Bus costs and Driver numbers

Authority	Department of Infrastructure
Date received	2017-03-02
Outcome	All information sent
Outcome date	2017-03-22
Case ID	355779

Summary

The Department of Infrastructure responded to a request for bus costs and driver numbers by providing specific staffing data for February 1, 2017, and directing the requester to online government accounts for capital expenditure details.

Key Facts

Bus Vannin operates at a loss due to social inclusion services like concessionary fares and rural routes, which are not compensated by government funds.
Total capital expenditure data is available in the Government's budget accounts online rather than in the direct response.
On February 1, 2017, there were 147 drivers employed in total.
The driver workforce consisted of 86 full-time, 8 part-time, and 53 casual drivers on 0-hour contracts.
Three drivers were on sick leave and two full-time drivers were seconded as supervisors on the specified date.

Data Disclosed

147
86
2
8
53
3
1st February 2017
2017-03-02
2017-03-22
0 hours
Cell A1
GL column

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

To put these figures in context, it should be noted that Bus Vannin provides a number of services that run at a loss but are deemed necessary for social inclusion. These services include concessionary fares for children, the elderly, disabled people and others, along with bus routes that serve the island’s sparsely-populated rural areas. Bus operators in other jurisdictions receive payment from Government funds for services such as this. Bus Vannin does not, however, as it is deemed unnecessary to turn them into internal Government transactions on the Isle of Man.
Accordingly, the Isle of Man’s bus service does not run at a profit, but would do so if it was compensated for these social services.

Your request was for data as at 1st February, however, you instructed us that this date was a little arbitrary. Much more data are available in the Government’s budget accounts which you can find online at the following link:

https://www.gov.im/categories/tax-vat-and-your-money/government-accounts/

You will be able to use this website to gather information on the total capital expenditure by Public Transport over the course of a year. I have attached some explanatory information to help you navigate the website.

A total of 147 drivers were employed on 1 February 2017. 86 of those drivers were full time, although 2 were seconded as supervisors on the day. 8 were part time drivers and 53 were casual drivers on 0 hours contracts. 3 drivers were on sick leave. No-one was training on that date.

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 to foi.doi@gov.im or by delivery/post to Mr Ian Harris, Department of Infrastructure, Sea Terminal Buildings, Douglas, IM1 2RF. An electronic version and paper version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of-information/

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; 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: 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 https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of-information/ To be able to filter the information, make sure you are in Cell A1 - highlight all the data (Shift+Control+End). Select the DATA tab in the ribbon and click on FILTER symbol

To use the filter, click on the drop down arrow to the left of the column - either deselect All, then put ticks into the areas you wish to include OR type into the ‘Search’ box, for instance, if you wanted everything for Public Transport, type this into the box.