Number of registered charities

Summary

The request sought statistics on registered charities in the Isle of Man for April 2020 and April 2023, as well as data on non-submission of annual returns. The authority disclosed the registration numbers for both dates but refused the request regarding annual returns because the information was not held and would require creation.

Key Facts

• The new charity act came into force on 1st April 2020.
• There were 355 charities registered with the new commission in April 2020.
• There were 765 charities registered as at 1st April 2023.
• Information on charities that had not submitted annual returns by 31st March 2021 was refused.
• The refusal was based on the fact that the authority does not hold the information and creating it would require deriving data from existing records.

Data Disclosed

• 355
• 765
• 1st April 2020
• 1st April 2023
• 31st March 2021
• 27 April 2023
• 18 May 2023
• 3086365

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015
• Section 8(3)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (create or derive information)

Original Request

The new charity act came into being on 1st April 2020 How many charities were registered with the new commission in April 2020 How many charities were registered as at 1st April 2023. How many of the registered charities in April 2020 had not submitted Annual returns by 31st March 2021

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

XX
Attorney General's Chambers 2nd floor Belgravia House Circular Road, Douglas Isle of Man, IM1 1AE Telephone: (01624) 685452
E-mail: attgen@gov.im

Our ref: 3086365 18 May 2023

Dear XX

We write further to your request which was received on 27 April 2023 and which states:

"The new charity act came into being on 1st April 2020

How many charities were registered with the new commission in April 2020

How many charities were registered as at 1st April 2023.

How many of the registered charities in April 2020 had not submitted Annual returns by 31st March 2021" Our response to your request is as follows: How many charities were registered with the new commission in April 2020: There were 355 charities registered with the new commission in April 2020. How many charities were registered as at 1st April 2023: There were 765 charities registered as at 1st April 2023. How many of the registered charities in April 2020 had not submitted Annual returns by 31st March 2021: While our aim is to is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance a practical refusal reason applies to the information requested under section 11(3)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (“the Act”), as complying with the request for information would require the Attorney General’s Chambers to do one or more of the matters mentioned in section 8(3) of the Act, i.e 8(3)(a) – create or derive information from information that it holds. Please quote the reference number 3086365 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

XX

Attorney General's Chambers 2nd floor Belgravia House Circular Road, Douglas Isle of Man, IM1 1AE Telephone: (01624) 685452
E-mail: attgen@gov.im

Our ref: 3086365 18 May 2023

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 27 April 2023 and which states:

"The new charity act came into being on 1st April 2020

How many charities were registered with the new commission in April 2020

How many charities were registered as at 1st April 2023.

How many of the registered charities in April 2020 had not submitted Annual returns by 31st March 2021"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. A practical refusal reason applies to the last part of the request, 'How many of the registered charities in April 2020 had not submitted Annual returns by 31st March 2021.'

I have detailed below the information that is held.

Please quote the reference number 3086365 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.