Steam Packet will not be subject to Freedom of Information requests, says chief minister

Alfred Cannan thinks it would 'expressly undermine' the position of the company

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company will not be subject to the Freedom of Information Act, as it's not a 'public authority', according to the chief minister.

That's despite the organisation being owned by the government, albeit at arms length.

Questions were raised over why the organisation isn't subject to the law, which allows members of the public to request specific information held by the company.

Rushen MHK Juan Watterson asked if Alfred Cannan believed the 'independence' of the Steam Packet would be undermined by it being designated a public authority for the purposes of FOI requests.

The majority of other arms length government owned bodies - including Manx Radio - are subject to Freedom of Information legislation.

However, Mr Cannan thinks if the Steam Packet was also subject to the requests, it would 'expressly undermine' the position of the company as being 'run commercially at arms length'.