Isle of Man Newspapers’ Freedom of Information request into the purchase of the Steam Packet has been delayed again.

It is now more than 75 days since the FoI request was made to the Cabinet Office following a House of Keys debate.

On June 26, we asked for the publication of all papers, minutes and notes relating to the Council of Ministers’ consideration of the acquisition of the Steam Packet Company.

The request came following a House of Keys debate on the same day between Liberal Vannin leader and Douglas South MHK Kate Beecroft and Minister for Policy and Reform Chris Thomas MHK about the purchase.

We previously reported how 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 Freedom of Information 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.’

The latest delay is only an extra five days.

However, by the time this is released, it will be 11 weeks since we asked for the details on why the government spent £124m of taxpayers’ money.

This delay is because it could affect the ’conduct of public business - the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation’.

The new schedule release date for the request is September 12, 2018.