Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

22,874releases indexed
40,876attachments found
29.5avg calendar days
8,493partially withheld
2016-06-13oldest in sample
2026-10-28newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,493 unclear 7,447 not held 3,283 released 1,596 already published 712 cost limit 634 clarification 376 withheld 250 transferred 83

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 5215 s.20 4475 s.34(1) 3779 s.39(2) 3631 s.30 3032 s.17(1) 2975 s.25(1) 2550 s.10(4) 2085 s.11(2) 1634 s.29(1) 1244 s.2 1242 s.3 977

Timeline

2026-10 227 2026-09 8 2026-08 299 2026-07 476 2026-06 1 2026-05 410 2026-04 312 2026-03 217

Directorate Profiles

Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate 1,334 releases · 27.8 avg days Marine Directorate 990 releases · 29.7 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 969 releases · 30.8 avg days Learning Directorate 871 releases · 34.3 avg days Economic Development Directorate 741 releases · 39.6 avg days Constitution Directorate 710 releases · 35.8 avg days Population Health Directorate 676 releases · 28.6 avg days People Directorate 663 releases · 25.5 avg days
Clear
240 matching releases

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice correspondence relating to Path To Balance: FOI Review

Original request 202500494932 All correspondence mentioning Path To Balance between Shirley-Anne Somerville and the Director General of Communities. Sight of all correspondence mentioning Path To Balance between Shirley-Anne Somerville and Shona Robison.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.29(1) s.38(1) s.17(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-03-31
Reference
FOI/202600502600 Review of 202500494932
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Freedom of Information request statistics: FOI release

For the years 2024 and 2025, for each of the ten people who have made the most FOI-EIR requests in each of those years. 1. Name of requester 2. Capacity of requester (eg media, journalist, political party researcher, academic researcher, campaigner, private individual). If the person's name cannot be disclosed for wh...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence spending s.1 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.12 s.10(4) s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-03-30
Reference
FOI/202600502420
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Scottish Minister media training: FOI release

Please confirm all media training, voice coaching, public speaking coaching or presentational training provided to Scottish Government ministers in each of the last five full financial years, including 2025-26 to date. In each individual case, please confirm which minister received the training, how much it cost, who t...

FOI not held 45 score 16 working days correspondence ministers spending s.25(1) s.17(1)
Published
2026-03-10
Reference
FOI/202600500672
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Cultures' July 2025 diary: FOI release

“Under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I would like to request the following information... Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Cultures' full diary (government and political) for July 2025.”

FOI unclear 80 score 13 working days correspondence ministers s.17(1) s.25(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-02-25
Reference
FOI/202500496298
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Cultures' September 2025 diary: FOI release

“Under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I would like to request the following information... Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Cultures' full diary (government and political) for September 2025.”

FOI partially withheld 90 score 13 working days correspondence ministers s.17(1) s.27(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-02-25
Reference
FOI/202500496292
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Documentation for meetings attended by Former first Minister and Aamer Anwar and Co: FOI release

Copies of any minutes of meetings attended by both Humza Yousaf and Aamer Anwar, between May 3, 2015, and the point at which Mr Yousaf stood down as first minister. Details of any meetings (location, purpose, attendees) at which Mr Yousaf and Mr Anwar were both in attendance and for which minutes were not taken. Copi...

FOI already published 80 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.17(1) 4 attachments
Published
2026-02-24
Reference
FOI/202500496562
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

First Minister’s social media channels: FOI release

I would like to ask a question about a number of videos which the First Minister has taken to posting from his private Social Media profiles. These videos appear to be taken inside Scottish Government property and look to be professionally filmed and edited, but there is nothing to say whether these are privately funde...

FOI unclear 55 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.17(1)
Published
2026-02-24
Reference
FOI/202500496893
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Hybrid working 40% target statistics: FOI release

Under FOISA please can I know the percentage of the civil service that meet the government’s target of 40% of time spent in the office. If possible, can you also let me know how many staff come in 1 day or less each week, if any staff expected to be coming in 40% of the time have been working remotely this entire calen...

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence meetings contracts spending s.17(1)
Published
2026-02-09
Reference
FOI/202500492578
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Affidavit in relation to the Hamilton Report: FOI release

From the legal advice released in October 2024 following SIC decision notice 193/2024 on page 87: “An affidavit from [redacted – section 38(1)(b)] as former head of the Secretariat about the arrangements was provided to OSIC as additional evidence.” 1) I request the above affidavit, as well any other affidavits provi...

FOI not held 45 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.36(1) s.14(2) s.14 s.14O s.17(1)
Published
2026-02-04
Reference
FOI/202500491548
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Scottish Government 'A Fresh Start with Independence' publication costs and access statistics: FOI release

How many times has the publication 'A Fresh Start with Independence' been downloaded since it's launch. You asked if this could be broken down: by day country from which is was accessed You also asked if we could provide the overall costs involved in producing the document, including any printing and design costs, or...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 13 working days correspondence spending s.8 s.27(1) s.17(1)
Published
2026-02-04
Reference
FOI/202500492880
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Classification and ancillary costs of former First Minister's travel to Qatar: FOI release

I am requesting information regarding the decision-making process, classification, and public expenditure related to trips undertaken by the former First Minister, Humza Yousaf, to Qatar between 29 March 2023 and 7 May 2024. Please provide: 1. Trip Classification Protocol: Any internal correspondence, briefing notes,...

