Details of MUA attendance at Earthscope

Summary

The request sought details regarding Manx Utilities Authority's attendance at Earthscope sustainability training, including costs, staff levels, and correspondence. The authority disclosed the purpose, cost, and attendance patterns but withheld correspondence due to the request being too broad and lacking necessary clarification.

Key Facts

• MUA attended the training to increase awareness of sustainability issues under the Climate Change Act 2021 and Biosphere IOM Partnership.
• The training cost £5 per ticket, totaling £30 per year, paid for by Manx Utilities.
• Typically, one staff member volunteers to attend each of the six annual sessions.
• Correspondence with Earthscope was not provided because the request was deemed too broad and insufficiently specific.
• The request was received on 9 September 2025 and closed on 30 October 2025.

Data Disclosed

• £5
• £30
• 2021
• 6 sessions
• 1 member of staff
• 2025-09-09
• 2025-10-30
• 4925721

Exemptions Cited

• Request too broad and not sufficiently specific to determine information sought
• Information not held or cannot be found after reasonable steps

Original Request

The MUA published the following: https://www.manxutilities.im/sustainability/sustainable-mann 1. Why did the MUA feel the need to do this? 2. Who paid for it and what did it cost? 3. How many MUA staff attended and what 'level' of staff were they? 4. Provide all correspondence between MUA and XXXXXXXX of Earthscope and/or Earthscope

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Manx Utilities PO Box 177, Douglas Isle of Man, IM99 1PS

e: enquiries@manxutilities.im t: 01624 687687 www.manxutilities.im

Our ref: 4925721 30 October 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 9 September 2025, which states:

"The MUA published the following:

https://www.manxutilities.im/sustainability/sustainable-mann

1. Why did the MUA feel the need to do this?

2. Who paid for it and what did it cost?

3. How many MUA staff attended and what 'level' of staff were they?

4. Provide all correspondence between MUA and XXXXXXXX of Earthscope and/or Earthscope"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Manx Utilities does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. Lack of clarification for Point 4 means this cannot be answered in its present format.

I have detailed below the information that is held.

1. Why did the MUA feel the need to do this?

Manx Utilities opted to attend this training to increase understanding and raise awareness of sustainability issues in relation to our Public Body Duties, under the Climate Change Act 2021 and our Biosphere IOM Partnership.

Manx Utilities started this process following a UNESCO Biosphere press release in 2021 for a Sustainable Mann pilot: https://www.biosphere.im/news/pilot-sustainability- training-series-launched-for-business

1. Who paid for it and what did it cost?

Manx Utilities pay for this: it costs £5 per ticket (£30 per year).

1. How many MUA staff attended and what 'level' of staff were they?

There are six sessions covering different aspects, which change slightly each year and are dictated by UNESCO Biosphere. Typically, one member of staff has attended each session. Staff members volunteer to attend one session that is appropriate to their area of business with sessions usually taking half a day. ‘Levels’ of staff vary dependent upon the topic and their business area.

1. Provide all correspondence between MUA and XXXXXXXX of Earthscope and/or Earthscope"

Manx Utilities requested further clarification regarding the above request as it was felt the request was too broad and not sufficiently specific to determine the information being sought. Failure to provide clarification has resulted in Manx Utilities being unable to answer the request in its present format.

If you need any assistance framing any new request, please do not hesitate to contact us directly and we will be happy to assist.

If further information is required, please submit a new FOI request that details the specific information you are seeking so we can respond accordingly.

Please quote the reference number 4925721 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.