Budget

Summary

A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care for the previous financial year's spending and budget figures. The authority refused to disclose the information, citing that it is held for future publication and is not yet finalized.

Key Facts

• The request was received on 2018-05-08 and responded to on 2018-05-25.
• The Department of Health and Social Care withheld all requested information.
• The exemption was applied under Section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.
• The information is withheld because it is not finalized and will be published in the near future.
• The public interest test concluded that withholding the information outweighed the interest in disclosure to avoid misleading data.

Data Disclosed

• 2018-05-08
• 2018-05-25
• 462338
• Section 41
• Freedom of Information Act 2015

Exemptions Cited

• Section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information held for future publication)

Original Request

How much has the Dept spent in the last finacial year What was the budget

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Executive: Malcolm Couch Freedom of Information Team DHSC Digital Cronk Coar Strang IM4 4RJ

(01624) 642621 dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc

Our ref: 462338 25 May 2018

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 8 May 2018 and which states:

"How much has the Dept spent in the last financial year What was the budget"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the information is exempt from disclosure under section 41 of the Act as it is held with a view to being published at a future date and in all the circumstances it is reasonable that the information be withheld from disclosure until that time.

As section 41 is a qualified exemption, it is subject to a public interest test. The public interest must be something that is of serious concern and benefit to the public at large.

Factors in favour of disclosure Transparency Public have a right to know what their tax money is being spent on within the Department of Health and Social Care

Factors in favour of withholding Information not finalised, therefore cannot be released yet, however, will be published in the near future Incorrect information may be misleading

In taking these factors into account the Department of Health and Social Care determined that the factors in favour of maintaining the exemption outweigh the factors in favour of disclosing the information.

Please quote the reference number 462338 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