VIP tickets for the TT

Summary

The request sought details on hospitality and gifts provided by the Department for Enterprise to Members and others at taxpayer expense, following media reports about Chief Minister Alf Cannan. The authority disclosed a list of sponsored events and guest numbers from 2021 to 2024, noting that most costs were part of wider sponsorship packages, though specific costs were provided for a few events.

Key Facts

• The Department for Enterprise sponsored multiple Private Client Dining (PCD) events and Chamber of Commerce gatherings between 2021 and 2024.
• Most hospitality costs were described as part of a wider sponsorship package rather than itemized expenses.
• Specific costs were disclosed for the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce event (£1750) and several South Africa events.
• The response did not provide a specific list of individual names of recipients for the majority of events, only guest counts.
• The request was received on 2024-08-20 and the outcome was 'All information sent' on 2024-09-17.

Data Disclosed

• £5,000
• £3,500
• June 2022
• 14th August 2024
• 2024-08-20
• 2024-09-17
• 16 pages
• 3 documents
• 5 invited guests
• 8 invited guests
• 27 invited guests
• £1750.00
• £300
• £585
• £482

Original Request

A news item on 3 FM on the 14th August 2024 stated - "Chief Minister Alf Cannan has revealed details of more than £5,000 he's received in gifts over the past two years. He'd faced questions from local advocate Ian Kermode about his entries in the Tynwald register of members' interests. Mr Cannan said since June 2022, he'd been given TT hospitality tickets worth around £3,500 by the Department for Enterprise as well as bottles of whiskey and other gifts.' (a) Please provide a list showing to which Members (if any) by name, similar hospitality /gifts//rewards etc were freely given by the public authority at taxpayers' expense; and (b) The value of each item of hospitality/ gifts/ rewards etc freely given by the public authority at taxpayers' expense; and (c) A list showing the same information in respect of any other or persons by name; and (d) The value of each item of hospitality/ gifts/ rewards etc freely given by the public authority at taxpayers' expense; and (e) The name of the person or persons who authorised the giving away of hospitality/ gifts/rewards etc; and (f) A copy of the authority under which such person or persons was authorised to freely give away at taxpayers' expense the hospitality/ gifts/ rewards etc

Data Tables (11)

Full Response Text

Finance Isle of Man 23rd August 2024 Subject: Information request Information request Our reference: 4072090

You have been assigned a freedom of information request to action. The request is:
" A news item on 3 FM on the 14th August 2024 stated -

"Chief Minister Alf Cannan has revealed details of more than £5,000 he's received in gifts over the past two years.

He'd faced questions from local advocate Ian Kermode about his entries in the Tynwald register of members' interests.

Mr Cannan said since June 2022, he'd been given TT hospitality tickets worth around £3,500 by the Department for Enterprise as well as bottles of whiskey and other gifts.'
From June 2020 to 21st August 2024:

(a) Please provide a list showing to which Members (if any) by name, similar hospitality /gifts//rewards etc were freely given by the public authority at taxpayers' expense; and
(b) The value of each item of hospitality/ gifts/ rewards etc freely given by the public authority at taxpayers' expense; and
(c) A list showing the same information in respect of any other or persons by name; and
(d) The value of each item of hospitality/ gifts/ rewards etc freely given by the public authority at taxpayers' expense; and
(e) The name of the person or persons who authorised the giving away of hospitality/ gifts/rewards etc; and
(f) A copy of the authority under which such person or persons was authorised to freely give away at taxpayers' expense the hospitality/ gifts/ rewards etc "

We sponsored the following events and as part of the sponsorship package invited guests

Private Client Dining (“PCD”) London September 2021 No. invited guests: 5 Cost: part of wider sponsorship package PCD Zurich October 2021 No. invited guests:5 Cost: part of wider sponsorship package PCD Geneva October 2021 No. invited guests: 5 Cost: part of wider sponsorship package PCD Dubai November 2021 No. invited guests: 5 Cost: part of wider sponsorship package PCD Manchester October 2022 No. invited guests: 5 Cost: part of wider sponsorship package

