Farm support payments 2011-present.

Summary

A request for annual farm support payments for specific fields from 2011 to present was refused because the information is either already reasonably accessible online or would require the department to derive new data.

Key Facts

• The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to provide the specific payment breakdowns.
• Information for payments from April 2018 onwards is available via the government website and field maps.
• Pre-2018 payments included an 'historic' element specific to businesses rather than individual fields.
• The department cited Section 8(3) of the FoI Act to refuse requests requiring the derivation of information.
• The department cited Section 20 of the Act stating the information is already reasonably accessible.

Data Disclosed

• 2004165
• 2011
• 2018
• 2020/21
• 23rd September 2021
• 15th September 2021
• 614658
• 614659
• 614657
• 614910
• 614660
• 614665
• 616033
• 616035
• 616167
• 616168
• 614674
• 614673
• 612558
• 616009
• 616008
• 612556

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 of the Act (Information already reasonably accessible)
• Section 8(3) of the FoI Act (Not required to derive information or undertake research)

Original Request

The amount of farming support payments broken down to an annual basis from 2011 to present for the following fields. 614658 614659 614657 614910 614660 614665 616033 616035 616167 616168 614674 614673 612558 616009 616008 612556

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Co-ordinator Corporate Services Directorate Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John’s, Isle of Man, IM4 3AS Tel no (01624) 685854 Fax no (01624 685851 Email: defa@gov.im www.gov.im

Our ref: 2004165 15th September 2021

Dear ###,

We write further to your request which was received on 23rd September 2021 and which states:

"The amount of farming support payments broken down to an annual basis from 2011 to present for the following fields. 614658 614659 614657 614910 614660 614665 616033 616035 616167 616168 614674 614673 612558 616009 616008 612556"

Response While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 20 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you, whether free of charge or on payment of a fee. To assist you in finding the information you request we can provide the following guidance. Since April 2018 payments have been calculated purely on a “flat rate” basis depending on eligible acreage. Information in relation to this from the 2020/21 year is

available from https://www.gov.im/categories/business-and- industries/agriculture/agricultural-development-scheme/payments/. The field maps can be found here - https://www.gov.im/maps . Use the “Island Environment” section and click on the “Field Gazeteer” in the Layer List. This will enable you to look at the individual fields and when combined with the acreage payment rates you will get an indication of overall payment for each field. Please note payments are based on “eligible”, not total, acreage. Prior to 2018 payments were made up of a “flat rate” and an “historic” element. The historic element had been earned by each business prior to 2009 and was specific to that business; it was not related to specific fields, other than having to demonstrate a minimum area of land being farmed. In addition to the above this request would require the Department to derive information from information held and to undertake research into and analysis of information held. This is something that, under section 8(3) of the FoI Act, the Department is not required to do. Further information regarding the flat rates in the forthcoming years can be found here https://www.gov.im/media/1356470/chapter-1-ads-payments-v16doc.pdf.

Please quote the reference number 2004165 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.