Consultation results collected and percentages stated

Summary

The requester asked whether consultation percentages are calculated by weighting responses from trade bodies or treating each reply as a single response. The Cabinet Office confirmed it does not hold specific records on this methodology but stated that only individual respondents are counted, while noting that consulting bodies may exercise discretion in weighting views.

Key Facts

• The Cabinet Office does not hold the specific information requested regarding calculation methodologies.
• When publishing consultation percentages, only individual respondents are taken into consideration.
• Weighting responses from organizations is considered problematic due to difficulty in estimating membership numbers.
• Consulting bodies may choose to give weight to large organizations at their individual discretion.
• Methodology for consultations is stated in concluding reports available at consult.gov.im.

Data Disclosed

• 2017-10-15
• 2017-10-19
• IM106862I
• Freedom of Information Act 2015
• Part 2
• https://consult.gov.im/
• https://www.gov.im/foireview
• https://www.inforights.im/
• www.gov.im/foi
• IM1 3PN
• 01624 686244
• 01624 685710

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

1

REFERENCE NUMBER: IM106862I

REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2015 (“the Act”) Thank you for your application dated 15 October 2017 for the following information: “When public consultation results are collected many results are stated as percentages. In calculating these percentages is each reply taken as a single response, or are responses from trade or professional bodies given weighting as they represent a number of members?”
Response to your request
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Cabinet Office does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. However we can confirm that when publishing consultation responses and percentages of respondents, only individual respondents are taken into consideration. It would be problematic to try to estimate the number of members which made up an organisation’s membership. An organisation’s response may also not always accord with the view of all its members and may only represent a narrow majority, for example. When considering consultation responses, the consulting body may choose to give weight to the views of a large organisation when considering its responses, but this would be a matter of individual discretion and the consulting body should always clearly set out its methodology in its consultation response document. Concluding reports for consultations will state the method used and these can be found at https://consult.gov.im/ 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.

Government Office DOUGLAS Isle of Man IM1 3PN Tel: (+44) 01624 686244 Fax: (+44) 01624 685710 Website www.gov.im/co
2

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.