vulnerable
to COVID-19. The evidence is clear that the risk of serious illness or death is highest
amongst the elderly population and those with underlying health conditions.
The purpose of the border controls to date has been to enable the Isle of Man
Government to manage the pandemic and the effect on the Island and its people.
From the start of the pandemic it was clear to Government that a robust and urgent
response was required to protect the people of the Isle of Man and to ensure that the
health and care services on the Island were not overwhelmed. The approach is
considered to have been proportionate and necessary given the serious threat to life
that COVID-19 represents without the protection of vaccination. This includes
measures at the ports of arrival.
The introduction of the vaccine exemption for arrivals is clearly a sensitive issue for
some people however it represents an opportunity for society to start returning to
some degree of normality. This is an opportunity for all, including those most at risk
from COVID-19 due to age or health conditions. The vaccine represents a main route,
albeit not the only route, out of the pandemic globally not just for our Island. Although
being unvaccinated in itself does not represent a protected characteristic under the
Equality Act, it is recognised that it can lead to people feeling excluded if not dealt with
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sensitively. The vaccine is one of several public health measures that also include hand
washing, use of face coverings, social distancing and other measures.
In terms of the border then the restrictions introduced remain relevant, proportionate
and necessary in the face of the continued threat from COVID-19 and where the
vaccination exemption is not available, then various testing pathways are available to
be utilised for the population as a whole. Government must have the flexibility to
respond to arguably the biggest public health threat in a century.
It is anticipated that the measures will be temporary with the ambition to end
restrictions at the border by the end of August 2021 however that remains an
ambition, informed by the virus and the global threat posed by it. Although an
ambition, it is not a certainty, and it should be recognised that some form of measures
will likely remain in place until the formal ending of the pandemic.
The Isle of Man is not alone in dealing with this challenge and the temporary
adjustment to border control based on vaccination status is also being adopted by
many countries around the world.
Please quote the reference number 1907073 in any future communications.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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