Hi Excellence the Lieutenant-Governor; costs incurred and details of the role

Summary

The request sought details on the costs of feeding, lodging, and compensating the Lieutenant-Governor of the Isle of Man, as well as potential savings from eliminating the role. The Cabinet Office disclosed specific salary, allowance, and operational costs while clarifying the constitutional duties of the position.

Key Facts

• The Lieutenant-Governor receives an annual tax-free salary of £101,681.09.
• An annual allowance of £2,541 is provided for out-of-pocket expenses.
• Staff costs for managing Government House in 2016/2017 were £234,380.50.
• £12,860.05 was spent on official catering at Government House in 2016/2017.
• The Lieutenant-Governor serves as the personal representative of the Queen and does not rubber-stamp government decisions.

Data Disclosed

• £101,681.09
• £2,541
• £234,380.50
• £12,860.05
• 2016/2017
• 2017-08-10
• 2017-08-24
• IM98719I

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

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REFERENCE NUMBER: IM98719I

REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2015 (“the Act”) Thank you for your online application dated 10 August 2017 for the following information (clarification shown in bold): “ How much money is being spent to feed, lodge and compensate (salary and benefits) the Lieutenant-Governor? Alternatively, how much money could be saved by eliminating the position of the Lieutenant- Governor, who, for all intents and purposes, exists to rubber-stamp decisions taken by the Cabinet Office, CoMin and the IOM government more generally?” Response to your request
i. The Lieutenant Governor is paid an annual salary, which is not subject to income tax, which is presently £101,681.09. The Lieutenant Governor also receives an allowance of £2,541 per annum to cover out of pocket expenses.

ii. Government House, the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor, belongs to the Isle of Man Government. In 2016/2017, the staff cost associated with the day to day management of Government House was £234,380.50.

iii. The Lieutenant Governor only receives food in connection with official duties. In 2016/17 £12,860.05 was spent on official catering at Government House. A large number of receptions, dinners and events are hosted each year by the Lieutenant Governor and his wife, attended by a wide range of official guests and members of the Isle of Man community.  Food consumed when not on official duty is paid for by the Lieutenant Governor privately. The Lieutenant Governor has no role in the decisions of the Isle of Man Government and decisions are not rubber stamped by the Lieutenant Governor. The Isle of Man is a British Crown Dependency and Her Majesty The Queen is our head of state. The Lieutenant Governor is the Personal Representative of HM The Queen. Providing the necessary support is our constitutional obligation. The Lieutenant Governor carries out a full range of functions and duties, including:

Government Office DOUGLAS Isle of Man IM1 3PN Tel: (+44) 01624 686244 Fax: (+44) 01624 685710 Website www.gov.im/co
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 To be the personal representative and impartial adviser to Her Majesty The Queen, Lord of Mann  To represent Her Majesty The Queen on ceremonial occasions  To host Royal and VIP visits and occasions in conjunction with the Island’s Government  To work with the Island’s Government to help promote the Island’s commercial interests.  To play a full and active part in the social and charitable affairs of the Island and assist the Isle of Man Government to promote community activity  To exercise delegated authority to give Royal Assent to most of primary legislation  To make recommendations for certain Crown appointments in consultation with the Island or Church authorities  To make recommendations for official Honours and Awards. 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 to the FOI Co-ordinator, Cabinet Office, Government Office, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3PN. An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website https://www.gov.im/foireview. If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact us and we 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 apply for a review of decisions by 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 rights to review is on the Information Commissioner’s website at: https://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.