Scottish Government FOI Index

21,864releases indexed

39,478attachments found

29.7avg calendar days

8,113partially withheld

2016-06-13oldest in sample

2026-06-12newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,113 unclear 7,200 not held 3,069 released 1,537 already published 671 cost limit 607 clarification 349 withheld 241 transferred 77

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4931 s.20 4280 s.34(1) 3589 s.39(2) 3481 s.30 2878 s.17(1) 2774 s.25(1) 2381 s.10(4) 1987 s.11(2) 1571 s.29(1) 1175 s.2 1158 s.3 908

Timeline

2026-06 1 2026-05 410 2026-04 312 2026-03 217 2026-02 589 2026-01 479 2025-12 177 2025-11 263

Directorate Profiles

Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate 1,279 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 967 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 923 releases · 31.0 avg days Learning Directorate 861 releases · 34.4 avg days Economic Development Directorate 729 releases · 39.9 avg days Constitution Directorate 685 releases · 36.1 avg days Population Health Directorate 645 releases · 28.7 avg days People Directorate 633 releases · 25.8 avg days

Clear

6 matching releases

Freedom of Information (FOI) statistics: FOI release

1) The total number of FOI responses issued by the Scottish Government. 2) The number of FOI responses that were referred to a Special Adviser for review or comment prior to release. 3) The number of FOI responses that were referred for Ministerial approval or sign-off prior to release. 4) If recorded, the number of...

FOI/EIR clarification 55 score 14 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.20 s.12

Published: 2025-09-25
Reference: FOI/202500471350
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Scottish Government request responses and use of free & frank advice exception: FOI release

In this request, when I refer to ‘free and frank advice exceptions’ I mean to refer to the application of a exemption from disclosure of requested information from a public body as an FOI or EIR request on the grounds that disclosure would inhibit the free and frank provision of advice, inhibit the free and frank excha...

FOI clarification 80 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings spending s.2A s.25(1) s.6(1) s.12 s.29(1) s.30 s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-17
Reference: FOI/202500461547
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Special Advisers relationship with Freedom of Information requests: FOI Review

Original request 202500447375 1) It is a requirement that SPADs and/or the FM's chief of staff clear FOI responses from civil servants in the FOI unit? 2) How many FOIs were received by the Scottish Government in 2024, and how many of these were cleared by SPADs and/or FM's chief of staff before release? 3) What is ...

FOI clarification 50 score 8 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings spending

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202500452341 Review of 202500447375
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Public Relations outsourcing and press office staff: FOI release

"I would appreciate responses to these requests to be broken down by year and cover the period between the 2015-16 financial year. 1) How many times has the Scottish Government engaged the services of an outside public relations or communications firm? I would appreciate if this could be broken down by year as well as ...

FOI clarification 55 score 26 working days over deadline correspondence contracts spending s.25(1) s.12

Published: 2022-03-01
Reference: FOI/202200273223
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

GIF campaign on Twitter in November 2017: FOI release

1. You asked for all correspondence, including emails, meeting minutes and any other record relating to the videos published on the Scottish Government Twitter page: twitter.com/scotgov/status/926962290959589376 twitter.com/scotgov/status/927128362962731009 twitter.com/scotgov/status/927158582025502701 twitter.com/sco...

FOI clarification 80 score correspondence meetings spending s.12 2 attachments

Published: 2017-12-12
Reference
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Travel expenses incurred by Scottish Government employees 2016-17: FOI release

The amount spent by Scottish Government employees in the past year on official travel, broken down by first class and non-first class travel. We sought clarification of your request on 31 May and you confirmed on 1 June that the following information for the financial year 2016-17 was what you required. Air – busines...

FOI clarification 55 score correspondence ministers meetings contracts spending s.12

Published: 2017-06-29
Reference
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector