Expenditure on single use plastics within the department

Summary

A request for detailed expenditure figures on single-use plastics by the Isle of Man Treasury was refused because compiling the data would require substantial work not mandated by the Freedom of Information Act 2015. While specific total figures were not provided, the response noted that spending on enforcement-related plastic items is approximately £260 per annum and that the department does not purchase plastic straws, cutlery, or bin liners.

Key Facts

• The Treasury refused the request under section 11(3)(b) of the FOIA 2015 due to the substantial compilation required.
• Detailed expenditure data exists only on individual invoices which are not stored in a searchable format for this purpose.
• The Treasury does not purchase plastic straws, cutlery, or bin liners as these are provided by external cleaners.
• Approximate annual spending on plastic evidence bags and sample tubes for Customs and Excise is £260.
• The Isle of Man Government is developing a single-use plastics reduction plan.

Data Disclosed

• 2018-04-27
• 2018-05-22
• 450042
• £260
• 4 hot drinks machines
• 2 water coolers

Exemptions Cited

• Section 8(3) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (creation or derivation of information)
• Section 11(3)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (substantial compilation or collation)

Original Request

To whom it may concern, Under the the FOIA 2015, I am requesting the provision of figures of Department expenditure on single use plastics, including but not limited to; plastic cups, plastic straws, cutlery, coffee stirrers and bin liners and bags. I look forward to your response within the statutory time limits.  Best Regards

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Seyrsnys Fysseree

The Treasury Government Office Douglas Isle of Man, IM1 3PU

Telephone: (01624) 685605 Email: FOI.Treasury@gov.im

Government Website: www.gov.im

Our ref: 450042 21 May 2018

Dear ###

This request is being handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2015.

We write further to your request which was received on 27 April 2018 and which states:

"To whom it may concern, Under the FOIA 2015, I am requesting the provision of figures of Department expenditure on single use plastics, including but not limited to; plastic cups, plastic straws, cutlery, coffee stirrers and bin liners and bags. I look forward to your response within the statutory time limits."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, complying with your request for information would require Treasury to: • create or derive information from information that we hold and; • undertake substantial compilation or collation of information that we hold. Treasury is not required to do any of the above under section 8(3) of the Act.
Consequently, in this instance a practical refusal reason applies under section 11(3)(b) of the Act. Information relating to single use plastic purchases by Treasury is only recorded in the level of detail you require on invoices that are paid by the Department. Owing to the volume of invoices paid by Treasury each year and the manner in which they are stored, it would be a substantial undertaking for Treasury to interrogate each invoice in order to compile the required information.

We do however believe that Treasury's expenditure on single use plastics will be limited.
Treasury holds 4 hot drinks machines and 2 water coolers which are available in our public meeting rooms. In relation to these machines, we purchase some plastic cups and both plastic and wooden stirrers. In addition, the hot drinks and milk we purchase for these machines are contained in plastic based materials. We have reviewed whether information about expenditure in relation to these machines could be extracted from our financial accounting system. However, as this system does not record expenditure to the level of detail you require any data we could provide, which would be based on expenditure by supplier, would be misrepresentative of actual expenditure on single use plastic as, for example, the data would include expenditure on the likes of servicing the facilities. Additionally, Treasury’s Customs and Excise Division makes some purchases in relation to enforcement functions where evidence bags and sample tubes are required for the undertaking of these duties. Approximate spending per annum on these items is in the region of £260. The Treasury does not purchase any plastic bags for use as bin liners as these are provided by the cleaners of the buildings we occupy, which are managed by the Department of Infrastructure. Additionally, we do not purchase plastic straws, cutlery or crockery. Unfortunately, therefore, in this instance we are unable to supply you with the information at the level of detail you have requested.
You may be aware that the Chief Minister has recently announced that the Isle of Man Government is developing a single use plastics reduction plan, working across Departments to reduce the use of single use plastics and Treasury will be fully committed to this initiative. Please quote the reference number 450042 in any future communications.

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Yours sincerely