A Freedom of Information request on the purchase of the Steam Packet will now take at least 73 days to be delivered.

Isle of Man Newspapers placed the request with the Cabinet Office on June 26 and has now been informed it will be September 7 before we get a word after the right to extend the response period of 20 working days was used twice.

The request was: ’I seek the publication of all papers, minutes and notes relating to the Council of Ministers’ consideration of the acquisition of the Steam Packet Company?’ A response was first due on July 20, which is 20 working days after June 26.

However, on that date, we received an email which stated: ’We are now considering the request but we need more time to process it.

’This is because we are considering whether a qualified exemption applies to the information that you have requested, which may prevent us from providing the information to you.’

The email said this was either to consult a person who may be affected by the publication of the details, consult with a person about whether access to the information would be in the public interest or it could ’substantially or unreasonably interfere with the day-to-day operations of the Cabinet Office’.

It is not clear which reason was the one used exactly. However, the second and third options fail to reflect the fact that the Steam Packet was at the end of the day bought with taxpayers’ money and is therefore of taxpayers’ concern.

As a result of this, a response was then due for August 10. However, on that day, we received another email confirming a further delay.

The reasons given were: the formulation or development of government policy; prejudice the work of the Council of Ministers; inhibit the free and frank provision of advice; otherwise to prejudice the effective conduct of public business; legal professional privilege.

The new date given for a response is September 7.

The request was a copy of the request made by Liberal Vannin leader Kate Beecroft MHK on that same day in the House of Keys.

Mrs Beecroft’s request was answered by Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas MHK, who was standing in for Chief Minister Howard Quayle.

Mr Thomas told the Keys that requests could be exempted under ’section 30 for economy and commercial interests, under section 34 for the formulation of policy and section 35 for the conduct of public business’.

He added: ’There might be other sections of the FoI act that apply, so if the honourable questioner or anybody else wants to make a FoI act request - perfectly legitimate and it will be answered.

’And obviously then there is the request for reconsideration and then ultimately the Information Commissioner can be engaged to make a final decision.’

That is exactly what we did and under the potential exemptions listed in the email dated August 10, it seems likely the IC will be engaged to make a decision on Isle of Man Newspapers’ request.