Scottish Government FOI Index

11,099releases indexed

19,072attachments found

28.7avg calendar days

4,403partially withheld

2023-10-02oldest in sample

2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 4,403 unclear 3,109 not held 1,663 released 816 already published 409 cost limit 376 clarification 166 withheld 123 transferred 34

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 2824 s.20 2437 s.34(1) 2118 s.39(2) 1920 s.30 1721 s.17(1) 1465 s.25(1) 1326 s.10(4) 1159 s.11(2) 933 s.29(1) 703 s.2 586 s.6(1) 478

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 743 releases · 28.1 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 632 releases · 29.1 avg days Local Government and Housing Directorate 437 releases · 29.3 avg days Marine Directorate 406 releases · 26.4 avg days Population Health Directorate 404 releases · 25.8 avg days Environment and Forestry Directorate 354 releases · 34.0 avg days Economic Development Directorate 334 releases · 41.5 avg days People Directorate 332 releases · 23.9 avg days

Clear

134 matching releases

Training days attended by Special Advisers: FOI release

A breakdown of costs associated with any away days or training days attended by Special Advisers (SpAds) over the past five years. Details of the dates, locations, and purposes of these events.

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence special advisers spending s.17(1)

Published: 2025-01-22
Reference: FOI/202400444261
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Scottish Government document download statistics: FOI release

Of all documents published by the Scottish Government on the Scottish Government website in the past year, please provide a breakdown of number of documents by the number of times they were downloaded. For example: Download Count Number of Documents 0 55 1 19 2 14 …. … [number of times the single most popular document...

FOI unclear 80 score 15 working days correspondence s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-01-20
Reference: FOI/202400442665
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Ministerial engagements when minister has been accompanied by family member or friend: FOI release

Please provide a list of all ministerial engagements in 2022, 2023 and 2024 when the minister has been accompanied by a spouse/partner, other family member or friend. In each case, please confirm: What was the relation of the guest to the minister? What was the reason that the minister was accompanied by a friend or f...

FOI unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.17(1) s.9 2 attachments

Published: 2024-12-17
Reference: FOI/202400440968
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Directorate for Communications and Ministerial Support staffing, specific spend details and Ministerial code guidance: FOI release

1. The total number of staff employed in the Directorate of Comms, Ministerial Support and Facilities (also known as Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate) in each of the following financial years: 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 and currently in 2024-25, broken down by pay scale. 2. What training cour...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings spending s.3 s.5 s.17(1) s.9 4 attachments

Published: 2024-12-17
Reference: FOI/202400437904
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Information regarding cost and numbers of received FOI requests: FOI release

How much would each Calendar day cost for a FOI request” to narrow the scope of your previous request which asked for “A copy of all FOI done to the Scottish government and there reply’s since legislation has been passed”. In addition you asked separately “Is there a maximum amount of FOI 1 person can have at a single ...

FOI not held 45 score 20 working days correspondence briefings spending s.17(1) s.14

Published: 2024-11-27
Reference: FOI/202400436903
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Correspondence on the death of former First Minister Alex Salmond: FOI release

1. A copy of all emails of staff members of the First Minister’s office that refer to the news of Alex Salmond’s death. The time range of this request is Saturday 12th October to Monday 14th October. Staff members refers to all workers recognised as working directly for the First Minister. All emails means emails se...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.38(1) s.30 s.28(1) s.39(1) s.34(1) s.2 s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-11-20
Reference: FOI/202400436164
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Public Relations (PR) spend by the Scottish Government: FOI release

1. Total annual expenditure, from 2015 to present, annually, on public relations firms by: a. The Scottish Government b. All public bodies (broken down by public body) 2. Total annual expenditure, from 2015 to present, annually, on public relations firms by the Scottish Government, broken down by PR firm hired. 3. ...

