Scottish Government FOI Index

21,792releases indexed

39,278attachments found

29.7avg calendar days

8,073partially withheld

2016-06-13oldest in sample

2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,073 unclear 7,195 not held 3,052 released 1,533 already published 668 cost limit 605 clarification 348 withheld 241 transferred 77

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4905 s.20 4252 s.34(1) 3567 s.39(2) 3455 s.30 2866 s.17(1) 2763 s.25(1) 2372 s.10(4) 1971 s.11(2) 1559 s.29(1) 1168 s.2 1152 s.3 903

Timeline

2026-05 339 2026-04 312 2026-03 217 2026-02 589 2026-01 479 2025-12 177 2025-11 263 2025-10 217

Directorate Profiles

Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate 1,275 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 961 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 919 releases · 31.1 avg days Learning Directorate 859 releases · 34.4 avg days Economic Development Directorate 725 releases · 40.0 avg days Constitution Directorate 685 releases · 36.1 avg days Population Health Directorate 645 releases · 28.7 avg days People Directorate 631 releases · 25.8 avg days

Clear

566 matching releases

Scottish Kept Bird Register entry statistics: EIR release

How many a) gamebirds (by species) b) Mallards in total have been registered on the Scottish Kept Bird Register in each county in Scotland since it launched on September 1st 2024.

FOI/EIR released 95 score 19 working days correspondence 2 attachments

Published: 2025-08-05
Reference: EIR/202500470416
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Future Farming Investment Scheme queries: EIR release

1. Please can you outline when the Future Farming Investment Scheme is likely to be launched? 2. Please could you provide an update on the total amount of funding that will be delivered via the scheme? 3. Any correspondence sent to or sent from Mairi Gougeon or Jim Fairlie relating to the Investment Scheme since Febr...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence spending s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.11 4 attachments

Published: 2025-07-30
Reference: EIR/202500467482
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Enforcement of farmed animal welfare legislation: EIR release

Various information on the enforcement of farmed animal welfare legislation during the period 1 January 2024 - 31 December 2024.

FOI/EIR not held 45 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4)

Published: 2025-07-29
Reference: EIR/202500466072
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Applications mentioning the name of Kingsburgh Common Grazings and Kingsburgh Sheep Stock Club: EIR release

All application information - forms completed and supporting information including maps - for any of the IACS/Single Application Form related applications in the name of Kingsburgh Common Grazings and Kingsburgh Sheep Stock Club for this year - 2025, including the following: Basic Payment Scheme Less Favoured Area Sup...

FOI/EIR unclear 75 score 17 working days correspondence briefings spending 4 attachments

Published: 2025-07-29
Reference: FOI/202500466408
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Knocknagael Crofting Cattle Improvement Scheme: EIR release

You asked a series of questions which all refer to the Bull Stud at Knocknagael and/or the Crofting Cattle Improvement Scheme. How many animals are housed/are residing at the Stud? Please provide a breakdown and numbers for each year from 2020 to present, specifying which/how many are bulls. How many people work at th...

FOI/EIR unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2025-07-15
Reference: EIR/202500459830
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Agri Environmental Climate Scheme - planting or replanting of hedges data: EIR release

You asked for how many metres of hedging has been approved but are not yet claimed? For this request, please include as much information on the beneficiaries as possible as part of yourresponse and thenumber of metres per beneficiary. Please only include information on applications that have been approved but are not...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 65 score 11 working days correspondence contracts s.11(2) s.34(1) s.45 s.82 s.94 s.17 s.1 s.32 s.75 s.85 s.67 s.50 s.42 s.95 s.46 s.66 s.58 s.72 s.91 s.20 s.10 s.92 s.15 s.40 s.39 s.25 s.49 s.68 s.34 s.71 s.78 s.53 s.74 s.83 s.65 s.88 s.97 s.43 s.13 s.99 s.56 s.14 s.90

