covid-19 media buying services

Summary

The requester asked for details regarding a UK government media buying contract for COVID-19 advertising services involving the Isle of Man. The Cabinet Office responded that they do not hold this information and advised contacting the UK Government, while also warning that the requester's volume of submissions may be considered vexatious.

Key Facts

• The Isle of Man Cabinet Office does not hold the requested information regarding the UK government contract.
• The requester submitted six separate FOI requests on the same day, including this one.
• The authority warned that future numerous and overlapping requests may be deemed vexatious under section 11(3)(d) of the Act.
• The requester was directed to contact the UK Government's FOI Team or Government Communication Service for the information.
• The case was closed on 13 January 2022.

Data Disclosed

• £320million
• CCCS21A03
• 2021-12-15
• 2022-01-10
• 2147701
• 6 separate FOI requests
• 11.49am
• 1.15pm

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held
• Section 11(3)(d) of the Act (vexatious, malicious, frivolous, misconceived or lacking in substance)

Original Request

On the UK government website, it shows that £320million was awarded to a supplier location being the IOM,UK & Channel Islands, for Advertising, Radio and Television services under procurement reference CCCS21A03. Could I see: 1. Who is the supplier awarded this contract in the IOM, or servicing the IOM? 2. How much money was allocated to the IOM? 3. What were the terms of this contract? Can we see a copy? Thank you

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: 2147701 13 January 2022

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 15 December 2021 and which states:

"On the UK government website, it shows that £320million was awarded to a supplier location being the IOM,UK & Channel Islands, for Advertising, Radio and Television services under procurement reference CCCS21A03. Could I see: 1. Who is the supplier awarded this contract in the IOM, or servicing the IOM? 2. How much money was allocated to the IOM? 3. What were the terms of this contract? Can we see a copy? Thank you"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Isle of Man Government, Cabinet Office does not hold the information that you have requested.

However, you may wish to contact the UK Government who may be able to help you: Freedom of Information requests FOI Team Cabinet Office Room 405 70 Whitehall London SW1A 2AS United Kingdom E-mail: foi-team@cabinetoffice.gov.uk And/or: Government Communication Service, United Kingdom GCS central team at Cabinet Office, UK: gcs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

On 15 December 2021 between 11.49am and 1.15pm you submitted 6 separate FOI requests. Case Number Case Number Title Time & Date Submitted 1 2147604 Conflict of Interest 11:49am 15 December 2021 2 2147701 Covid-19 Media Buying Services 12:14pm 15 December 2021 3 2147802 Money towards Covid-19 12:23pm 15 December 2021 4 2147803 Money paid per Covid19-vaccine 12:40pm 15 December 2021 5 2147902 Covid Numbers 13:06pm 15 December 2021 6 2148001 Community deaths and abbotswood 13:15pm 15 December 2021 While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 11(3)(d) of the Act a public authority may refuse to give the information requested if the request for information is vexatious, malicious, frivolous, misconceived or lacking in substance. Examples of factors which a public authority may take into account in determining if your request is vexatious etc. are set out in section 2 of the Code of Practice issued under section 60 of the Act, which you can find here: https://www.tynwald.org.im/business/opqp/sittings/Tynwald%2020142016/2015-GD- 0068.pdf. We consider that some of these factors apply to your recent requests following this one such as: • ‘Frequent or overlapping requests’; the further requests received from you that day overlapped with this request and subsequent requests received from you. o Some of those requests related to the same or similar issues. • ’Burden on an Authority’; 6 requests received on the same day, overlapping and relating to the same/similar topic could be construed as creating a burden on the authority. We are endeavouring to answer the 6 submitted Freedom of Information Requests. However, please note that any future requests will be looked at closely on the basis described above and we may need to consider if the requests are vexatious, in particular where they are numerous and overlapping, and respond accordingly. Please quote the reference number 2147701 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