What herbicides does the department use?

Summary

A request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture regarding the use of glyphosate herbicides, but the information was refused because the department does not hold it.

Key Facts

• The Department of Education, Sport and Culture does not hold information on herbicide usage.
• Grounds and garden maintenance for the department's properties is undertaken by another government department.
• Responsibility for maintenance lies with the Public Estates and Housing Division of the Department of Infrastructure.
• The request was refused under section 11(3)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.
• Applicants were advised to submit a new request to the Department of Infrastructure.

Data Disclosed

• 2018-08-24
• 2018-09-19
• 575335
• section 11(3)(a)
• 2 pages

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information not held)

Original Request

I am writing to you to request the following information. Does the Department use the herbicide glyphosate, sold under the name Roundup, in any of its work? And if so how much of the herbicide is used and on what areas?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Corporate Services Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Hamilton House Peel Road, Douglas IM1 5EZ Telephone: (01624) 685808 Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im Our ref: 575335 19 September 2018 Dear

We write further to your request which was received on 24 August 2018 and which states:
"I am writing to you to request the following information. Does the Department use the herbicide glyphosate, sold under the name Roundup, in any of its work? And if so how much of the herbicide is used and on what areas?" While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, the Department is refusing your Freedom of Information request on the grounds of a practical refusal reason under section 11 of the Act. This is because your request is in fact seeking information from the Department which we do not hold or have access to. The maintenance of grounds/gardens at the Department’s properties is undertaken by another Government department.
Therefore there is no information to disclose and the Department is therefore satisfied that your request should be refused on the grounds of a practical refusal reason under the provisions of section 11(3) (a) of the Act:- (a) the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that the applicant has requested By way of advice and assistance, the responsibility for the maintenance of grounds/gardens at the Department’s properties falls to the Public Estates and Housing Division section of the Department of Infrastructure and you should submit your request to that department via the on-line portal, which can be found at https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of-information/how-to-make-a- freedomof-information-request/ Please quote the reference number 575335 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

Freedom of Information Coordinator