Lack of mapping of Manx National Trust land

Summary

The requester asked why Manx National Trust land is not displayed on the MANNGIS Island Environment map despite other protected areas being shown. The authority refused the request, citing a lack of staff resources to create the mapping and legal exemptions regarding the creation of new information.

Key Facts

• Manx National Heritage wishes to add its landholdings to the MannGIS map but lacks the staff and skills to do so.
• The mapping work is dependent on technical assistance from the Cabinet Office GTS MannGIS team.
• The authority previously responded to a similar request in February 2024 regarding landholdings.
• The request was refused under section 11(3)(b) and (c) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.
• The authority is not obliged to create information that is not already held.

Data Disclosed

• 2025-04-15
• 2025-05-15
• 23 February 2024
• 27 January 2024
• 3640073
• 4594529
• 30 by 30

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)(b) of the FOI Act 2015
• Section 11(3)(c) of the FOI Act 2015
• Section 8(3) of the FOI Act 2015
• Section 9 of the FOI Act 2015

Original Request

Please can you outline why Manx National Trust land is not shown on the MANNGIS Island Environment map when all other legally protected areas are shown on this map (as part of our nation's effort to deliver our '30 by 30' international legal commitment under the Convention on Biological Diversity).

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx xxxx

Our ref: 4594529 15 May 2025

Dear xxxx

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

We write further to your request received 15 April 2025, which states:

"Please can you outline why Manx National Trust land is not shown on the MANNGIS Island Environment map when all other legally protected areas are shown on this map (as part of our nation's effort to deliver our '30 by 30' international legal commitment under the Convention on Biological Diversity)."

By way of advice and assistance, we refer you back to our previous response dated 23 February 2024 to your FOI Request ID No. 3640073 received 27 January 2024, on the similar subject of ‘Manx Museum & National Trust landholding’, in which we outlined the extensive information publicly available from the Land Registry and Ordnance Survey maps and enclosed the lists we hold of our property, for ease of reference.

We can also confirm that Manx National Heritage would certainly wish its landholdings to be added to the MannGIS Island Environment map. However, to accurately plot the Manx Museum and National Trust’s land ownership on MannGIS would require both significant human resource and the necessary skills to undertake this work. Manx National Heritage does not currently have the staff available to undertake this work and is therefore dependent on technical assistance being provided by the Cabinet Office GTS MannGIS team, as limited resource availability and other priorities allow.

Please note that Manx National Heritage (MNH) is not obliged to answer your request for information, as there exist practical refusal reasons under s11(3)(b) and (c) of the FOI Act 2015 as follows:

• The request requires MNH to create information not already held – i.e. to give a reason why something is not available – which we are not required to do under section 8(3) of the Act; and • The request does not comply with section 9 of the Act, as the request is not for recorded 'information held' already by MNH as a public authority.

I will now close this request as of today’s date, and I hope you find the information noted above to be helpful.

Please quote the reference number 4594529 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. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Yours sincerely

Ellen Callister Corporate Services Manager