Cost of Covid-19 public information advertising and notices.

Summary

A request was made for total government spending on Covid-19 public information advertising across all departments, but the Cabinet Office only provided figures for its own department. The response disclosed specific amounts spent on general advertising and payments to Manx Radio and IOM Newspapers between February 2020 and September 2021.

Key Facts

• The Cabinet Office spent £122,338.95 on Covid-19 public information notices, leaflets, pull-outs, and adverts from 1st February 2020 to 30th September 2021.
• Of the total amount, £24,991.20 was paid to Manx Radio.
• Of the total amount, £52,828.95 was paid to IOM Newspapers.
• The authority clarified that the figures provided are for the Cabinet Office only and do not represent spending across all Isle of Man Government departments.
• The requester was advised to contact the Department for Enterprise for information held by that specific department.

Data Disclosed

• £122,338.95
• £24,991.20
• £52,828.95
• 1st February 2020
• 30th September 2021
• 2021-10-01
• 2021-10-28
• 2018990

Original Request

Please can you confirm the following: 1. What is the total amount of public money spent by IOM Government (across all departments) on Covid-19 public information notices, leaflets, pull-outs and adverts from 1st February 2020 to 30th September 2021 ( to include all such public information in relation to Covid-19, relevant regulations, vaccination and associated public health messaging)? 2. From such overall sum, what is the total amount paid to Manx Radio? 3. From such overall sum, what is the total paid to IOM Newspapers? Thank you.

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

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

Our ref: 2018990 28 October 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 1 October 2021 and which states:

"Please can you confirm the following: 1. What is the total amount of public money spent by IOM Government (across all departments) on Covid-19 public information notices, leaflets, pull-outs and adverts from 1st February 2020 to 30th September 2021 ( to include all such public information in relation to Covid-19, relevant regulations, vaccination and associated public health messaging)? 2. From such overall sum, what is the total amount paid to Manx Radio? 3. From such overall sum, what is the total paid to IOM Newspapers? Thank you."

Our response to your request is as follows: The figures supplied are for the Cabinet Office and not all of Isle of Man Government as requested. 1. What is the total amount of public money spent by IOM Government (across all departments) on Covid-19 public information notices, leaflets, pull-outs and adverts from 1st February 2020 to 30th September 2021 ( to include all such public information in relation to Covid-19, relevant regulations, vaccination and associated public health messaging)? £122,338.95 is the amount spent by the Cabinet Office. 2. From such overall sum, what is the total amount paid to Manx Radio? £24,991.20 was paid by the Cabinet Office. 3. From such overall sum, what is the total paid to IOM Newspapers? £52,828.95 is the total sum paid by the Cabinet Office.

We have provided the information in respect of the information held by the Cabinet Office. However, you may wish to contact the Department for Enterprise who may hold information related to your request. Department for Enterprise St Georges Court Upper Church Street Douglas Isle of Man IM1 1EX Telephone: 01624 686400Georges

Please quote the reference number 2018990 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