Published: 2025-07-14
Reference: EIR/202500461586
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Environment and climate change, Money and tax, Public sector

Breakdown of spend on IT systems and external consultancy services since 2016: FOI release

A detailed breakdown of the £203 million spent on the IT system and external consultancy services since 2016. Specifically: The total amount paid to each external company involved in the system’s development, maintenance, and administration. An itemised list of the services provided by these external companies, distin...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence contracts spending s.25(1) s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 6 attachments

Published: 2025-07-10
Reference: FOI/202500459045
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Staff and costs to produce policy paper "Ascribing sentience to fish: potential policy implications": FOI release

1. What was the cost of producing the policy paper? (Ascribing sentience to fish: potential policy implications) 2. How many staff worked on the paper?

FOI unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2025-07-10
Reference: FOI/202500467082
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Marine and fisheries, Public sector

Agricultural and Farming support payments made by the Scottish Government: EIR release

In the last 5 years can you outline: 1. How many agricultural and farming support payments have been paid by the Scottish Government? 2. What is combined value of the support payments, noted in (1)? 3. How many of the payments noted in (1) were delayed? (if possible, can you split that data into years). 4. Of those pay...

FOI/EIR not held 45 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence spending s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4)

Published: 2025-07-09
Reference: FOI/202500458896
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Data on consultants hired to help administer agricultural support payments: FOI release

In terms external consultants that have been hired by the Scottish Government to help administer agricultural support payments could you outline: 1. The total number of consultants that have been involved since 2016? 2. Could you list the duties or functions carried out by the consultants since 2016? 3. Could you sh...

FOI unclear 55 score 14 working days correspondence ministers spending s.2 s.17(1)

Published: 2025-07-07
Reference: FOI/202500459422
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Money and tax, Public sector

Enforcement of rights under the Wages Act 1949 and the AWSO 2024: FOI release

For each calendar year 2022, 2023 and 2024: 1. How many ‘random’/routine ‘spot checks’ were carried out by Inspectors on employers? 2. How many checks were carried out by Inspectors in response to complaints made by individual worker(s)? 3. Of the total checks per 1 and 2 above, how many resulted in a report being m...

FOI unclear 55 score 13 working days correspondence s.4

Published: 2025-07-02
Reference: FOI/202500459178
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Documentation regarding pledge to return £46m to farmers and crofters: FOI release

All documentation held by the Scottish Government about the pledge to return £46m in funding to farmers and crofters by 2026 including correspondence sent and received, briefings, minutes/notes from meetings, analysis, from the last three months.

FOI already published 80 score 18 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-06-18
Reference: FOI/202500457122
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Stobo herbicide spraying in August 2023: EIR release

According to Scottish Forestry, they claim they became aware in August 2024 blanket herbicide spraying of heather moorland on the Stobo estate (near Peebles) being carried out in August 2023, several months before a £2 million taxpayer funded forestry contract was awarded to the Guernsey registered Forestry Carbon Sequ...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence ministers contracts spending s.20 s.3 s.39(2)

Published: 2025-06-16
Reference: FOI/202500456355
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Sale of Torsa in Argyll: FOI release

Could you supply all documentation held by the Scottish Government, including correspondence sent and received (including internal), briefings, minutes/notes from meetings, analysis, about the sale of Torsa in Argyll, between July 1 2024 and November 1 2024?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence briefings meetings s.38 s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2025-06-16
Reference: FOI/202500456143
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Information on contractual relationship with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA): EIR release

The following information in regards to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA): 1. What is the nature of the contractual relationship between the Scottish Government and the above Agency in respect to farm animal welfare and, in particular, animal welfare on fish farms? 2. Please provide the headings of the contra...

