Blocked FOI request over CM support was 'error of judgement'

Cannan says data should have been released from outset

Blocking a Freedom of Information request – which later revealed that a former chief minister's company received £57,000 in taxpayer funded Covid support – was an 'error of judgement'.

That's the view of the current post holder Alfred Cannan.

This week the Department for Enterprise apologised after being criticised by the information commissioner for a 'blase' approach to the FOI.

Information had been sought on the amount of money paid to Howard Quayle's tourism business, which he jointly owns, during the pandemic.

Mr Cannan told Manx Radio it should have been made available from the outset: