Scottish Government FOI Index

Overseas trips conducted by the First Minister: FOI release

1. Overseas trips conducted by the first minister since 01 January 2024 including all countries visited on each trip. 2. The number of officials who accompanied the first minister on each trip. 3. The total cost of flights and accommodation for each trip, including for officials. 4. The class of flight tickets purch...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 16 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings spending s.4 s.25(1) s.27(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.39(1)

Published: 2025-11-03
Reference: FOI/202500478455
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs and Cabinet Secretary for Housing ministerial diaries: FOI release

I am writing under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2000 to request the full diaries of the Ministers outlined below, accounting for the past three months (15/04/2025-15/07/2025). Please outline what type of engagement it is, alongside where/with whom the engagement took place, and broadly what the theme of th...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.27(1) s.29(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.39(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-10-23
Reference: FOI/202500476124
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care engagements: FOI release

I am writing under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2000 to request the full diaries of the Ministers outlined below, accounting for the past three months (15/04/2025-15/07/2025). Please outline what type of engagement it is, alongside where/with whom the engagement took place, and broadly what the theme of t...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.27(1) s.29(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.39(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-10-23
Reference: FOI/202500476128
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Correspondence between Scottish Ministers and the Herald newspaper: FOI release

Copies of correspondence since 1 January 2025 between Scottish Ministers and The Herald newspaper, excluding requests for comment on stories for publication.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.38 4 attachments

Published: 2025-10-13
Reference: FOI/202500472311
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

Communications related to Scottish Information Commissioner decision notice: FOI release

"For thoroughness, and to eliminate any need for any investigation of the Authority under section 65 of FOISA, the Authority was invited to assist the Commissioner by requesting a voluntary affidavit from the named Special Adviser. It was requested that this clarify the named Special Adviser’s role in the redaction pro...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings whatsapp s.65 s.30 s.36(1) s.29(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-25
Reference: FOI/202500470557
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Correspondence regarding former First Minister's Memoir: FOI release

Regarding Nicola Sturgeon’s memoir ‘Frankly’ that is to be published: Any internal Scottish Government correspondence between 1 January 2023 and present discussing Nicola Sturgeon’s memoir, including any involvement by civil servants, special advisers, or ministers. All communications between the First Minister’s priv...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.30 s.33(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-18
Reference: FOI/202500465697
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Pay rise for Scottish Government ministers: FOI release

1. All correspondence between the First Minister, the First Minister’s staff, and the Scottish Parliament relating to the recent pay rise for Scottish Government ministers. 2. Confirmation of whether the First Minister has received a pay rise as part of this change. If so, please provide details of the amount and effe...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 14 working days correspondence ministers s.2 s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-17
Reference: FOI/202500465280
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Diary engagements: FOI release

Can you provide a copy of the ministerial diary for Jenny Gilruth on April 24, 2025? Can you provide a copy of any amendments made in regards to this document? Can you provide a list of ministerial engagements scheduled for Ms Gilruth on that date? Can you also provide any emails related to Ms Gilruth's diary schedulin...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.29(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-17
Reference: FOI/202500463953
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

External legal fees for Court of Session appeal XA10/23: FOI release

How much money has the Scottish Government spent in total on appealing freedom of information requests about James Hamilton's report into Nicola Sturgeon during the Salmond Inquiry, with a full breakdown of costs?

FOI partially withheld 65 score 19 working days correspondence ministers spending s.30

Published: 2025-09-17
Reference: FOI/202500464784
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Evidence for Scottish Government hybrid working policy decision: FOI release

Under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I am submitting a refined request for information regarding the decision to transition from full-time remote work to a hybrid working policy, as referenced in the Saltire article “Next Phase of Hybrid Working” (7 May 2025) and your response to FOI/202500465200. The ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence meetings spending s.2 s.3 s.30 s.5 s.38(1) s.27(1) s.27 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-17
Reference: FOI/202500470884
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Correspondence regarding written questions lodged by Douglas Lumsden MSP: FOI release

All correspondence between Scottish Government Special Advisors regarding written questions lodged by Douglas Lumsden MSP from January 2025 to present

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-16
Reference: FOI/202500463135
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice ministerial engagements: FOI release

I am writing under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2000 to request the full diaries of the Ministers outlined below, accounting for the past three months (15/04/2025-15/07/2025). Please outline what type of engagement it is, alongside where/with whom the engagement took place, and broadly what the theme of t...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.27(1) s.29(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.39(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-09
Reference: FOI/202500476125
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

FOI qualified exemption responses where public interest favours publication: FOI release

1) In March 2025, how many qualified exemption responses have the Scottish Government decided that the public interest lies in favour of publication compared to the public interest upholding the exemption to not release?

