Marown Commissioners failed to comply with sex education FOI  request

Complaint from applicant upheld by Information Commissioner

A complaint has been upheld against Marown Commissioners for failing to comply with a Freedom of Information request regarding sex education.

The Relationships and Sex Education Advisory Curriculum is currently suspended on the Island following, in part, concerns raised by the Parish Commissioners earlier this year over the content involved.

At the time it was reported parents of pupils at QEII High School in Peel had shared issues with members of Marown Commissioners.

The FOI in question asked the authority to provide copies of all correspondence - email and letter - to and from the commissioners and staff making reference to 'Relationships and Sex Education' in both the broad curriculum and specific teaching.

The commissioners refused to give the information requested stating: "There has been no correspondence..." and after further communication from the FOI applicant, said simply "There is nothing."

However, after an investigation, the Information Commissioner says the authority failed at the most basic level to comply with its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act and the Code of Practice.

It finds they failed to undertake any searches whatsoever for the information requested and failed to give the applicant a proper refusal notice.

As per a Decision Notice, Marown Parish Commissioners has to undertake searches of its associated email accounts and letters, record full details of those searches, and provide the applicant with a copy of any information to which the request relates.

The authority has 28 days to appeal.

Manx Radio has contacted Marown Commissioners for comment.