Correspondence between AG's chambers and UK Ministry of Justice

Summary

A request was made for correspondence between the Attorney General's Chambers and the UK Ministry of Justice regarding the Assisted Dying Bill 2023 since February 2025. The authority confirmed holding the information but refused disclosure citing legal professional privilege and international relations exemptions.

Key Facts

• The request covered correspondence regarding the Assisted Dying Bill 2023 from February 2025 onwards.
• The Attorney General's Chambers confirmed holding the requested information.
• The Bill is identified as a private members bill for which the AG provided drafting services.
• The authority confirmed providing legal advice to support Ministers on the policy and legislative proposals.
• Publicly available updates on the Bill's status can be found on the Tynwald website.

Data Disclosed

• 5275313
• 2026-02-03
• 2026-02-26
• February 2025
• Assisted Dying Bill 2023
• section 40
• section 29
• 20260209
• 20202040
• k260210

Exemptions Cited

• Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Legal professional privilege)
• Section 29 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (International relations)

Original Request

FOI to the AG's chambers To provide any correspondence between the AG and the Ministry of Justice regarding the Assisted Dying Bill 2023 since February 2025

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Attorney General's Chambers Belgravia House Circular Road, Douglas Isle of Man, IM1 1AE Telephone: (01624) 685452
E-mail: attgen@gov.im

Our ref: 5275313 26 February 2026

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 3 February 2026, which states:

"FOI to the AG's chambers To provide any correspondence between the AG and the Ministry of Justice regarding the Assisted Dying Bill 2023 since February 2025"

The Attorney General’s Chambers holds information within the scope of your request.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, the information identified consists predominantly of legal advice provided to Ministers and departments, internal legal analysis, and legally privileged communications created for the purpose of giving or receiving legal advice. This information is exempt from disclosure under section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015, which protects legal professional privilege. The maintenance of legal professional privilege is fundamental to the proper administration of justice and to ensuring that Ministers and public authorities are able to obtain comprehensive legal advice. Disclosure of such material would undermine that principle.

In addition, some correspondence falling within the scope of your request relates to communications with external bodies, including the Ministry of Justice, and engages the exemption at section 29 of the Act (international relations). Disclosure of this material would be likely to prejudice the Isle of Man Government’s ability to conduct effective relations with other jurisdictions.

The exemptions under sections 29 and 40 are subject to the public interest test. We have considered the public interest in transparency and accountability in relation to matters of significant public interest, including the Assisted Dying Bill and its prospective implementation subject to Royal Assent. However, we consider that the public interest is outweighed by the strong public interest in preserving legal professional privilege, safeguarding the confidentiality of legal advice, and protecting the Government’s ability to conduct sensitive legal and inter-jurisdictional discussions effectively and without inhibition.

Accordingly, we are unable to disclose the requested material. However, I can confirm at a high level that it has provided legal advice in relation to Assisted Dying to support Ministers and departments in the consideration and development of policy and legislative proposals, and has provided drafting services to the mover of the Bill as the Bill was a private members bill.

By way of advice and assistance, information regarding the current policy position, parliamentary proceedings, and published correspondence is available through publicly accessible sources, and is on the Tynwald website in relation to the passage of the Bill. The latest correspondence from the DHSC to all Tynwald Members sets out the current status, which is published on the Bill page website Tynwald.org.im/business/bills. We would refer you specifically to the letter from the Minister of the DHSC to Tynwald Members published on that page, which can be found on the website page Tynwald.org.im/business/bills/Bills/20260209_Assisted_Dying_Bill_2023- Letter_to_Tynwald_Members.pdf. We would also refer you to the answers provided by the Chief Minister in Keys relating to the progress of the Assisted Dying Bill, the Hansard report of which can be found on the website page Tynwald.org.im/spfile?file=/business/hansard/20202040/k260210.pdf.

Please quote the reference number 5275313 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.