Free vehicles given to DOI

Summary

The request sought details on free vehicles provided to the Department of Infrastructure since 2017. The authority confirmed that vehicles were loaned as demonstrators for procurement trials between 2019 and 2022, listing specific manufacturers and models, and noted that ministers and directors did use them.

Key Facts

• Vehicles were provided on a complimentary basis as demonstrators to trial services before procurement.
• Records for Fleet Services date back to February 2021, while Bus Vannin records date back to 2019.
• Suppliers included Outdoor Power & Plant, Scarab, Aebi Schmidt, Bucher, Intercounty, ADL, Wrights, and Mercedes.
• Specific vehicles included the Maxus E-Deliver3 Van, various sweepers, Mercedes E-Vito/E-Sprinter, and hybrid buses.
• DOI Ministers, the Director of Transport, or the CEO did use these vehicles during the trial periods.

Data Disclosed

• 1st January 2017
• 1st February 2021
• 2019
• 18 August 2022
• 29 July 2022
• 1 of each
• 3 separate manufacturers
• 1 day to 1 month

Original Request

Please can you confirm the following: 1. Have any Island or off-Island companies provided vehicles (cars or vans or any other vehicles) to IOM DOI on a free or complementary use basis since 1st January 2017? 2. If so why? 3. Which companies provided such complimentary vehicles? 4. What vehicles were provided? 5. How many of such vehicles were provided? 6. To whom were they provided? 7. Were any used by a DOI Minister or Director of Transport or CEO during this period? 8. How long were such vehicles used for? 9. Has the use of such vehicles been publicly declared? Thank you.

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 2555142 18 August 2022

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 29 July 2022 and which states:

"Please can you confirm the following: 1. Have any Island or off-Island companies provided vehicles (cars or vans or any other vehicles) to IOM DOI on a free or complementary use basis since 1st January 2017? 2. If so why? 3. Which companies provided such complimentary vehicles? 4. What vehicles were provided? 5. How many of such vehicles were provided? 6. To whom were they provided? 7. Were any used by a DOI Minister or Director of Transport or CEO during this period? 8. How long were such vehicles used for? 9. Has the use of such vehicles been publicly declared? Thank you."

Our response to your request is as follows: 1. Yes; however, records within Fleet Services for this have only been kept since 1st February 2021. Bus Vannin have records dating back to 2019. 2. Vehicles have been loaned to Fleet Services or Bus Vannin as demonstrators for service areas to trial before committing to procurement. 3. Outdoor Power & Plant (on-island), Scarab (off-island), Aebi Schmidt (off-island), Bucher (off-island), Intercounty (off-island), ADL (off-island), Wrights (off-island), Mercedes (off-island). 4. Maxus E-Deliver3 Van, Compact Sweeper, Truckmount Sweeper, Mercedes E-Vito, Mercedes E-Sprinter, ADL E400 Bus, Wrights StreetDeck Hybrid Bus, Mercedes Citaro Hybrid Bus. 5. 1 of each, barring compact sweeper where 3 separate manufacturers were demonstrated.

1. Fleet Services, who engaged with various Government Departments for identified service areas to test drive. Bus Vannin trialled the 3 buses prior to procurement in 2019.
2. Yes.
3. Ranged from 1 day to 1 month.
4. No. There has been no personal benefit to anyone involved from the use of these vehicles and there is no requirement to make any public declaration.

Please quote the reference number 2555142 in any future communications.

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