FOI not held 45 score 20 working days correspondence contracts spending s.17(1)

Published: 2024-11-04
Reference: FOI/202400433499
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Gifts given by Scottish Government Ministers: FOI Review

Original request 202400426991 1. A list of gifts given by Scottish Government Ministers during external meetings and overseas travel to, for example, other Ministers etc over the last five years. 2. Please include (i) the Scottish Government Minister who gave the gift, (ii) the individual who received the gift, and (...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.2 s.17(1) s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-10-21
Reference: FOI/202400431907 Review of 202400426991
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Censorship of consultation responses: FOI release

Responses to the following Government consultation have blocks of text replaced with "Redacted text": https://consult.gov.scot/energy-and-climate-change-directorate/scottish-climate- adaptationplan/consultation/published_select_respondentshow_all_questions=0&sort=submitted&order=ascending&_q__text=redacted 1) Policie...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 13 working days correspondence s.4 s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-10-09
Reference: FOI/202400430514
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Gifts that Scottish Ministers received as part of international visits: FOI release

A breakdown of the gifts, and the cost of these gifts, that Scottish Ministers presented as part of international visits during the financial years: 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24.

FOI already published 80 score 18 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.25(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-10-04
Reference: FOI/202400426838
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

Gifts given by Scottish Government Ministers: FOI release

1. A list of gifts given by Scottish Government Ministers during external meetings and overseas travel to, for example, other Ministers etc over the last five years. 2. Please include (i) the Scottish Government Minister who gave the gift, (ii) the individual who received the gift, and (iii) the price of this gift.

FOI already published 80 score 18 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.2 s.25(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-10-04
Reference: FOI/202400426991
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

Angus Robertson's working days: FOI release

2. Could you provide all correspondence/minutes and notes from meetings, between Alex Salmond and Humza Yousaf and Alex Salmond and John Swinney, from the last six months? 4. How many working days has Angus Robertson spent in Scotland and how many working days has he spent abroad so far in 2024, with a list of where h...

FOI unclear 55 score 16 working days correspondence meetings s.17(1)

Published: 2024-10-03
Reference: FOI/202400425415
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Emails sent and received by the Former First Minister: FOI Review

Original request - 202400411476 1. The last three emails that Humza Yousaf sent as First Minister from his First Minister email account. 2. The last three emails that Humza Yousaf received as First Minister from his First Minister email account. 3. The last three emails that Humza Yousaf sent as First Minister to em...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 283 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.17(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-18
Reference: FOI/202400416176 Review of 202400411476
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Former First Minister's tweet on the 35th anniversary of the Lockerbie air disaster: FOI release

1. Could you provide all receipts and expenses claims from Humza Yousaf's trip to New York for Climate Week from September 17 to 21. 2. Could you provide all drafts of Humza Yousaf's official FM account's tweet on the 35th anniversary of the Lockerbie bombing, plus any notes held about why the wording changed etc: htt...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings spending s.17(1) s.12 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-17
Reference: FOI/202400393771
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public safety and emergencies, Public sector

Former First Minister’s engagements in London in March 2023: FOI Review

Original request 202400412363 Information relating to the former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon’s engagements in London in March 2023.

FOI unclear 80 score 18 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-12
Reference: FOI/202400417846 Review of 202400412363
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Spring Budget communications campaign: FOI Review

Original request (202400403341) You recently engaged in a communications campaign, e.g. https://x.com/scotgov/status/1766116922909692407 The text reads: “The UK Spring Budget has failed to deliver the funding Scotland needs for public services. National Insurance cuts in the Spring Budget and Autumn Statement have ...

FOI not held 70 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.38 s.17(1) s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-11
Reference: FOI/202400413228 Review of 202400403341
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Scottish Budget

Scottish Government’s travel and subsistence policy information: FOI release

At last week's First Minister's Questions, The First Minister repeatedly said that Mr Matheson had paid back every penny of the expenses claimed (for roaming charges), so there was no cost to the taxpayer. Given this statement I wish to understand the total cost incurred for all investigations, parliamentary time, res...

