Cabinet Office and UK ministry of Justice relationship during Covid19

Summary

The requester asked for evidence of UK Ministry of Justice instructions to the Isle of Man Cabinet Office regarding COVID-19 measures and details of a 2020 meeting with British military officials. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold the requested information and suggested contacting the Constabulary or Department of Home Affairs for the meeting details.

Key Facts

• The Cabinet Office confirmed it does not hold evidence of recommendations or formal instructions from the UK Ministry of Justice regarding mask mandates, border restrictions, lockdowns, or emergency powers.
• The Cabinet Office does not hold information regarding the purpose or outcomes of the March/April 2020 meeting between senior IOM officials and British military officials.
• The authority suggested the requester contact the Isle of Man Constabulary or the Department of Home Affairs for information about the military meeting.
• The request was received on 8 December 2021 and the response was issued on 20 December 2021.
• The case outcome was recorded as 'Not upheld' on 13 June 2022.

Data Disclosed

• 2136877
• 2021-12-08
• 2022-06-13
• 20 December 2021
• November 2019
• December 2021
• March/April 2020
• 01624 686244
• 01624 631394
• 01624 686783
• IM1 3PN
• IM2 4RG
• IM2 5AP

Original Request

1)During the period November 2019- December 2021, please supply all evidence of i)recommendations ii) formal instructions, made by the UK Ministry of Justice to the IOM Government Cabinet Office, with regard to the following:- a)Mask Mandates related to Covid 19 Virus b) Border restrictions related to Covid 19 Virus c) Societal Lockdown implementations related to Covid 19 Virus d)Corona Emergency powers act brought before Tynwald 2)If evidence of either 1i or1ii exists, please supply the date of these recommendations or formal instructions 3)If Evidence of either 1i or 1ii exists, please explain which of the following IOM Cabinet Office Officials received these recommendations or formal instructions:- a)Lieutenant Governor b)Chief Secretaries Office c)External Relations Team d) Director of Public Health e)Border and Immigration team 4)Please explain the- a) Purpose b)Outcomes of the meeting between senior IOM Government officials/Chief Constable and British Military officials in March/April 2020 on the Isle of Man Many thanks for your time

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

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

Our ref: 2136877 20 December 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 8 December 2021 and which states:

"1)During the period November 2019- December 2021, please supply all evidence of i)recommendations ii) formal instructions, made by the UK Ministry of Justice to the IOM Government Cabinet Office, with regard to the following:- a)Mask Mandates related to Covid 19 Virus b) Border restrictions related to Covid 19 Virus c) Societal Lockdown implementations related to Covid 19 Virus d)Corona Emergency powers act brought before Tynwald 2)If evidence of either 1i or1ii exists, please supply the date of these recommendations or formal instructions 3)If Evidence of either 1i or 1ii exists, please explain which of the following IOM Cabinet Office Officials received these recommendations or formal instructions:- a)Lieutenant Governor b)Chief Secretaries Office c)External Relations Team d) Director of Public Health e)Border and Immigration team 4)Please explain the- a) Purpose b)Outcomes

of the meeting between senior IOM Government officials/Chief Constable and British Military officials in March/April 2020 on the Isle of Man Many thanks for your time" Our response is to your request is as follows: "1)During the period November 2019- December 2021, please supply all evidence of i)recommendations ii) formal instructions, made by the UK Ministry of Justice to the IOM Government Cabinet Office, with regard to the following:- a)Mask Mandates related to Covid 19 Virus b) Border restrictions related to Covid 19 Virus c) Societal Lockdown implementations related to Covid 19 Virus d)Corona Emergency powers act brought before Tynwald While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Cabinet Office does not hold the information that you have requested. 2)If evidence of either 1i or1ii exists, please supply the date of these recommendations or formal instructions Not applicable as information not held by Cabinet Office. 3)If Evidence of either 1i or 1ii exists, please explain which of the following IOM Cabinet Office Officials received these recommendations or formal instructions:- a)Lieutenant Governor b)Chief Secretaries Office c)External Relations Team d) Director of Public Health e)Border and Immigration team Not applicable as information not held. 4)Please explain the- a) Purpose b)Outcomes

of the meeting between senior IOM Government officials/Chief Constable and British Military officials in March/April 2020 on the Isle of Man The Cabinet Office does not hold the information that you have requested. However, you may wish to contact the Isle of Man Constabulary or the Department of Home Affairs who may be able to help you. For further information please contact the Information Governance Manager at: Isle of Man Constabulary Dukes Avenue Douglas Isle of Man IM2 4RG Telephone: 01624 631394 Or: Department of Home Affairs DHA Headquarters Tromode Road Douglas Isle of Man IM2 5AP Telephone: 01624 686783

Please quote the reference number 2136877 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