Scottish Government FOI Index

22,640releases indexed

40,478attachments found

29.5avg calendar days

8,386partially withheld

2016-06-13oldest in sample

2026-09-02newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,386 unclear 7,405 not held 3,239 released 1,581 already published 700 cost limit 627 clarification 372 withheld 249 transferred 81

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 5149 s.20 4430 s.34(1) 3727 s.39(2) 3593 s.30 2994 s.17(1) 2922 s.25(1) 2520 s.10(4) 2060 s.11(2) 1619 s.29(1) 1223 s.2 1222 s.3 958

Timeline

2026-09 1 2026-08 299 2026-07 476 2026-06 1 2026-05 410 2026-04 312 2026-03 217 2026-02 589

Directorate Profiles

Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate 1,312 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 978 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 961 releases · 30.9 avg days Learning Directorate 871 releases · 34.3 avg days Economic Development Directorate 737 releases · 39.7 avg days Constitution Directorate 702 releases · 35.9 avg days Population Health Directorate 665 releases · 28.5 avg days People Directorate 657 releases · 25.6 avg days

Clear

37 matching releases

Freedom of Information vexatious or repeated requests data: FOI Review

Original request 202600510718 1) Please provide the number of Freedom of Information requests refused by the Scottish Government for being vexatious since John Swinney became First Minister. Also provide the same for the time Humza Yousaf was First Minister and the same for when Nicola Sturgeon was First Minister. 2)...

FOI already published 55 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings spending s.14 s.17(1) s.25(1) s.38(1) s.14(1) s.15(1) s.21

Published: 2026-07-13
Reference: FOI/202600514634 Review of 202600510718
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Senior Special Adviser communications: FOI release

Communications sent and received by Senior Special Adviser Jeanette Campbell during the week commencing Monday 2 February 2026.

FOI already published 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.25(1) s.25 s.27(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.33(1) s.38 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.39(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-04-21
Reference: FOI/202600505102
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Special Advisor communications: FOI release

You asked for all communications that Senior Special Advisor Davie Hutchison sent and received the week of Monday 20 October.

FOI already published 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.25 s.25(1) s.27 s.27(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.36(1) s.17 s.20 2 attachments

Published: 2026-03-24
Reference: FOI/202500491193
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Measurement of Scottish Government staff productivity and employment tribunal costs: FOI release

1. How many requests for ministerial direction have been made in the last two years, and can you disclose what they were and whether they were accepted or rejected? 2. Could you supply the latest copy of the internal Scottish Government's working from home policy? 3. For those who work mainly from home, how is their ...

FOI already published 55 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.25(1)

Published: 2026-03-09
Reference: FOI/202500499757
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

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

Plans for proactive publication of relevant data and ongoing communications plans information: FOI release

“Under The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, I request sight of;" 1. "All information held about 'plans for proactive publication of relevant data" 2. "All information held about 'ongoing comms plans"

FOI already published 80 score 17 working days correspondence s.38(1) s.34(1) s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-02-23
Reference: FOI/202500496088
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Senior Constitution Special Adviser communications: FOI release

All recorded communications sent to or from Senior Constitution Special Adviser Ewan Crawford during the period 24 November 2025 to 30 November 2025 inclusive. This includes emails, letters, briefing material, and messages held on Scottish Government systems.

FOI already published 80 score 15 working days correspondence special advisers briefings s.25(1) s.25 s.27(1) s.29(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-02-23
Reference: FOI/202500496219
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Special Adviser to the First Minister communications: FOI release

All recorded communications sent to or from Senior Special Adviser David Hutchison during the period 24 November 2025 to 30 November 2025 inclusive. This includes emails, letters, briefing material, and messages held on Scottish Government systems.

FOI already published 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.25(1) s.28(1) s.28 s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-02-23
Reference: FOI/202500496223
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Team agreements correspondence in the Hybrid Working Team: FOI release

1. ALL information held on TEAM AGREEMENTS. 2. ALL internal correspondence in the HYBRID WORKING TEAM from the past 3 months about TEAM AGREEMENTS.

FOI already published 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence s.2 s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-02-09
Reference: FOI/202500492486
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

Scottish Government exercising Section 50 (5) of the FOISA act: FOI release

1) Since January 1st 2002, how many times has the Scottish Government not handed over information to the Scottish Information Commissioner for investigations due to exercising section 50(5) of the FOISA act? 2) Can you please cite the SIC decision number and FOI reference number concerning these?