FOI unclear 55 score 13 working days correspondence ministers spending s.17(1)

Published: 2024-09-03
Reference: FOI/202400415817
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Parliamentary Portfolio Questions session of 20th March 2024 on Constitution, External Affairs and Culture: FOI release

1. The date on which the Parliamentary Portfolio Questions session of 20th March 2024 on Constitution, External Affairs and Culture was entered into the Ministerial Diary of the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture 2. Any other engagements in the Cabinet Secretary's diary on 20th March 2024...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending s.17(1) s.27(1)

Published: 2024-09-03
Reference: FOI/202400412097
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Freedom of Information guidance, monitoring the social media profiles of journalists and sex offender name changing: FOI release

1. Could you supply the full internal guidance/guidebook for dealing with FOIs which the Scottish Government abide by, including whether Special Advisers are given first look at them, and what details they are provided with? 2. Could you supply details about whether the Scottish Government monitor the social media pro...

FOI withheld 80 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.38(1) s.34(1) s.2 s.25(1) s.17(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.36(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-02
Reference: FOI/202400408156
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Law and order, Public sector

Freedom of Information (FoI) requests for consideration by Special Advisers: FOI release

1) Since the start of 2024, please provide a list of the FOI's which have been subject to consideration by the FoI.SpAdsPO@gov.scot email address and/or Special Adviser emails. 2) Any correspondence between FoI.SpAdsPO@gov.scot and the FOI Unit since January 1, 2024. 3) Any correspondence between FoI.SpAdsPO@gov.scot...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 s.17(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-08-30
Reference: FOI/202400406282
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Holocaust Memorial Day Saltire article: FOI release

I understand that the article on the Scottish Government's intranet, Saltire, to make Holocaust Memorial Day was this year published without the ability for Scottish Government civil servants to comment on it. Under FOI legislation, I request: (1) all communications, in whatever form (email, Teams, WhatsApp, etc) abou...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence whatsapp s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-08-29
Reference: FOI/202400396399
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care's trip to UAE: FOI release

1. All briefings, notes prepared for ministers, and correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government, including internally, about the UK Government proposing a ban on smoking for those who are 14 and younger, between October 1 and the date of this FOI. 2. Full cost of Neil Gray's trip to UAE between October...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings contracts s.12 s.27(1) s.33(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-08-15
Reference: FOI/202300385956
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

Freedom of Information Unit resourcing and staffing numbers: FOI release

(1) The staffing of the central FOI team; (2) The number of civil servants across the Scottish Government responsible for dealing with FOIs? specialist teams or staff devoted to this work? Central records of specialists kept? How many civil servants in Scottish Government have 'FOI' or 'Freedom of Information' or 'EIR...

FOI not held 70 score 10 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.17(1) s.25(1) s.14(1) s.12(1) s.20 2 attachments

Published: 2024-08-15
Reference: FOI/202300388436
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Freedom of Information policy proposals and reform: FOI release

1. How much money has been spent on the Scottish Government looking into FOI reform over the last five years, with a breakdown of each year and what the money has been spent on? 2. How many consultations has the government published about this topic and similar FOI reform over the last ten years, with a list of these?...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers briefings spending s.17(1) s.30 4 attachments

Published: 2024-08-15
Reference: FOI/202300386939
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

UK Parliament’s Scottish Affairs Committee: FOI release

All correspondence (including emails, attachments, typed or handwritten notes, letters, notes/records of phone calls, minutes of meetings, briefings, WhatsApp messages or otherwise) relating to the Minister for Transport’s invitation to give evidence to the UK Parliament’s Scottish Affairs Committee on Monday 11 Septem...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 59 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.17(1) s.1 s.38 s.29(1) s.27(1) s.30 4 attachments

Published: 2024-08-14
Reference: FOI/202300377285
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills