IOM GOV funding Manx Media

Summary

The requester asked for data on Cabinet Office funding for Manx media regarding coronavirus campaigns and general media spending from 2015. The authority partially responded by clarifying the scope of the request but withheld information on pre-pandemic spending as it fell outside the original request's scope.

Key Facts

• The request was received by the Cabinet Office on 2021-11-11.
• The authority sought clarification on specific departments, plans, and media institutions involved.
• The Freedom of Information Act 2015 applies to information created on or after 11 October 2011.
• The request for general media campaign spending from 2015 onwards was rejected as out of scope.
• The final outcome was recorded as 'Some information sent but part exempt' on 2021-11-29.

Data Disclosed

• 2021-11-11
• 2021-11-29
• 2021-11-18
• 2020
• 2015
• 2010-2021
• 11 October 2011
• 3 pages
• 1 document

Exemptions Cited

• Out of scope (request for pre-pandemic spending deemed a separate request)

Original Request

How much did/does the IOM government pay manx media institutions to support its plans/ideologies/coronovirus efforts? Pls provide data for years 2010-2021 separated by year or month. We asked you for clarification: "We have contacted the Communications Team regarding your request: In order to identify and locate the exact information that you require we need some further clarification from you as it is not clear what you are asking for. In an effort to assist and better understand the nature of your query, do you mean - what paid for public information campaigns has the Cabinet Office funded through Isle of Man based media outlets, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020? The IOM Government is very wide ranging, can you clarify which Government Departments, which plans, what ideologies and which specific Manx media institutions you are referring to? Can you also confirm the date range asked for as the Coronavirus pandemic started in 2020? Also regarding the date, please be advised that the Freedom of Information Act 2015 applies to information created on or after 11 October 2011. This Act operates in addition to, and not in substitution for, the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information approved and issued by the Council of Ministers. More information on the Code can be found at: https://www.gov.im/categories/home-and-neighbourhood/code-of-practice-on-access-to-government-information-access-code. You may wish to re-word your request and you may wish to take the above into consideration when doing so." You responded: "To clarify a little; what paid for public information campaigns has the Cabinet Office funded through Isle of Man based media outlets, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020? The above would be useful please. Especially with budget/amounts. I would also like to know what the government has spent on all of its media campaigns for the past 5 years previous to so called pandemic times. Thus from 2015 onwards please? Just generic budget amounts per year would suffice for now; thank you. The IOM Government is very wide ranging, can you clarify which Government Departments, which plans, what ideologies and which specific Manx media institutions you are referring to? The ideologies specifically are the 'coronavirus' specifics. I dont know which department would handle such media funding and hence the request. Any direction would be greatly appreciated. All manx media that was paid for to push the governments direction regarding coronavirus information. Regarding date range, please obviously from Jan 2020. This i know was early but we will see the spending trend if there is one. The other general media spending request above is for an overall picture as to the spending change from the budget." On the 19 November 2021 we advised that we would answer your clarified request but we would not answer the following: "I would also like to know what the government has spent on all of its media campaigns for the past 5 years previous to so called pandemic times. Thus from 2015 onwards please? Just generic budget amounts per year would suffice for now; thank you." As this is outwith the scope Freedom of Information request that you originally made and is a different request for information, you may wish to submit a new FOI request. Should you wish to submit a fresh request please complete and submit the required form available on our website at http://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-ofinformation/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/.

Data Tables (2)

Full Response Text

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

Our ref: 2085010 29 November 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 11 November 2021 and which states:

"How much did/does the IOM government pay manx media institutions to support its plans/ideologies/coronovirus efforts? Pls provide data for years 2010-2021 separated by year or month. We wrote to you on 18 November 2021 and asked you for clarification: We have contacted the Communications Team regarding your request: In order to identify and locate the exact information that you require we need some further clarification from you as it is not clear what you are asking for. In an effort to assist and better understand the nature of your query, do you mean - what paid for public information campaigns has the Cabinet Office funded through Isle of Man based media outlets, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020? The IOM Government is very wide ranging, can you clarify which Government Departments, which plans, what ideologies and which specific Manx media institutions you are referring to? Can you also confirm the date range asked for as the Coronavirus pandemic started in 2020? Also regarding the date, please be advised that the Freedom of Information Act 2015 applies to information created on or after 11 October 2011. This Act operates in addition to, and not in substitution for, the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information approved and issued by the Council of Ministers. More information on the Code can be found at: https://www.gov.im/categories/home-and-neighbourhood/code- of-practice-on-access-to-government-information-access-code. You may wish to re-word your request and you may wish to take the above into consideration when doing so. On 18 November 2021, you responded: “To clarify a little;

what paid for public information campaigns has the Cabinet Office funded through Isle of Man based media outlets, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020? The above would be useful please. Especially with budget/amounts. I would also like to know what the government has spent on all of its media campaigns for the past 5 years previous to so called pandemic times. Thus from 2015 onwards please? Just generic budget amounts per year would suffice for now; thank you. The IOM Government is very wide ranging, can you clarify which Government Departments, which plans, what ideologies and which specific Manx media institutions you are referring to? The ideologies specifically are the 'coronavirus' specifics. I dont know which department would handle such media funding and hence the request. Any direction would be greatly appreciated. All manx media that was paid for to push the governments direction regarding coronavirus information. Regarding date range, please obviously from Jan 2020. This i know was early but we will see the spending trend if there is one. The other general media spending request above is for an overall picture as to the spending change from the budget." On the 19 November 2021 we advised we would answer your clarified request but we would not answer the following: "I would also like to know what the government has spent on all of its media campaigns for the past 5 years previous to so called pandemic times. Thus from 2015 onwards please? Just generic budget amounts per year would suffice for now; thank you." As this is outwith the scope Freedom of Information request that you originally made and is a different request for information, you may wish to submit a new FOI request. Should you wish to submit a fresh request please complete and submit the required form available on our website at http://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of- information/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/. 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. The information that you have requested is available from the Isle of Man Government Freedom of Information Disclosure log, https://services.gov.im/freedom-of- information/search. You can search the log to see this by entering “Covid” in the search bar. If you look at request 2018990, date submitted, 1 October 2021, outcome 28 October 2021 you will find the response “cost of Covid-19 public information advertising notices”. This will have the information covering the date ranges you requested as the Cabinet Office have not paid for anything else on this from the Cabinet Office budget since the previous response was released. Please quote the reference number 2085010 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