PCD London November 2022 No. invited guests: 5 Cost: part of wider sponsorship package Gift bags given out PCD IOM June 2023 No. invited guests: 5 Cost: part of wider sponsorship package Gift bags given out South Africa Chamber of Commerce Gala Dinner June 2023 No. invited guests: 8 Cost: part of wider sponsorship package PCD London June 2023 No. invited guests: 5 Cost: part of wider sponsorship package Gift bags given out

PCD Manchester October 2023 No. invited guests: 5 Cost: part of wider sponsorship package Gift bags given out PCD London November 2023 No. invited guests: 5 Cost: part of wider sponsorship package Gift bags given out PCD London March 2024 No. invited guests: 5 Cost: part of wider sponsorship package

PCD London June 2024 No. invited guests: 5 Cost: part of wider sponsorship package

South Africa Chamber of Commerce Gala Dinner, London June 24 No. invited guests: 8 Costs: part of wider sponsorship package Gift bags given out

South Africa Chamber of Commerce Business Lunch, London June 24 No. invited guests: 6 Costs: part of wider sponsorship package

Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Welcome Isle of Man Event March 2024 No. invited guests: 27 Cost: £1750.00 Gift bags given out

Finance Isle of Man Business Dinner Cape Town South Africa April 2024 No. invited guests: 10 Cost: £300

Finance Isle of Man/Corporate Sports Springbok Business Breakfast, Cape Town South Africa July 2024 No. invited guests: 10 Cost: £585

Finance Isle of Man High Tea Event, Sandton South Africa August 2024 No. invited guests: 20 Cost: (Split) £482

Freedom of Information Co-ordinator 1st Floor, St Georges Court Upper Church Street, Douglas Isle of Man IM1 1EX

Telephone: (01624 686400) Website: https://www.iomdfenterprise.im/

Our ref: 4072090 17 September 2024

Dear ###,

We write further to your request, received 20 August 2024, which states:

"A news item on 3 FM on the 14th August 2024 stated -

"Chief Minister Alf Cannan has revealed details of more than £5,000 he's received in gifts over the past two years.

He'd faced questions from local advocate Ian Kermode about his entries in the Tynwald register of members' interests.

Mr Cannan said since June 2022, he'd been given TT hospitality tickets worth around £3,500 by the Department for Enterprise as well as bottles of whiskey and other gifts.'

(a) Please provide a list showing to which Members (if any) by name, similar hospitality /gifts//rewards etc were freely given by the public authority at taxpayers' expense; and

(b) The value of each item of hospitality/ gifts/ rewards etc freely given by the public authority at taxpayers' expense; and

(c) A list showing the same information in respect of any other or persons by name; and

(d) The value of each item of hospitality/ gifts/ rewards etc freely given by the public authority at taxpayers' expense; and

(e) The name of the person or persons who authorised the giving away of hospitality/ gifts/rewards etc; and

(f) A copy of the authority under which such person or persons was authorised to freely give away at taxpayers' expense the hospitality/ gifts/ rewards etc"

Page | 2 Our response to your request is as follows: - It should be noted that whilst the clarified information request was for the period June 2020 to the date of the request, there was no TT in 2020 or 2021, nor was the Department engaged in the same level of activities as it would be in a normal year. As such there are limited instances occurring in that period, with activities recommencing in 2022. (a) Please provide a list showing to which Members (if any) by name, similar hospitality /gifts//rewards etc were freely given by the public authority at taxpayers' expense; and (b) The value of each item of hospitality/ gifts/ rewards etc freely given by the public authority at taxpayers' expense; and The data provided for part (a) and (b) of your request has been separated and listed by the relevant section of the Department which hosted the event where hospitality, gifts etc. have been provided. Where possible the information has been separated between the recipient, type of hospitality etc received and the cost. Motorsport The following members of Tynwald have received complimentary tickets for the TT Mercury Club, for the years listed.