FOI already published 55 score 16 working days correspondence briefings s.50(5) s.14(2) s.14 s.17(1) s.25(1)

Published: 2025-09-23
Reference: FOI/202500468778
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

List of Scottish Government Ministers and responsibilities: FOI release

Accountable to the Scottish Government economy, please can you the appointment letter of anyone overall in charge of the economy from 2019 to 2020 and from 2023 to 2024 education Please can you the appointment letter of anyone overall in charge of education from 2019 to 2020 and from 2023 to 2024 health Please can yo...

FOI already published 80 score 3 working days correspondence ministers s.25 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-23
Reference: FOI/202500472703
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Information Commissioner investigations information: FOI release

1) Since January 1st 2020, how many times has the Scottish Government not handed over information to the Scottish Information Commissioner for investigations due to exercising section 50(5) of the FOISA act? 2) Can you please cite the SIC decision number and FOI reference number concerning these?

FOI already published 55 score 19 working days correspondence s.50(5) s.25(1) s.17(1) s.15(1)

Published: 2025-07-23
Reference: FOI/202500464684
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Training materials for the application of Freedom Of Information (Scotland) Act exemptions: FOI release

Copies of all materials intended to train or otherwise direct Scottish Government employees tasked with drafting FOI/EIR responses how and when to apply exemptions from the FOISA.

FOI already published 80 score 9 working days correspondence spending s.25 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-07
Reference: FOI/202500460007
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Honours and Awards process in Scotland: FOI Review

Original request 202500455400 I recently contacted the cabinet office asking about who and how awards and honours were determined in Scotland. They informed me the entire process in managed by the Honours and Protocol unit in the Scottish Government and that they simple rubber stamp the recommendations from Scottish G...

FOI already published 80 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-06-18
Reference: FOI/202500457091 Review of 202500455400
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Scottish Government and Ministerial Code Former Advisor communications: FOI release

Any and all communications between the Scottish Government (officials, SPADs, ministers, everyone) and Mr James Hamilton, the then advisor on the ministerial code from April 1st 2021 to December 31st 2023.’

FOI already published 80 score 33 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.38(1) s.25(1) s.26 s.30 s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-06-16
Reference: FOI/202500452188
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Honours and Awards process in Scotland: FOI release

I recently contacted the cabinet office asking about who and how awards and honours were determined in Scotland. They informed me the entire process in managed by the Honours and Protocol unit in the Scottish Government and that they simple rubber stamp the recommendations from Scottish Govt. Therefore, can you please...

FOI already published 55 score 10 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1)

Published: 2025-03-27
Reference: FOI/202500455400
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Legal advice in response to Scottish Information Commissioner’s decision 193/2024: FOI release

In regards to FOI 202400445520, the following passage exists within the information released: "For information at this stage, I am attaching a copy of all the legal advice that we will release in response to the Scottish Information Commissioner’s recent decision 193/2024. There are 25 separate documents (named A-Y), ...

FOI already published 80 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1) s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202500448605
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Former Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care correspondence: FOI release

All correspondence sent and received by the Scottish Government, including internally, all briefings, all analysis, all minutes/notes from meetings, about or from Michael Matheson, from between September 1 2024 and October 1.

FOI already published 80 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.36 s.30 s.38 2 attachments

Published: 2025-01-21
Reference: FOI/202400442492
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

List of Freedom of Information requests submitted: FOI release

In FOI Request Number 202400432136, it was disclosed that 'Journalist A' of the Daily Express, has submitted 353 FOI/EIR Requests so far in 2024. I would like to request, under the FOI Scotland Act, the following information: A list of the text of all FOI requests made by this requester. With requests that were refus...

FOI already published 80 score 18 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.12 2 attachments

Published: 2024-11-20
Reference: FOI/202400436151
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

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

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

Various meetings and correspondence relating to former First Ministers: FOI release

1. All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government to Back Off Scotland and all briefings written for ministers about the group between March 2023 and the date of this FOI. 2. Did Humza Yousaf issue an instruction to his cabinet to support Nicola Sturgeon in June after her arrest and all written minist...

FOI already published 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.29(1) s.30 s.17(1) s.38(1) 8 attachments

Published: 2024-08-12
Reference: FOI/202300374275
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Information relating to National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication: FOI Review

Further to my letter of 4 August, I have now completed my review of our response to your request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) for correspondence, records or minutes of any meetings regarding discussions over protests at the National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication, including discu...

FOI already published 80 score 18 working days correspondence meetings s.30 s.25 s.38(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2023-12-15
Reference: FOI - 202300369630 review of 202300365029
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector