Cost of House of Keys and tynwald questions
| Authority | Cabinet Office |
|---|---|
| Date received | 2025-03-25 |
| Outcome | Information not held |
| Outcome date | 2025-04-09 |
| Case ID | 4540061 |
Summary
The requester asked for the average cost of researching parliamentary questions and the number of questions asked by Jason Moorhouse MHK. The Cabinet Office stated it does not hold cost data as officers do not account for time in that manner, but directed the requester to the Clerk of Tynwald for the question count.
Key Facts
- The Cabinet Office does not hold information on the average cost of researching parliamentary questions.
- Officers do not account for their time in a way that allows calculation of research costs.
- The Clerk of Tynwald's Office is the recommended contact for data on questions asked by Jason Moorhouse MHK.
- Responding to parliamentary questions is treated as a priority over other work due to their unpredictable nature.
- The request was formally closed on 9 April 2025.
Data Disclosed
- 4540061
- 2025-03-25
- 2025-04-09
- 9 April 2025
- 25 March 2025
- IM1 3PN
- IM1 3PW
- 01624 686244
Exemptions Cited
- Information not held
Original Request
What is the average cost of researching a question being asked at the House of Keys and Tynwald and how many questions have been asked by Jason Moorhouse MHK during this administration.
Data Tables (1)
| To | provid | e f | urther | advi | ce a | nd | assistance a | s required | by | section | 15 | of | the | Freedom | of | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information | Act | 2015, r | esponding t | o parliamentary q | uestions | submitted | by | Members | of | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tynwald | ( | both | w | ritten | and | oral) | ca | n take | up a | considerable | amoun | t | of | time. | It | is | an | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| important | responsibility | for | officers | which | is treated a | s a | priority. | T | he | amount | of | time | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| taken | varies | wit | h | the | sc | ope | and | nature | of | the | questio | n tabled | . | The | unpredictable | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| nature | of | tabled | questions | both | in t | erms o | f topic | and | scope | mean | that | answering | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| questions | ar | e | prioritise | d over | other | work u | pon | receipt | due | to | their | importance. |
Full Response Text
Government Office
Douglas
Isle of Man
IM1 3PN
Telephone: (+44) 01624 686244
Website: www.gov.im/co
Our ref: 4540061 9 April 2025
Dear ###
We write further to your request received 25 March 2025, which states:
"What is the average cost of researching a question being asked at the House of Keys and Tynwald and how many questions have been asked by Jason Moorhouse MHK during this administration."
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Cabinet Office does not hold the information that you have requested. Officers do not account for their time in such a way that would enable the average cost of researching a parliamentary question to be calculated.
In respect of the second part of the request, "how many questions have been asked by Jason Moorhouse MHK during this administration", you may wish to contact Clerk of Tynwald’s Office who may be able to help you: Clerk of Tynwald's Office, Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Douglas, Isle of Man. IM1 3PW, or submit a freedom of information request directly: https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of- information/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/.
To provide further advice and assistance as required by section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015, responding to parliamentary questions submitted by Members of Tynwald (both written and oral) can take up a considerable amount of time. It is an important responsibility for officers which is treated as a priority. The amount of time taken varies with the scope and nature of the question tabled. The unpredictable nature of tabled questions both in terms of topic and scope mean that answering questions are prioritised over other work upon receipt due to their importance.
Please quote the reference number 4540061 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