2024:

Diane Kelsey, MLC (Political Member of the Department for Enterprise) 4 tickets (in place of Minister Johnston who could not attend on a specific day or days) Hon Tim Crookall, MHK 2 tickets Hon Lawrie Hooper, MHK 2 tickets Dr Michelle Haywood, MHK 2 tickets Hon Tim Johnston, MHK 7 tickets Hon Alfred Cannan, MHK 4 tickets

2023:

Hon Tim Crookall, MHK 12 tickets Hon Alfred Cannan, MHK 2 tickets Hon Tim Johnston, MHK 4 tickets Hon Laurence Skelly, President of Tynwald 2 tickets Dr Michelle Haywood MHK 2 tickets

Page | 3

2022:

Hon Dr Alex Allinson, MHK 2 tickets Rob Callister, MHK 8 tickets Hon Lawrie Hooper, MHK 2 tickets Hon Jane Poole-Wilson, MHK 2 tickets Hon Alfred Cannan, MHK 4 tickets Hon Tim Crookall, MHK 2 tickets Hon Kate Lord-Brennan, MHK 2 tickets

Each ticket listed above at (a) has a retail value of £300 ex VAT, However, a percentage of tickets are specifically allocated for Political guests as set aside in the policy mentioned below and are not taken from the tickets made available for purchase and have no direct impact on revenue.

The actual cost to the Department for each complementary ticket is approximately £50 per person which will be for any food and drink consumed.

Each ticket entitles the holder to the following:

Breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea

Complimentary bar

Rider Appearances

Private Grandstand

Private Garden

Parking allocation

Complementary tickets are issued in accordance with the Department’s policy which has been provided to you in response to your request (f), with the Political Member for Motorsport receiving tickets on the days upon which the Lieutenant Governor is in attendance.

When any political member of the Department or any other Minister is invited to attend the TT, it is the Department’s decision to do so, under the aforementioned policy, these attendances are on the basis that the Member or Minister attending is there to represent the Isle of Man Government in its wider form, not for personal use and they are not assignable.

As such, whilst the department notes that some members may have declared these as gifts, that is not their intent, and all such attendees are in effect working during this period.

Page | 4

Visit Manx Menu Event 2024 - Total Cost: £122.48 Names Food Welcome Drinks Total Dr Michelle Haywood, MHK £18.50 £12.12 £30.62 Hon Tim Johnston, MHK £18.50 £12.12 £30.62 Hon Clare Barber, MHK £18.50 £12.12 £30.62 Hon Daphne Caine, MHK £18.50 £12.12 £30.62 Gala Dinner 2023 – Total Cost: £529.50 Names Gala Dinner Davisons Chocolate Welcome Drinks Manx Fairy Tales Book Drinks Total Hon Tim Johnston, MHK £42.50 £0.66 £3.53 £14.60 £13.06 £74.35 Hon Laurence Skelly £42.50 £0.66 £3.53 £14.60 £13.06 £61.29 Hon Tim Crookall, MHK £42.50 £0.66 £3.53 £14.60 £13.06 £61.29 Hon Jane Poole-Wilson, MHK £42.50 £0.66 £3.53 £14.60 £13.06 £61.29 Hon Dr Alex Allinson, MHK £42.50 £0.66 £3.53 £14.60 £13.06 £61.29 Hon Clare Barber, MHK £42.50 £0.66 £3.53 £14.60 £13.06 £61.29 His Excellency The Lieutenant Governor and Lady Lorimer £85.00 £1.32 £7.06 £29.20 £26.12 £148.70

Digital Digital Isle of Man purchased a bouquet for Hon Daphne Caine, MHK on 27 Oct 2021.
This was a thank you for her time as the political representative on the Digital Isle of Man Board. Total cost was £28. Members of Tynwald are obliged to adhere to the Standing Orders of Tynwald Court, which you can access on this link:
https://www.tynwald.org.im/spfile?file=/business/sto/Documents/2023-PP-0083.pdf Under this Order there is a specific Annex (7) that relates to “Register of Members’ Interests Rules, this states:- “(iv) gifts and benefits in kind of any amount which might be taken to affect the way in which a Member may vote or otherwise carry out their public duties with the name and address of the donor, and the capacity in which the gift or benefit has been given, but excluding:
(a) all inheritances;
(b) gifts or benefits received from the Member’s immediate family; and
(c) attendance at functions in the course of governmental or official parliamentary sponsored duties;” Page | 5 (c) A list showing the same information in respect of any other or persons by name; and