FOI partially withheld 65 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence briefings s.17(1)

Published: 2025-09-04
Reference: FOI/202500459419
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Activities and communications of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government: FOI Review

Original Request - 202500453893 All information held by the Scottish Government relating to the activities and communications of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (‘CabSec’) on Monday 17 February 2025 (from 0:00 AM to 24:00 PM). This should include but not necessarily be limited to the following ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 25 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.4 s.6 s.30 4 attachments

Published: 2025-09-04
Reference: FOI/202500459058 Review of 202500453893
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Costs for Special Advisers and Press Officers: FOI release

Could you supply the total spend on Scottish Government Special advisers and press officers for the 24/25 financial year, as well as the same totals for the three previous years, and a breakdown per year?

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

Published: 2025-09-04
Reference: FOI/202500468580
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Details of Cabinet Secretary for Housing's meetings with various organisations: FOI release

How many meetings, since June 11, 2025, to the date of this request (July 9, 2025), that Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Màiri McAllan MSP, has had with each of the following organisations. Shelter Scotland Homeless Network Scotland Scottish Federation of Housing Associations Sanctuary Scotland West of Scotland Housing...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.27(1)

Published: 2025-08-21
Reference: FOI/202500475214
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Housing, Public sector

Scottish Government Executive Team correspondence regarding home and hybrid working: FOI release

Correspondence in the last year (i.e between June 2024 and June 2025) between any member of the Scottish Government Executive Team and any Scottish Government Minister regarding home and hybrid working.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-08-12
Reference: FOI/202500472911
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government correspondence with the MSP for Dundee City East: FOI release

Any correspondence (including emails, letters, phone calls, handwritten notes, WhatsApp messages or any other documents) between the office of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government and the following email: “dundee@shona.robison.scot”. Information should include but not be limited to a detailed timelin...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2025-08-07
Reference: FOI/202500471344
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Scottish Government's news release on the UK Government's Spending Review: FOI release

1. All government correspondence (including Ministers, Civil Servants, Special Advisers and Press Officers) involved in the drafting of the Scottish Government's news release on the UK Government's Spending Review: https://www.gov.scot/news/spending-review-presents-challenges/ 2. A full list of all people inside the S...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 12 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2025-08-05
Reference: FOI/202500470477
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Ministerial correspondence regarding "Debate Night": FOI release

Any emails sent to Ministerial emails or SPAD emails since 1 January 2025 that contain the phrase “Debate Night” and/or “Stephen Jardine”.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-08-05
Reference: FOI/202500470408
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Viva Engage posts containing certain phrases: FOI release

Any posts on the Scottish Government All-Company group on Viva Engage since 1 November 2024 that contain any of the following phrases: Tories Trump Supreme Court Elon Starmer Transgender Terf Conservatives Labour SNP Farage Reform Woke Regan Netflix Work from home WFH Working from home

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-31
Reference: FOI/202500468506
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Former Independent Adviser to the Scottish Government and Chief Executive of Transport correspondence: FOI release

Copies of all correspondence between James Hamilton and Alison Irvine. To note that we have assumed James Hamilton to mean the former Independent Adviser to the Scottish Government on the Ministerial Code.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 6 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-28
Reference: FOI/202500467995
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Splitting request cases pilot queries: FOI release

1. Can I see any and all emails, messages, intranet stuff etc about this change, any stuff about what the process will be, who will be doing it and all that. 2. When does the pilot end? What are the criteria for success? When will these be published? 3. How many FOIs have been asked about how many FOIs have been aske...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 27 working days over deadline correspondence s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-28
Reference: FOI/202500464288
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner correspondence: FOI release

All correspondence sent to and from the Government to the Covid Corruption Commissioner, and/or his office, as well as minutes/notes from meetings between the same organisations, from the last six months.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence meetings s.28 s.28(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-24
Reference: FOI/202500464426
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Queries regarding draft responses to Freedom of Information requests: FOI release

1. Between 1 January 2025 and present date, on how many occasions, broken down by Scottish Government Minister/Cabinet Secretary, has a Scottish Government Minister or Cabinet Secretary, when presented with a draft response to a Freedom of Information Request, responded with any other decision than approving of that dr...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.3 s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-23
Reference: FOI/202500464096
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Scottish Government FOI releases

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