FoI Costs
| Authority | Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture |
|---|---|
| Date received | 2024-09-02 |
| Outcome | Information not held |
| Outcome date | 2024-09-26 |
| Case ID | 4095415 |
Summary
The requester asked for the cost of providing Freedom of Information responses over the past three financial years, but the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture stated it does not hold this data as it is not required to calculate officer time or monetary value. Instead, the authority disclosed the number of requests received and the staffing structure of the team handling them.
Key Facts
- The Department does not calculate the monetary cost or officer time spent on FoI responses.
- The Data Protection and Information Governance team consists of one Higher Executive Officer and one Executive Officer.
- The Department responded to 61 FoI requests in the 2023-2024 financial year.
- The Department responded to 45 FoI requests in the 2022-2023 financial year.
- The Department responded to 56 FoI requests in the 2021-2022 financial year.
Data Disclosed
- 61
- 45
- 56
- 06/04/2023 - 05/04/2024
- 06/04/2022 - 05/04/2023
- 06/04/2021 - 05/04/2022
- 2024-09-02
- 2024-09-26
- 4095415
Exemptions Cited
- Information not held
- FOIA does not require calculation of officers' time or monetary value
Original Request
Can you confirm the cost of providing FoI responses to requesters for the past three financial years, please?
Data Tables (1)
| Financial Year | Number of Requests |
|---|---|
| 06/04/2023 - 05/04/2024 | 61 |
| 06/04/2022 - 05/04/2023 | 45 |
| 06/04/2021 - 05/04/2022 | 56 |
Full Response Text
Freedom of Information Co-ordinator Corporate Services Directorate Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John’s, Isle of Man, IM4 3AS Tel no (01624) 685854 Fax no (01624 685851 Email: defa@gov.im www.gov.im
Our ref: 4095415 26 September 2024
Dear ###
We write further to your request received 2 September 2024, which states:
"Can you confirm the cost of providing FoI responses to requesters for the past three financial years, please?"
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. This is because the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) does not require the Department to calculate officers’ time spent and the monetary value of responding to requests.
To offer advice and assistance, the Departments Data Protection and Information Governance team are responsible for coordinating Freedom of Information requests. The Departments Data Protection and Information Governance team consist of one Higher Executive Officer and one Executive Officer.
Isle of Man Government Public Services Commission Pay Scales can be found here:
https://hr.gov.im/salary-leave-and-pay/pay-scales/
The following table identifies the number of Freedom of Information requests the Department have responded to for the past three financial years.
Financial Year Number of Requests 06/04/2023 - 05/04/2024 61 06/04/2022 - 05/04/2023 45 06/04/2021 - 05/04/2022 56
Please quote the reference number 4095415 in any future communications.
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.
An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I 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 appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on:
-
Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or
-
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 right to a review can be found 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 www.gov.im/foi.
I will now close your request as of this date.