MHK, MLC, Minister Expenses

Summary

The request sought expense figures for current MHKs and MLCs between the last general election and December 2021, broken down by category. The Treasury disclosed two specific departmental travel claims but refused to provide parliamentary travel data (already public) or a list of members with no claims (information not held).

Key Facts

• Parliamentary travel expense claims are already publicly available on the Tynwald website.
• Two specific departmental travel claims were disclosed for Hon J P Poole-Wilson and Hon A L Cannan.
• The Treasury does not collate or hold data on members who have made 'nil' expense returns.
• The request covered the period from the most recent general election to 31 December 2021.
• Both disclosed trips involved off-island travel to Cardiff and London.

Data Disclosed

• 2022-03-28
• 2022-04-12
• 31 December 2021
• 17-Nov-21
• 20-Nov-21
• 30-Nov-21
• 02-Dec-21
• 296.10
• 322.00
• 39.50
• 657.60
• 165.00
• 226.00
• 64.88
• 455.88
• 2354093

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 of the Act (Information accessible to the applicant by other means)
• Section 11(3)(a) of the Act (Practical refusal reason: information not held)

Original Request

The expenses figure claimed to government by current serving MHKs and MLCs.

Data Tables (2)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Seyrsnys Fysseree

The Treasury Government Office, Douglas Isle of Man, IM1 3PU

Telephone: (01624) 685605 Email: FOI.Treasury@gov.im

Government Website: www.gov.im

Our ref: 2354093 12 April 2022

Dear ###,

I write further to your request which was received on 28 March 2022 and which requests disclosure of the following information -

The expenses figure claimed to government by current serving MHKs and MLCs. In respect of the information you are interested in, you subsequently clarified as follows – a) You are interested in any information we hold up in the period between the most recent general election occurred and 31 December 2021 b) You are interested in both on and off Island travel claims c) You wish for the information to be broken down into the categories of travel, accommodation or other expenses for each entry. d) You have asked that if an MHK or MLC has made no expenses claims, we provide a list of their names and give the figure 'NIL' in place. As advised in my earlier correspondence with you, on a quarterly basis the Treasury collates information from each Government Department and Statutory Board relating to both on- Island and off-Island travel expense claims made by Members of Tynwald (“Members”). The Treasury requests the name of the claiming Member and details of the amount claimed broken down into one of the three categories: travel, accommodation and other expenses.

In relation to part a) of your request, and as previously advised, details of travel expense claims made by Members in respect of parliamentary business are already publically available here – https://tynwald.org.im/memoff/remall/Pages/OITC.aspx

All of the information the Treasury holds in respect of travel expense claims made in connection with parliamentary business during the period to which your request refers, is available through this link.
Therefore, and while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 20 of the Act (Information accessible to the applicant by other means), we are not required to provide this information to you in response to this request as the information is already reasonably accessible to you.
We do hold details of two further travel expense claims submitted by Members during the period you are interested in, which were made in connection with Departmental Business (the table below refers).
Both of these instances of travel are also reported on Government’s website through the below link. The destination and ‘purpose of trip’ information is available through this source and for ease of reference, we have added this information to the table below. https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/departments/cabinet-office/chief-ministers-off- island-trips-and-expenses/#accordion The details you have requested relating to these instances of travel are as follows - Destination/ purpose of trip Member Name Date Travel Accommodation Other Total cost (£) Cardiff, Wales British-Irish Council Summit Hon J P Poole- Wilson MHK 17-Nov-21 to 20-Nov-21 296.10 322.00 39.50 657.60 (Inc VAT) London, UK Political engagement Hon A L Cannan MHK 30-Nov-21 to 02-Dec- 2 165.00 226.00 64.88 455.88 (Inc VAT) In respect of part d) of your request, the Treasury does not collate details of ‘nil returns’ in the manner you have requested. Under section 11(3)(a) of the Act, a practical refusal reason applies in so far that we do not hold the information you have requested. It may be helpful for you to note that a full list of Members of Tynwald is available via the Tynwald website and this may enable you to compile information as to which Members have not submitted travel expense claims during the period you are interested in - https://tynwald.org.im/memoff/member/Pages/default.aspx Please quote the reference number 2354093 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.