FOI not held 45 score 12 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.39 s.30 s.25(1) s.17(1)
Published
2026-02-03
Reference
FOI/202500496383
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Release of legally privileged information and use of WhatsApp on Scottish Government phones: FOI release

1. Could you provide how many occasions in the last two years that the Scottish Government has been forced to publicly release legally privileged information, and include what this info was and why it had to be released? 2. Could you supply how many incidents have been recorded of government staff, officials or minist...

FOI not held 70 score 17 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.25(1) s.2 s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-02-02
Reference
FOI/202500491146
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Diary events for Minister for Parliamentary Business on 18th September 2025: FOI release

The reasons for Jamie Hepburn MSP’s non-attendance at First Minister’s Questions on 18 September 2025. Please provide details of any meetings, events, or other commitments scheduled during that period. Whether Jamie Hepburn MSP was present in the Scottish Parliament at any point on 18 September 2025, and whether he was...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.17(1) s.27(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-01-21
Reference
FOI/202500485183
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Meetings held between Scottish Government ministers and the Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP): FOI release

1. All correspondence between Scottish Government Ministers and their special advisers and Keith Brown MSP. This should include all email correspondence with and from his MSP email, SNP email and any other email accounts used by Keith Brown since 6 May 2025. 2. All meetings (including virtual) Keith Brown MSP has atte...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings spending s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.12 s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-01-20
Reference
FOI/202500487575
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Advertising costs from the last 5 years on STV North: FOI release

How much a) the Scottish Government, and b) Scottish Government Executive Agencies, have spent in each of the last five financial years - a) 2024-2025, b) 2023-2024, c) 2022-2023, d) 2021-2022, and e) 2020-2021 - on advertising with STV North [described by STV Commercial as North (Aberdeen and Dundee)].

FOI withheld 55 score 6 working days correspondence contracts spending s.33 s.33(1) s.17(1)
Published
2026-01-08
Reference
FOI/202500487213
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

Information related to Scottish Information Commissioner decision notice: FOI release

1. What is the name of the individual whose role in the redaction process of the Hamilton Report was under investigation by the Scottish Information Commissioner and who wrote a signed statement to the Commissioner's office, as noted in Decision Notice 144/2025 and pages 15-18 of the below FOI release? 2. Why has this...

FOI transferred 80 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.17(1) s.6 4 attachments
Published
2026-01-06
Reference
FOI/202500480860
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Former First Minister’s engagements and financial transactions with NEON (New Economy Organisers Network): FOI release

Under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I am requesting the following information regarding Nicola Sturgeon’s engagements and any financial transactions with NEON (New Economy Organisers Network) during her tenure as First Minister of Scotland (from November 20, 2014, to March 28, 2023) or in any official...

FOI not held 45 score 18 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.2 s.3 s.17(1)
Published
2026-01-06
Reference
FOI/202500482305
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Consultation queries: FOI release

Information relating to consultations over the last 5 years. In particular, information relating to: The average time taken over the last 5 years between closing a consultation and publishing an analysis of responses, as well as publishing the responses themselves The longest time taken, over the last 5 years, between...

FOI not held 70 score 18 working days correspondence ministers contracts spending s.12(1) s.25(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-12-24
Reference
FOI/202500483584
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence and meeting notes in relation to the handling of request 202500472911: FOI release

A copy of all correspondence and meeting notes etc. in relation to the preparation, handling and clearance of the response to FOI 202500472911. Notably, this should include FOI response clearance comments from the Scottish Government Executive Team, SG Communications, SpAds and Ministers.

FOI already published 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings s.38(1) s.25(1) s.15 s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-12-02
Reference
FOI/202500481037
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Ministerial media activity information: FOI release

For the six-month period in 2025 from January 1 to June 30, please disclose the following: The number of press conferences held. For each, please give its date; location; subject; and the minister(s) taking questions. The number of pressers held. For each, please give its date; location; and the minister(s) taking que...

FOI not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.27(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-11-06
Reference
FOI/202500477986
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Use of third party file portals and future accessibility of Freedom of Information rights queries: FOI release

1. Has the Scottish Government issued any guidance on the use of third-party portals to issue FOI responses? 2. Is there any national policy position on whether public bodies should continue to accept FOI requests by email? 3. Has any cross-government coordination taken place on consolidating or standardising FOI res...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence s.60 s.61 s.9 s.17(1) s.4
Published
2025-11-04
Reference
FOI/202500477785
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Costs incurred for visit to Trump International Scotland in Aberdeenshire: FOI release

“I am writing to request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 that the Scottish Government Disclose all information it holds detailing costs incurred by the council, or estimated costs incurred by the council, as a result of the visit to Scotland by the US president Donald Trump between July 25 2025 an...

FOI not held 45 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.17(1)
Published
2025-10-28
Reference
FOI/202500478121
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector