Expenditure on single use plastics within the department

Summary

A request was made for annual expenditure figures on single-use plastics by Manx National Heritage from 2011 to 2017. The authority responded that the information is not held because purchases lack separate accounting codes and are mixed within thousands of transactions from various suppliers.

Key Facts

• The request covered expenditure on items such as plastic cups, straws, cutlery, and bin liners.
• The requested time period was from 2011 to 2017.
• The authority does not hold the information in a form that allows for a response.
• Single-use plastic products do not have a separate accounting code.
• Purchases are made via multiple suppliers, purchase cards, and petty cash, making extraction without substantial compilation impossible.

Data Disclosed

• 2011
• 2017
• 2018-04-27
• 2018-05-17
• 506 suppliers
• 2038 invoices
• 2000 transactions
• 450043

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held
• No searchable record available without substantial compilation

Original Request

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.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Manx National Heritage, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3LY Telephone: +44 (0) 1624 648000 Fax: +44 (0) 1624 648001 Email: enquiries@mnh.gov.im Our ref: 450043

17 May 2018 Dear ### 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" And then subsequently clarified by e-mail that:- “I must add that the scope of my request concerns figures per annum, from 2011 to 2017.” 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. Further to your enquiry in respect of single use plastics we have identified that we do not hold the information requested in a form to allow us to respond. As part of our consideration we have also looked at whether significant purchases are made that could allow a partial response. As background the products identified do not have a separate accounting code and any purchases are likely to be part of multiple orders from various unknown suppliers. To put this in context we had 506 suppliers in 2017/18 with 2038 invoices, this increases further for items bought using purchase cards. Purchase cards add approximately a further 2000 transactions per annum, related to small purchases that may fall into the category of items you have requested. Other purchases could also be made with petty cash. No searchable record is available to respond to your enquiry without substantial compilation and we must therefore decline your request. Please quote the reference number 450043 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; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; 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 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. Yours sincerely