(d) The value of each item of hospitality/ gifts/ rewards etc freely given by the public authority at taxpayers' expense; and Motorsport Complementary tickets for the TT Mercury Club

2024:

Mayor of Douglas 2 tickets Gallery Magazine (Marketing campaign for Mercury Club) 2 tickets TT Riders Association (Charity, racing related) 2 tickets Expedition Limitless (Charity, non-racing related) 2 tickets Landowner A (Tickets provided in exchange for sponsor banner placement on their property) 2 tickets Landowner B (Tickets provided in exchange for sponsor banner placement on their property) 4 tickets Discretionary Guests (Retired Volunteer Officials to recognise long service to the event) 3 tickets Discretionary Guests (Potential economic benefit) 22 tickets Lieutenant Governor 8 tickets Chief Constable (Political guest) 2 tickets Hogg Motorsport/Rob Vine Fund (Charity, racing related) 2 tickets Discretionary Guests (VIP) 14 tickets

VIP guests made up of:
4 x TV Actor 4 x ex-TT Winner 2 x Professional footballer (Premier League) 2 x Professional Boxer (British Champion) 2 x Yamaha President

Page | 6

2023:

Discretionary Guests 45 tickets Economic Benefit 33 tickets Mayor of Douglas 2 tickets Lieutenant Governor 15 tickets Charity (racing related) 2 tickets

2022:

Discretionary Guests 29 tickets Economic Benefit 19 tickets Lieutenant Governor 10 tickets Charity (racing related) 4 tickets Charity (non-racing related) 2 tickets

As listed above, the actual cost to the Department for each complementary ticket is approximately £50 per person which will be for any food and drink consumed.

No further information regarding the breakdown of tickets has been recorded for the years 2022 and 2023.

Ship Registry Isle of Man Ship Registry’s 40th Anniversary Celebration at Castle Rushen on 19th July 2024 Hospitality £2,719.50 Marketing Merchandise Gift Bag £70 Total Cost £2,789.50 Total of seventy people invited, with a cost of £39.85 per person. No record kept of total number of attendees or their names. Page | 7

Please see the attached document which shows gifts and rewards provided by Visit Isle of Man Agency, and Finance IOM.
Please note that names of recipients have been redacted in accordance with the following exemption:- Section 25(b)(i)(ii) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015, as absolutely exempt personal information. The reasons why that exemption applies are that: 1. The information amounts to personal data of which you are not the data subject; and 2. disclosure of the information would contravene one of the data protection principles as set out in Article 5 of the General Data Protection Regulation as it applies in the Isle of Man pursuant to the Data Protection (Application of GDPR) Order 2018, namely that it is only permitted to disclose the information where it would be fair and lawful and meet one of the conditions for lawful processing in Article 6 and in this case, none of those conditions have been met. We also provide some corporate ‘gifts’ when the Department attends trade shows, however we do not hold records of who receives these gifts.

(e) The name of the person or persons who authorised the giving away of hospitality/ gifts/rewards etc; and The authorisations for the above listed gifts came from: Motorsport – Approved by DfE CEO and Ministers of the Department Visit – Deborah Heather, CEO of Visit Isle of Man Agency Digital – Lyle Wraxall, CEO of Digital Isle of Man Agency Ship Registry – Cameron Mitchell, Director of Ship Registry Finance IOM – Michael Crowe, CEO of Finance Isle of Man Agency

(f) A copy of the authority under which such person or persons was authorised to freely give away at taxpayers' expense the hospitality/ gifts/ rewards etc" Please see the attached documents which show the delegated authorities from each area within DfE listed in this response.

Please quote the r

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