Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

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
95 matching releases

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

Circular Economy Bill, oil and gas licences and Keir Starmer correspondence: EIR release

1. a) Could you supply minutes/notes from all meetings Lorna Slater has held about the circular economy bill this year? b) Could you also supply the risk register for the circular economy bill? 2. a) Could you supply a list of all meetings held by Humza Yousaf between October 7 2023 and October 31 2023? b) Could you s...

FOI/EIR not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.5(1) s.10 s.11 s.25(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-30
Reference
EIR/202400405191
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Energy, Environment and climate change, +1 more … Public sector

Scottish Budget, Former First Minister's Cabinet reshuffle and trip to Qatar: FOI release

1. All correspondence between the Scottish Government and the Institute for Fiscal Studies about the budget, including internal correspondence, notes, briefings and minutes from any meetings, between December 1 2023 and the date of this FOI. 2. All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government, including...

FOI already published 80 score 44 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.25 s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.39(1) s.2(1) s.39 s.41 s.47 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-30
Reference
FOI/202400399489
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Economy, 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

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

Salaries and number of ministers, special advisors and civil servants in 2003, 2013 and 2023: FOI release

For each of the years 2003, 2013 and 2023 can you provide please the following information: 1. The total number of Ministers in post at The Scottish Government/The Scottish Executive. 2. The total salaries for these Ministers for the year in question. 3. The total number of civil servants dedicated to the Private Of...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.4 s.25(1) s.17(1) s.27(1)
Published
2024-08-01
Reference
FOI/202400421758
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public Sector

Meetings the First Minister has attended between and including - 1st October 2023 and 31st January 2024: FOI release

1. A list of meetings the First Minister of Scotland has attended between and including - 1st October 2023 and 31st January 2024. 2. A list of these meetings that have minutes available as to their content. 3. A list of these meetings that do not have minutes available or minutes are not being provided for public vie...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.25(1) s.27(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.4
Published
2024-04-15
Reference
FOI/202400396967
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Scottish Government staff associated with Ministers: FOI release

"The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles, not names of individuals) for all of the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers, including both civil service and political staff, and (ii) the wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish Government...

FOI unclear 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.25(1) 4 attachments
Published
2024-03-28
Reference
FOI/202400392767
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

First Minister's COP 28 travel: FOI release

1) What class of flight the first minister has booked to take him to and from COP28. 2) The cost of travel for the first minister to and from COP28. 3) If any of the first minister’s flights were chartered or private aircraft.

FOI partially withheld 65 score 14 working days correspondence ministers spending s.2 s.25(1)
Published
2024-02-28
Reference
FOI/202300387839
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Michael Matheson expenses in his capacity as a Government Minister: FOI release

A full list of expenses accrued by Michael Matheson and members of his staff in relation to his duties as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport and Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care. Could this data please be provided for the period 20 May 2021 to 16 November 2023.

FOI partially withheld 65 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.25(1)
Published
2024-01-26
Reference
FOI/202300385475
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Alleged ministerial code breach by Jenny Gilruth: FOI release

1. All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish government, Humza Yousaf and Jenny Gilruth over her allegedly breaching the ministerial code over delaying rail works in her constituency, 2. Has an investigation been started by the First Minister into this incident after he promised to do so on 18 May? 3. If s...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.38 s.36 s.30 s.25(1) 4 attachments
Published
2024-01-05
Reference
202300361845
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Special Adviser expenses in past 5 years: FOI release

How many Special Advisers were employed in each of the past five years and what was the total salary cost in each year? What was the total amount claimed in expenses by Special Advisers in each of the past five years broken down by (a) travel, (b) hotel accommodation and (c) food & drink. What was the cost, mode of tra...

FOI released 100 score 20 working days correspondence special advisers contracts spending s.25(1) 4 attachments
Published
2023-12-12
Reference
FOI/202300373199
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Invoice and a list of all visitors to Bute House for the first four months of 2021: FOI release

A copy of invoice TO 21-22-0053 as listed in FOI 202200316811 and a list of all visitors to Bute House for the first four months of 2021, broken down by month. Please also include purpose of visit.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.38(1) 4 attachments
Published
2023-12-11
Reference
202200323923
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks cost at Bute House: FOI release

How much money has been spent on alcohol for Bute House in the last five years? Breakdown of costs by year and what the money was spent on. How many bottles of sparkling wine/champagne/beer have been purchased for Bute House in the last five years? Breakdown by year, cost and brand. How much money has been spent on non...

FOI already published 55 score 19 working days correspondence spending s.25(1)
Published
2023-12-04
Reference
202300343590
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Total number of expenses claimed by the First Minister: FOI release

Could I please receive the total number of expenses claimed by the First Minister in the years 2020- 2021, 2021-2022 and 2022 – 31 June 2023? Could I also receive the total expenses claimed by the FM office as a whole?

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending s.25(1)
Published
2023-11-02
Reference
FOI/202300374125
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

FM meetings: FOI Review

You requested a review stating the following: “I am writing to you to request an internal review of this decision. I do not believe the exemptions apply to all the information, particularly the briefing documents, and have been applied far too liberally. In any case, the public interest is in favour of disclosure.”

FOI already published 80 score 41 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.30 s.41 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.28(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-01
Reference
FOI/202300362913 review of 202300338437
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Influencer expenditure: FOI release

The total money paid by the Scottish Government to comedian Janey Godley or her representatives, from 2020-2023. This should include payments made as a social media ‘influencer’ or for TV, radio or other media appearances, where she was paid to represent the Scottish Government or support Scottish Government messaging ...

FOI unclear 55 score 15 working days correspondence spending s.25(1)
Published
2023-10-31
Reference
202300353877
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence sent by Scottish Government Special Advisers, mentioning “Humza Yousaf” or just “Humza”, between 15th February 2023 and 1st March 2023: FOI release

Please provide all correspondence sent by Scottish Government Special Advisers, and mentioning “Humza Yousaf” or just “Humza”, between 15th February 2023 and 1st March 2023.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence special advisers s.25(1) s.38(1) s.38 4 attachments
Published
2023-10-30
Reference
202300345536
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

COVID-19 social media spend: FOI release

The total money spent by the Scottish Government on marketing and advertising relating to COVID- 19, COVID-19 Lockdown & Restrictions and the COVID-19 vaccines from 2020 to 2023. Please provide a breakdown of the spend for each financial year, by each form of media - television, radio, digital, outdoor, social media, n...

FOI unclear 55 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings spending s.25(1)
Published
2023-10-30
Reference
202300353473
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Gifts received by First Minister: FOI release

Please provide me with a list of all gifts received by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon over her term in office. Please tell me what the items are, when they were gifted and by whom. If possible, please include a value. Please also tell us whether Ms Sturgeon was able to keep these gifts or not.

FOI partially withheld 65 score 9 working days correspondence ministers s.11 s.25(1) s.17(1) s.27(1)
Published
2023-10-24
Reference
202300348626
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector