Howard Quayle's financial package as Chief Minister.

Summary

A request was made for Howard Quayle's salary, expenses, and pension details as Chief Minister, but the Cabinet Office refused to provide the specific figures directly.

Key Facts

• The authority cited Section 20 of the Act to refuse providing information that is already reasonably accessible online.
• Salary information is available via the Tynwald website.
• Expense information is available via the Government Freedom of Information Disclosure Log.
• Details of four specific off-island trips conducted by Quayle were released in previous FOI requests.
• The response covers the period up to Quayle's replacement on 12 October 2021.

Data Disclosed

• 2022-01-25
• 2022-02-22
• June 2021
• October 2021
• 12 October 2021
• £7683.27
• 10-12 June 2021
• 31 August to 2 September 2021
• 5-7 September 2021
• 1846294
• 1997605

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 of the Act (Information reasonably accessible)

Original Request

Please can you confirm the following: 1. What was the salary of Howard Quayle when he was the IOM Chief Minister as at June 2021? 2. What expenses (including travel, secretarial etc) had he claimed in the previous financial year up to 2021? 3. When he retired as Chief Minister what was his monthly retirement pension as from October 2021 from being an MHK and Chief Minister? Thank you. Clarification; In relation to Q.1 we require the annual salary that was paid to Mr Quayle as at June 2021 (basic MHK salary plus additional sums payable as Chief Minister). In relation to Q.2 we require the annual sum claimed for expenses in the financial year up to June 2021. These are expenses as per the Annual Expenses Order currently a maximum of £7683.27. These expenses do not include 'off-Island' travel costs relating to parliamentary/government business. However, we also require the separate figure for 'off-Island' travel costs for Mr Quayle in relation to off-Island parliamentary business in the financial year up to June 2021. In relation to Q.3 we require Mr Quayle's monthly government pension as from October 2021 from being an MHK and Chief Minister.

Data Tables (3)

Full Response Text

1

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

Our ref: 2212317 22 February 2022

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 25 January 2022 and which states:

"Please can you confirm the following: 1. What was the salary of Howard Quayle when he was the IOM Chief Minister as at June 2021? 2. What expenses (including travel, secretarial etc) had he claimed in the previous financial year up to 2021? 3. When he retired as Chief Minister what was his monthly retirement pension as from October 2021 from being an MHK and Chief Minister? Thank you.” On 2 February 2021 we sought clarification from you regarding question 2. “2. What expenses (including travel, secretarial etc) had he claimed in the previous financial year up to 2021?”

We asked if you could clarify the recorded information specifically sought by the use of "etc". You responded on 2 February 2021 and provided the following clarifications: “Clarification; In relation to Q.1 we require the annual salary that was paid to Mr Quayle as at June 2021 (basic MHK salary plus additional sums payable as Chief Minister). In relation to Q.2 we require the annual sum claimed for expenses in the financial year up to June 2021. These are expenses as per the Annual Expenses Order currently a maximum of £7683.27. These expenses do not include 'off-Island' travel costs relating to parliamentary/government business. However, we also require the separate figure for 'off-Island' travel costs for

Mr Quayle in relation to off-Island parliamentary business in the financial year up to June 2021. In relation to Q.3 we require Mr Quayle's monthly government pension as from October 2021 from being an MHK and Chief Minister." Our response to your request is as follows:
1. What was the salary of Howard Quayle when he was the IOM Chief Minister as at June 2021? Clarification received - In relation to Q.1 we require the annual salary that was paid to Mr Quayle as at June 2021 (basic MHK salary plus additional sums payable as Chief Minister). 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 requested is available online: https://www.tynwald.org.im/memoff/remall/Pages/default.aspx 2. What expenses (including travel, secretarial etc) had he claimed in the previous financial year up to 2021? Clarification Received - In relation to Q.2 we require the annual sum claimed for expenses in the financial year up to June 2021. These are expenses as per the Annual Expenses Order currently a maximum of £7683.27. These expenses do not include 'off-Island' travel costs relating to parliamentary/government business. However, we also require the separate figure for 'off-Island' travel costs for Mr Quayle in relation to off-Island parliamentary business in the financial year up to June 2021. In responding to this request, we have used the period from the start of the financial year 2021-2022 until 12 October 2021 when Mr Quayle was replaced as Chief Minister. Under section 20 of the Act, we are not required to provide information if it is already reasonably accessible to you. The information that you have requested is available online at, Isle of Man Government Freedom of Information Disclosure Log: https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/search. Although not parliamentary business, during the period in question, Mr Quayle conducted four governmental off-island trips. Information on all of these trips have been released as part of previous Freedom of Information requests.

1. The British Irish Council Summit in Northern Ireland from 10-12 June 2021 Details, including costs can be found in a previous Freedom of Information response provided by the Cabinet Office (Case ID Number – 1846294).

2. 31 August to 2 September 2021 – Mr Quayle travelled off-island on behalf of Department of Enterprise. (Case ID Number - 1997605).

3. 5-7 September 2021 – Mr Quayle undertook political engagement and gave evidence at Justice Select Committee in Cardiff & London (Case ID Number – 1997605)

4. 14-16 September 2021 – Mr Quayle conducted political engagement in London (Case ID Number – 1997605). The Cabinet Office does not hold any information on Mr Quayle’s parliamentary travel. In order to provide advice and assistance as required under Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015, you may wish to contact the Clerk of Tynwald’s Office for further information regarding parliamentary travel, which is published online here https://www.tynwald.org.im/memoff/remall/Pages/OITC.aspx: Clerk of Tynwald's Office, Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3PW. Tel: 01624 685500. E-mail: enquiries@tynwald.org.im
5. “When he retired as Chief Minister what was his monthly retirement pension as from October 2021 from being an MHK and Chief Minister? In relation to Q.3 we require Mr Quayle's monthly government pension as from October 2021 from being an MHK and Chief Minister." While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Cabinet Office does not hold the information that you have requested. In order to provide advice and assistance as required under Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015, you may wish to contact the Public Sector Pensions Authority for further information regarding pensions: Public Sector Pensions Authority 3rd Floor Prospect House 27-29 Prospect Hill Douglas Isle of Man IM1 1ET Telephone: 01624 685598 Email: Pensions@pspa.im Please quote the reference number 2212317 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