police rent and housing allowance fixed amounts

Summary

The requester asked for historical police rent and housing allowance figures from 1992 to 2021 and the number of current recipients. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed the 2021 allowance amount and recipient count but withheld historical data because the Freedom of Information Act only applies to information created after October 2011.

Key Facts

• The non-taxable Police Rent Allowance as of 1st April 2021 is £385.42 per month.
• In the financial year 2020/21, the allowance was payable to nine members of staff.
• Two of the nine recipients received an enhanced allowance due to their rank.
• Historical data requested for 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995 was not provided.
• The authority cited the Freedom of Information Act 2015 limitation regarding information created before 11 October 2011.

Data Disclosed

• £385.42
• 1st April 2021
• nine
• two
• 2020/21
• 11 October 2011
• 1984981

Exemptions Cited

• Information created before 11 October 2011 is not covered by the Freedom of Information Act 2015

Original Request

The ISLE OF MAN POLICE (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1994 (GC 304/94) set the existing non-taxable police rent and housing allowance to an annual GBP 4625 or monthly GBP 385.42 fixed amount as at 1st April 1992 and included a statutory requirement that the fixed amount would increase each year by an additional fixed amount equivalent to the housing element of the retail prices index but subject to a 5 percent cap. The index linked element of the allowance was only revoked on 31st August 1995 by the ISLE OF MAN POLICE (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1995 (SD 0409/95) but by definition the index linked fixed amount had already increased automatically in line with RPI in relevant years. For example, statutory adjustments based on Economic Affairs generic 'all items' RPI data rather than specific 'housing element' data in calendar years 1993 and 1994 rather than financial years 1993/94 and 1994/95 for example would equate to a cumulative +3.58% (approximately GBP 14) and a cumulative +2.175% (approximately GBP 8). What are the department calculated police rent and housing allowance fixed amounts as at 1st April 1992, 1st April 1993, 1st April 1994, 1st April 1995 and 1st April 2021, how many employees still receive the non-taxable police rent and housing allowance fixed amount and is the same fixed amount in effect frozen as at 1st April 1995 lawfully applied to all relevant employees?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Executive's Office DHA Headquarters Tromode, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 5AP

Telephone: (01624) 694313 Fax: (01624) 621298 Web address: www.gov.im/dha Email: GeneralEnquiries.DHA@dha.gov.im

Our ref: 1984981 05 October 2021

Dear ###

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

"The ISLE OF MAN POLICE (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1994 (GC 304/94) set the existing non-taxable police rent and housing allowance to an annual GBP 4625 or monthly GBP 385.42 fixed amount as at 1st April 1992 and included a statutory requirement that the fixed amount would increase each year by an additional fixed amount equivalent to the housing element of the retail prices index but subject to a 5 percent cap. The index linked element of the allowance was only revoked on 31st August 1995 by the ISLE OF MAN POLICE (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1995 (SD 0409/95) but by definition the index linked fixed amount had already increased automatically in line with RPI in relevant years. For example, statutory adjustments based on Economic Affairs generic 'all items' RPI data rather than specific 'housing element' data in calendar years 1993 and 1994 rather than financial years 1993/94 and 1994/95 for example would equate to a cumulative +3.58% (approximately GBP 14) and a cumulative +2.175% (approximately GBP 8). What are the department calculated police rent and housing allowance fixed amounts as at 1st April 1992, 1st April 1993, 1st April 1994, 1st April 1995 and 1st April 2021, how many employees still receive the non-taxable police rent and housing allowance fixed amount and is the same fixed amount in effect frozen as at 1st April 1995 lawfully applied to all relevant employees?" Please note that access under the Freedom of Information Act applies only in relation to information created on or after 11 October 2011 and as such we hold the following information. The non-taxable Police Rent Allowance as at 1st April 2021 is £385.42. In the financial year 2020/21 the allowance was payable to nine members of staff. Two of these individuals received an enhanced allowance due to their rank.

Please quote the reference number 1984981 in any future communication in relation to this request.

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I will now close your request as of this date.