Fire Extinguishers and Blankets

Summary

The requester asked for specific spending on fire extinguishers and blankets for financial years 2015-2017 and the current year, but the Department of Infrastructure could not provide itemized figures as they are not held separately. Instead, the authority disclosed total expenditure for all fire equipment, which includes unrelated items like safety signage, citing a practical refusal reason under the Freedom of Information Act 2015.

Key Facts

• The Department of Infrastructure does not hold spending data specifically for fire extinguishers and blankets separate from other fire equipment.
• The authority refused to create or derive the specific information requested under section 11(3) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.
• The provided figures represent total expenditure on fire equipment, including items such as safety signage.
• The response was issued on 2018-03-09 regarding a request received on 2018-02-06.
• Applicants have the right to request an internal review or appeal to the Information Commissioner if dissatisfied.

Data Disclosed

• 2014 - 15: £44,306.37
• 2015 - 16: £43,840.51
• 2016 - 17: £44,127.03
• 2017 - to date: £27,851.31
• 2018-02-06
• 2018-03-09
• IM119872I

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3) practical refusal reason (b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 referencing s8(3): Public authority is not required to create or derive information, undertake research, or substantial compilation.

Original Request

Please provide the total amount the department of infrastructure spent on service and purchase of fire extinguishers and fire blankets in financial years 2015, 2016 2017 and total amount to date in current financial year.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

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

FOI Reference No: IM119872I Request under the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (“The Act”)

Thank you for your request dated 6th February 2018

Your request

Please provide the total amount the department of infrastructure spent on service and purchase of fire extinguishers and fire blankets in financial years 2015, 2016 2017 and total amount to date in current financial year.

Response to your request

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, complying with your request for information would require the Department to create or drive information from information it holds.

Under section 11(3) practical refusal reason (b) of the Act referencing s8(3), the Act states that “a public authority is not required to create or derive information from the information that it holds; undertake research into, or analysis of, information that it holds; or undertake substantial compilation or collation of information that it holds”

The information is not held separately or in a way that is specific to the items for which you have requested costs.

The figures below are the total expenditure for fire equipment which includes other items not directly related to your request, such as safety signage etc.

2014 - 15 £44,306.37 2015 - 16 £43,840.51 2016 - 17 £44,127.03 2017 - to date £27, 851.31

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 The FOI Co-ordinator, 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 www.gov.im/foireview

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/

Yours sincerely

Freedom of Information Response Team