Scottish Government FOI Index

5,100releases indexed

7,880attachments found

25.5avg calendar days

2,063partially withheld

2025-01-20oldest in sample

2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 2,063 unclear 1,290 not held 828 released 339 already published 242 cost limit 170 clarification 87 withheld 62 transferred 19

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 1471 s.34(1) 1108 s.20 1050 s.30 886 s.39(2) 882 s.17(1) 766 s.25(1) 651 s.10(4) 547 s.11(2) 450 s.29(1) 364 s.2 349 s.3 262

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 365 releases · 25.8 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 308 releases · 28.3 avg days Marine Directorate 194 releases · 26.7 avg days People Directorate 192 releases · 23.4 avg days Local Government and Housing Directorate 176 releases · 26.8 avg days Culture and External Affairs Directorate 173 releases · 27.7 avg days Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate 171 releases · 31.7 avg days Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate 157 releases · 23.9 avg days

Clear

45 matching releases

Citizen Jury on the delivery of public services: FOI release

Information relating to a citizen jury on the delivery of public services that took place in Scotland in 2011. In particular, information relating to: 1) The number of citizens who were invited to participate, and the share of citizens who accepted the initial invitation. 2) Any information on the socio-demographic b...

FOI not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence meetings s.4 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-22
Reference: FOI/202500466262
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Communication costs for Constitution, Culture and External Affairs: FOI release

You asked for how much money has been spent on press and communication support for the Constitution, external affairs and culture portfolio in each of the last five years, with a breakdown per year and what the staff were assigned to, i.e. culture or independence. You also asked us to supply the number of press officer...

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

Published: 2025-09-17
Reference: FOI/202500466051
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Ministerial code investigation into former First Minister: FOI release

All 14 pieces of correspondence" involved in the "ministerial code investigation into former FM Salmond that was conducted by Sir David Bell and published in 2013". You requested this correspondence because the links to the documents on the Scottish Government/NRS website archive are not working.

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

Published: 2025-09-09
Reference: FOI/202500461414
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Details of Deputy First Minister's visit to City Holdings Ltd Housing Development: FOI release

A previous FOI response (202500472116) showed that Kate Forbes attended a ministerial visit to City Holdings Ltd Housing Development on 29 January 2025 with a friend. Please provide more details about the name of this friend, what role they played in the visit, and what sector they work in.

FOI not held 45 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.34(1) s.17 s.17(1)

Published: 2025-09-04
Reference: FOI/202500475609
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

First Minister ministerial salary: FOI release

You asked for: 1. The total gross ministerial salary paid to the First Minister of Scotland for the months of April 2025 and May 2025, including: The amount paid, The pay rate applied (i.e. whether the salary was frozen at 2008-09 levels or included any uplift), Any adjustments or deductions made in either month, inc...

FOI not held 45 score 1 working days correspondence ministers spending s.2 s.17

Published: 2025-09-04
Reference: FOI/202500468199
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Scottish Government hybrid working policy: FOI release

1. The number of civil servants who have refused requests from line managers to return to the office after previously agreeing a hybrid or work-from-home contract. 2. The number of official complaints to HR made by staff about the proposed two-days-a-week in-office mandate.

FOI not held 45 score 11 working days correspondence contracts spending s.17(1)

Published: 2025-09-03
Reference: FOI/202500474782
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Ministerial employment date information: FOI release

Alasdair Allan MSP left his post as Minister for Energy on 15 June 2025 while Paul McLellan left his post as Minister for Housing on 11 June 2025 – what is the reason for the difference in end dates? Mr Allan’s resignation letter says “I was honoured to be asked to take this interim role, but that I only wanted it to b...

FOI not held 45 score 6 working days correspondence ministers s.17(1)

Published: 2025-08-04
Reference: FOI/202500471446
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Ministerial salary increase timing and messaging records: FOI Review

Original request 202500462016 Access to records related to the timing and public messaging of the recent ministerial salary increase. Specifically: 1. **Internal Communications:** - Emails, meeting minutes, and memos between the Office of the First Minister and the Public Relations teams discussing how the timing of ...

FOI not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers meetings s.2 s.25 s.17(1) s.38(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-30
Reference: FOI/202500466490 Review of 202500462016
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Ministerial salary increase timing and messaging records: FOI release

Access to records related to the timing and public messaging of the recent ministerial salary increase. Specifically: 1. **Internal Communications:** - Emails, meeting minutes, and memos between the Office of the First Minister and the Public Relations teams discussing how the timing of the announcement was chosen. - ...

