A top civil servant did not communicate directly with a UK tribunal, according to Chief Minister Howard Quayle.

Liberal Vannin leader Kate Beecroft this week returned to concerns she had raised previously about communications with the UK Government, authorised by chief secretary Will Greenhow.

She brought it up in Tynwald last month, after Anthony Webber, a former member of the Guernsey parliament, appealed against a UK Home Office decision to refuse to give information in connection with refugees.

Mrs Beecroft (Douglas South) said the Isle of Man was one of three Crown Dependencies that wrote to the appeal tribunal asking for the information not to be released.

In the Keys on Tuesday, she asked how many times the chief secretary had communicated with or authorised communication with a tribunal in the UK since 2016.

Mr Quayle told her there had been no such instances.

Mrs Beecroft said that did not tally with his previous answer, in Tynwald, when he told her Mr Greenhow has authorised a letter.

Mr Quayle responded: ’The chief secretary has not, nor has he authorised officers, to communicate with the UK Information Tribunal. There has been communication on issues regarding an appeal made to the UK Information Tribunal and their subsequent decision regarding the release of information held by the Home Office under the UK Freedom of Information Act.

’However, communication has been with the UK Government and as part of frequent communications on a number of issues.’

Earlier, Mrs Beecroft had sought an outline of the chief secretary’s responsibilities.

Mr Quayle said the position had four key responsibilities: adviser to the Lieutenant Governor; chief adviser to the chief minister; head of the Isle of Man civil service; and the strategic direction of the chief secretary’s office.

In 1998 the model for communication with the UK Government - at that time via the Home Office - was confirmed as through the chief secretary, as opposed to at a political level. Mr Quayle said this was because it was not possible for the relevant UK minister to contact the chief minister for day-to-day business.

The job description of chief secretary was updated at that time to make clear their ’primary purposes were to support and advise the chief minister, the Council of Ministers and the Lieutenant Governor.

’Therefore, the chief secretary is accountable to more than one person or entity, but in practice the main person with authority to give instructions to the chief secretary would be the chief minister.’

In response to a further question from Mrs Beecroft, Mr Quayle said: ’The only person who gives instruction to the chief secretary is myself as chief minister or working with the Council of Ministers or the governor. The chief secretary deals with the Home Office in negotiations but does not take instruction from them.’

Mrs Beecroft said that was anomalous with something said in Tynwald 20 years ago.

’It is in Hansard in 1998 when the chief secretary at the time was acting on behalf of the governor and the Home Office, and I am wondering what changes have been made to correct that constitutional anomaly since then - or does it still exist?’ she said.

’If it does exist, what action is the chief minister is going to take?’

Mr Quayle said he did not have that information to hand, but he would investigate and circulate a response.

The Ministry of Justice is now the UK department that deals with the Isle of Man.