Questions by the MHK for Malew and Castletown

Summary

The request sought the person hours and financial costs incurred by government departments to answer questions tabled by the MHK for Malew and Castletown. The Office of the Clerk of Tynwald responded that this information is not held because departments do not record or submit such data.

Key Facts

• The Office of the Clerk of Tynwald does not hold the requested information regarding person hours or financial costs.
• Government departments do not include person hours or financial costs when submitting answers to tabled questions.
• The Office of the Clerk of Tynwald also does not account for officer time in a way that would allow them to answer such a request.
• The request was received on 28 October 2025 and the response was issued on 10 November 2025.
• The request specifically concerned questions tabled by MHK Jason Morrhouse for Arbory, Malew, and Castletown.

Data Disclosed

• 2025-10-28
• 2025-11-10
• 25th October 2025
• 5034449
• 4540061
• 01624 685500
• IM1 3PW

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held

Original Request

How many person hours have been taken by each government department to answer the questions tabled at Tynwald for each of the questions individually and collectively tabled by the MHK for Malew and Castletown.What is the financial cost of those questions?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Co-Ordinator Office of the Clerk of Tynwald Legislative Buildings Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PW Telephone: 01624 685500

Our ref: 5034449 10 November 2025

Dear Requestor

We write further to your request received 28 October 2025, which states:

"How many person hours have been taken by each government department to answer the questions tabled at Tynwald for each of the questions individually and collectively tabled by the MHK for Malew and Castletown. What is the financial cost of those questions? ".

And for your clarification received on 25th October 2025 via our contact form on the Tynwald website:

'To be clear and in the avoidance of doubt the recently submitted request relates to the questions of MHK Jason Morrhouse, Arbory, Malew and Castletown MHK.'

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested.

When submitting Answers to tabled Questions to the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald, Government Departments do not include the person hours taken to answer the questions nor the financial cost of answering the questions.

On this occasion, you have not requested information relating to the number of people hours or the financial cost to the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald in processing the Questions, but please be advised that officers do not account for their time in such a way that would enable us to answer this should a request in this form be submitted by you.

See also FOI Response 4540061: Average cost of researching questions being asked at the House of Keys and Tynwald. FOI Response 4540061

Please quote the reference number 5034449 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

FOI Co-ordinator
FOI@tynwald.org.im