FOI not held 70 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings spending s.2 s.25(1) s.17(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-21
Reference: FOI/202500462016
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

First Minister's agenda and communications from Monday 3rd March 2025: FOI release

Please provide all information held by the Scottish Government relating to the activities and communications of the First Minister on Monday 3 March 2025 (0:00AM to 24:00PM). This should include but not necessarily be limited to: 1. Copies of all written materials provided to and/or by the First Minister (FM) 2. Copie...

FOI not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.4 s.6 s.39(1) s.17(1) s.12 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-15
Reference: FOI/202500459057
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Breakdown of Scottish Government advertising and public notice spend: FOI release

You asked, for each of the last five financial years (2024/25, 2023/24, 2022/23, 2021/22, 2020/21), to provide the following information: The total budget spent on marketing and advertising (including promotional, statutory, jobs and other). The names of the print, digital and broadcast and other media where this was ...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence contracts spending s.27(1) s.33 s.17(1) s.17 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-15
Reference: FOI/202500460124
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Deputy First Minister’s diary for Monday 3rd March 2025: FOI release

Please provide all information held by the Scottish Government relating to the activities and communications of the Deputy First Minister on Monday 3 March 2025 (0:00AM to 24:00PM). This should include but not necessarily be limited to: 1. Copies of all written materials provided to and/or by the Deputy First Minister...

FOI not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.4 s.17(1) s.12 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-14
Reference: FOI/202500459051
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Information on Freedom of Information requests submitted to the Scottish Government: FOI release

How many FOI requests were submitted to the Scottish Government in 2024? How many requests were submitted by the requestor who submitted the most requests? Information held on how much staff time and overall cost to the Scottish Government of handling a) all requests and b) the most prolific requestor.

FOI not held 45 score 13 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)

Published: 2025-07-02
Reference: FOI/202500469631
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Queries regarding information provided to the Scottish Information Commissioner: FOI release

1) Has or did the Scottish Government order any kind of internal review and/or investigation as a result of the discovery that it had misled the SIC? 2) I request a copy of any report or communications surrounding such internal review and/or investigation. 3) Has anyone within the Scottish Government been dismissed o...

FOI not held 45 score 18 working days correspondence s.17(1)

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202500452202
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Information pertaining to Scottish Information Commissioner decision 004/2023: FOI release

In relation to the legal advice released by the Scottish Government in October 2024 in relation SIC decision notice 004/2023 and the court case XA10/23. The following passages exist: "It shows that Ministers failed to convey accurately the true position when making submissions to the Commissioner" and "Scottish Minist...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.3 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202500452221
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Access to Information Rights in Scotland: FOI release

You set your request in context by referencing the Scottish Government’s response to the Access to Information Rights in Scotland consultation: Access to Information Rights in Scotland Response to analysis of consultation responses published in November 2023, noting the following commitments made by the Scottish Govern...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.4 s.6 s.17(1) s.38(1) s.36(1) s.29(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2025-03-18
Reference: FOI/202500450915
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Specific Scottish Government electronic purchasing cards (ePC) charges: FOI Review

Original request: 202400437794 1) All the purchases on the Scottish Government electronic purchasing cards from September 2023 onwards which relates to expenditure directly for Scottish Ministers. For example, expenditure related to their personal travel, accommodation, food, items for their ministerial office etc. Pl...

FOI not held 70 score correspondence ministers spending s.3 s.4 s.5 s.6 s.21(4) s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.39(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-12
Reference: FOI/202500450004 Review of 202400437795
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Requests for First Minister to appear on podcasts: FOI release

A full list of requests for First Ministers to appear on podcasts in 2022, 2023, 2024, along with the name of the podcast and whether it was accepted or not, and reason why it was rejected.

FOI not held 45 score 18 working days correspondence ministers s.17(1)

Published: 2025-02-14
Reference: FOI/202500446688
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Engagements attended by Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity: FOI release

A list of Jim Fairlie’s engagements as Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity from 1 November 2024 and the minutes of those engagements.

FOI not held 70 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.17(1) s.38(1) s.28 4 attachments

Published: 2025-01-27
Reference: FOI/202400444866
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Ministers and disclosure checks: FOI release

1. Whether Scottish Ministers undergo any form of disclosure check before, during or after their appointment as a Scottish Minister. 2. If yes, please provide the outcomes of these checks for each current Scottish Minister. 3. Please also state whether the First Minister is aware of any criminal convictions (either s...

FOI not held 45 score 15 working days correspondence ministers s.15(1) s.17

Published: 2025-01-21
Reference: FOI/202400443080
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills