Budget for MHKs lunches

Summary

The requester asked for the budget and expenditure on lunches for Council of Ministers meetings organized by the Cabinet Office between March and April 2022. The Cabinet Office responded that no such information is held because there was no expenditure on catering for these specific meetings during the requested period.

Key Facts

• The Cabinet Office does not hold the requested information regarding lunch expenditures for Council of Ministers meetings.
• There was no expenditure on catering for lunchtime meetings organized by the Cabinet Office for the Council of Ministers between 01/03/2022 and 28/04/2022.
• Lunchtime briefings for Tynwald members are typically hosted by individual Departments, not the Cabinet Office.
• Catering for briefings hosted by Departments is funded by the host Department, not the Cabinet Office.
• The request required multiple clarifications regarding the specific date range and the organizing body before a final response could be issued.

Data Disclosed

• 2359957
• 2022-03-30
• 2022-05-17
• 01/03/2022
• 28/04/2022
• 5 April 2022
• 8 April 2022
• 4 May 2022
• 28 April 2022

Original Request

We write further to your request which was received on 30 March 2022 and which states: " How much money is allocated towards providing lunches for MHKs when attending lunchtime briefings? I seek the total expenditure figure for any catering for meetings held at lunchtime that the Cabinet Office organise for the Council of Ministers. We wrote to you on 5 April 2022 and asked for further information and clarification: "In order to identify and locate the information that you have asked for we need some further information from you. In particular, it would be helpful to know: Which lunches? Which MHK's Which briefings? Dates/date ranges the briefings took place? Which Department/Division within Cabinet Office organised the event? What you mean by allocated? Lunchtime briefings for Tynwald members are usually organised by the Department giving the briefing and the Cabinet Office may organise meetings at lunchtime for the Council of Ministers. We would only be able to answer a request for specific information held by the Cabinet Office. Given that other Department/Divisions within Government organise lunches or may allocate money, you would need to contact other Departments directly to ask them what they may hold. Please can you narrow down your request to Divisions of the Cabinet Office and provide clarification of the exact information you require." Thank you for your e-mail response of 8 April 2022 which advised: "Apologies, I do not know the dates for when the briefings are held. I would be happy with either the average spend on catering for lunchtime meetings organised by the Cabinet Office for the Council of Ministers, or, the total spend for catering for the most recent lunchtime meeting for the Council of Ministers. " We are not able to process your request as it is not clear which recorded information you are looking for so we need to ask you for further clarification: Does the question specifically relate to the lunches the Cabinet Office provide to the Council of Ministers? If the question you are asking does relate to CoMin, can you please provide the exact date range so that we are able to search our records for the information that you require. Please confirm the date range? Please note, we can only provide information if it is held by the Cabinet Office. You responded on 4 May as follows: 'Does the question specifically relate to the lunches the Cabinet Office provide to the Council of Ministers?' - Yes 'If the question you are asking does relate to CoMin, can you please provide the exact date range so that we are able to search our records for the information that you require. Please confirm the date range?' Date range 01/03/2022 - 28/04/2022

Data Tables (2)

Full Response Text

meetings organised by the Cabinet Office for the Council of Ministers, or, the total spend for catering for the most recent lunchtime meeting for the Council of Ministers. " We wrote to you on 28 April 2022 to ask for further clarification: “We are not able to process your request as it is not clear which recorded information you are looking for so we need to ask you for further clarification: Does the question specifically relate to the lunches the Cabinet Office provide to the Council of Ministers? If the question you are asking does relate to CoMin, can you please provide the exact date range so that we are able to search our records for the information that you require. Please confirm the date range? Please note, we can only provide information if it is held by the Cabinet Office.” You replied with clarification on 4 May 2022 with the following: “Does the question specifically relate to the lunches the Cabinet Office provide to the Council of Ministers?' - Yes 'If the question you are asking does relate to CoMin, can you please provide the exact date range so that we are able to search our records for the information that you require. Please confirm the date range?' Date range 01/03/2022 - 28/04/2022" Our response to your final clarified request of 4 May 2022 is as follows:

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Cabinet Office does not hold the information that you have requested. However, you may wish to contact other Government Departments directly who may be able to help you, or submit a Freedom of Information Request here: https://www.gov.im/about-the- government/freedom-of-information/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/. There has been no expenditure on catering for lunchtime meetings by Cabinet Office for the Council of Ministers in the date range specified.
As we have previously advised, Tynwald members (which includes ministers) are from time to time invited to briefings over the lunchtime period, where lunch is provided. Such briefings are usually in the form of presentations or workshops hosted by Departments; any catering provided on these occasions will be funded by the host Department. Please quote the reference number 2359957 in any future communications.

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