Expenditure on single use plastics within the department

Summary

A request for expenditure figures on single-use plastics within the Department of Education, Sport and Culture was refused because the information is not held in the required detail.

Key Facts

• The Department does not hold specific expenditure data on single-use plastics in its accounting system.
• Compliance would require reviewing individual invoices for 32 Primary Schools, 5 Secondary Schools, and other facilities.
• The request was refused under section 11(3)(b) of the FOIA 2015 due to practical refusal reasons.
• The Isle of Man Government is developing a single-use plastics reduction plan involving this Department.
• The response was issued on 25 May 2018 regarding a request received on 27 April 2018.

Data Disclosed

• 2018-04-27
• 2018-05-25
• 32 Primary Schools
• 5 Secondary Schools
• FOIA 2015
• section 11(3)(b)
• section 8(3)

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Practical refusal reasons)

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 Aaron Ibanez

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Education Sport and Culture Rheynn Ynsee, Spoyrt as Cultoor

Corporate Services Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Hamilton House Peel Road, Douglas IM1 5EZ Telephone: (01624) 685808
Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im
Our ref: 451135 25th May 2018

Dear ###

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

"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."

Whilst our aim is to provide information whenever possible, the Freedom of Information Act 2015 makes provision for public authorities to refuse to release information on grounds where the information requested is absolutely exempt information or where a qualified exemption or practical refusal reason may apply. In this instance, the Department is refusing your request on the grounds that practical refusal reasons apply under section 11(3) (b) of the Act, namely that if the Department of Education Sport and Culture were to comply with the request for information it would require us to do one or more of the matters mentioned in section 8 (3), specifically:- • create or derive information from information that we hold; and • undertake substantial completion or collation of information that we hold. The accounting system that the Department uses does not hold specific information on expenditure to the level of detail requested. Therefore to gather this information would require a review of individual invoices for 32 Primary Schools, 5 Secondary Schools, the Villa Marina & Gaiety complex, the NSC and all other functions for which the Department is responsible. This which would equate to a substantial piece of work and would be burdensome to the Department. By way of advice and assistance the Chief Minister recently announced that Isle of Man Government is currently developing a single use plastics reduction plan and working across Departments to reduce the use of single use plastics and replace with sustainable alternatives. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture will be a part of this initiative.