FOI/EIR unclear 55 score 19 working days correspondence contracts s.6(1)

Published: 2025-06-11
Reference: EIR/202500456566
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Kingsburgh Common Grazings and Sheep Stock Club rural payments applications: EIR release

All application information - forms completed and supporting information including maps - for any of the IACS/Single Application Form related applications in the name of Kingsburgh Common Grazings and Kingsburgh Sheep Stock Club for the last 5 years, including the following: Basic Payment Scheme Scottish Upland Sheep ...

FOI/EIR unclear 75 score 16 working days correspondence briefings spending 12 attachments

Published: 2025-06-10
Reference: EIR/202500457112
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

First Minister at National Farmers Union, Scotland (NFU) and Orkney: EIR release

Could you supply all documentation held by the Scottish Government, including correspondence sent and received, minutes/notes from meetings, briefings, analysis, about John Swinney's appearance at the NFU Scotland AGM on February 7, from the last three months? Could you supply all documentation held by the Scottish Go...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.11 s.11(2) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-05-20
Reference: FOI/202500455964
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Livestock worrying and dog attack recorded incidents: EIR release

• How many incidences of livestock worrying have been recorded in each of the last five years? • Additionally, how many cases of livestock being killed by dogs have been recorded in the same period?

FOI/EIR not held 45 score 20 working days correspondence s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4)

Published: 2025-05-20
Reference: FOI/202500455290
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Cross Compliance inspection breach statistics: EIR release

Under FOI regulations I request the following information and data please: 1, For the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 (and 2024 if available)*, the numbers of cross compliance breaches identified in Scotland. 2, For each non-compliance, the specific cross compliance requirement breached. 3, For SMR 7, as th...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 65 score 4 working days correspondence spending s.20 s.39(2)

Published: 2025-05-15
Reference: EIR/202500458671
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Agri-Environment Climate Scheme annually recurring and capital items: EIR release

Please could I follow up your response to my original request (attached) to request a further column of data, for the Annually Recurring and Capital items, which shows against each £s value the quantities secured through the payment made (ie quantities in hectares/sq. metres; linear metres; #s of units (eg ‘gates’ ))

FOI/EIR unclear 75 score 18 working days correspondence spending 4 attachments

Published: 2025-05-15
Reference: EIR/202500455527
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Proposed ban on owning cats in new housing developments in rural areas: EIR release

The content of all documents including emails, phone messages and briefings regarding the Scottish Government's response to media reports regarding a proposed ban on owning cats in new housing developments in rural areas, as mentioned in the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission report to ministers on "responsible ownersh...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.20 s.39(2) s.11(2) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-04-30
Reference: EIR/202500454117
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity ministerial meetings: FOI release

The minutes of all of Jim Fairlie’s ministerial meetings for January 2025.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings contracts s.29 s.38 s.38(1) s.28(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.33(1) s.33(2) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-04-16
Reference: FOI/202500452774
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Scottish Agricultural Wages Board payments: FOI release

(1) Do members of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board receive any (i) payment or (ii) any payment of expenses from the Scottish Government? (2) If the answer to either of the points noted in (1) are yes. Could you outline how much each member is paid or how much of their expenses are covered by the Scottish Governme...

FOI unclear 55 score 7 working days correspondence meetings spending s.6

Published: 2025-04-10
Reference: FOI/202500456810
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Scottish Land Matching Service inquiries data: EIR release

(1) How many inquiries has the Scottish Land Matching Service received to date? (2) How many of those inquiries have been matched?

FOI/EIR unclear 50 score 10 working days correspondence

Published: 2025-04-10
Reference: EIR/202500456073
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector

Total cost to Scottish Ministers making lotting decisions under the proposed Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: FOI release

You asked for the following information under the Freedom of Information legislation: 1. Correspondence to or from Mairi Gougeon within the last two years relating to the total predicted costs of making lotting decisions by Scottish Ministers under the proposed Land Reform (Scotland) Bill. 2. Any estimate of the tota...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 26 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.25(1) s.38(1) 8 attachments

Published: 2025-04-10
Reference: FOI/202500455897
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Public sector