Letter that sparked MHK resignation won't be released

The Department of Health and Social Care says it won't release a letter Minister Kate Beecroft wrote that sparked a political resignation.

A freedom of information request to the department asked for the full letter to be published.

Mrs Beecroft asked department members to sign the document - which expressed no confidence in chief executive Malcolm Couch.

Onchan MHK Rob Callister refused to put his name to the letter, and eventually resigned from his DHSC post.

In its FOI response, the department cites rules governing the release of personal information.

It says the letter falls into that category, and so will not be made public.

After the row, and Mr Callister's resignation, Chief Minister Howard Quayle had to intervene - and Mrs Beecroft has since said she's put aside her differences with her top civil servant.

An investigation into how the information about the affair was leaked to the press failed to identify who'd made it public.