Scottish Government FOI Index

22,874releases indexed

40,876attachments found

29.5avg calendar days

8,493partially withheld

2016-06-13oldest in sample

2026-10-28newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,493 unclear 7,447 not held 3,283 released 1,596 already published 712 cost limit 634 clarification 376 withheld 250 transferred 83

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 5215 s.20 4475 s.34(1) 3779 s.39(2) 3631 s.30 3032 s.17(1) 2975 s.25(1) 2550 s.10(4) 2085 s.11(2) 1634 s.29(1) 1244 s.2 1242 s.3 977

Timeline

2026-10 227 2026-09 8 2026-08 299 2026-07 476 2026-06 1 2026-05 410 2026-04 312 2026-03 217

Directorate Profiles

Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate 1,334 releases · 27.8 avg days Marine Directorate 990 releases · 29.7 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 969 releases · 30.8 avg days Learning Directorate 871 releases · 34.3 avg days Economic Development Directorate 741 releases · 39.6 avg days Constitution Directorate 710 releases · 35.8 avg days Population Health Directorate 676 releases · 28.6 avg days People Directorate 663 releases · 25.5 avg days

Clear

456 matching releases

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

Supplementary question information regarding Portfolio Question sessions: FOI Review

Original request 202500455929 Pertaining to work done, communications made, and documentation produced and sent between 1 March 2024 and present, for all Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic and Finance and Local Government Portfolio Questions sessions between 1 January and present date, please p...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-16
Reference: FOI/202500460415 Review of 202500455929
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Correspondence regarding Elon Musk and President Carter: FOI release

The full email chain in Doc 007 of this released Scottish Government FOI, with the subject line RE: Note Verbale: Correspondence between the Scottish Government and Elon Musk: FOI release (14 February 2025) Microsoft Word - Annex - Redacted - Final - For release https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.32(1) s.34(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2025-07-16
Reference: FOI/202500461668
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

Scottish Government Education and Skills portfolio employee breakdown: FOI release

In your letter, you requested the following information: Part 1: This FOI is from November 2023. Scottish Government staffing numbers: FOI release - gov.scot . Can I re-ask the four questions within this please to establish the most up to date information? Senior Civil Service Pay - updated from March 2023 or most re...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.27(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-10
Reference: FOI/202500461154
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Education, Public sector

Correspondence between First Minister and Nicola Sturgeon MSP: FOI release

Any correspondence (including emails, letters, phone calls, handwritten notes, WhatsApp messages or any other documents) between the office of the First Minister and the office of Nicola Sturgeon MSP. Information should include but not be limited to a detailed timeline (with dates) of any contact between these individu...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 16 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-06-26
Reference: FOI/202500456833
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Ministerial Code Former Advisor correspondence: FOI release

Copies of all the correspondence between Helen Webster & James Hamilton including any correspondence from Helen Webster that references James Hamilton in them.

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

Published: 2025-06-18
Reference: FOI/202500456798
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Scottish Government hybrid working policy: FOI release

“Can I please all communications between all directorate directors and permanent secretary regarding the Scottish Government new hybrid working policy. Can I also have copies of all assessments, including, but not limited to, fairer scotland duty impact assessment, equality and human rights impact assessment, island c...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence s.27(1) s.30 8 attachments

Published: 2025-06-12
Reference: FOI/202500465073
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Government hybrid working policy evidence and findings: FOI release

“In the Saltire article "Next Phase of Hybrid Working" published on the SG intranet on 7th May 2025 it says "In coming to this decision, the Executive Team weighed evidence gathered by a small internal hybrid working review team." “Please can I have a copy of this evidence. I'd like to see any materials that were give...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence meetings s.30 s.27(1) 12 attachments

Published: 2025-06-12
Reference: FOI/202500465200
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Correspondence relating to memoirs of Former First Minister: FOI release

All email correspondence between Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish Government since 28 March 2023, including but not limited to the Permanent Secretary, relating to her memoir. For example, this should include all correspondence containing the phrase “memoir”, “book”, “Frankly” and “Pan Macmillan”.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 13 working days correspondence ministers s.33(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-06-09
Reference: FOI/202500464174
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Queries about FOI review responses issued by the Scottish Government: FOI release

1. Why do some review responses given by the SG in response to FOI requests not have an author at the end of the response? 2. Who authored FOI review: 202500450377? 3. How many times this year have FOI review responses contained an author, and the number that do not contain an author?

FOI partially withheld 65 score 13 working days correspondence s.38(1) s.34(1)

Published: 2025-05-12
Reference: FOI/202500456800
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Communications in regards to FOI responses to 202500447375 and 202500452341: FOI release

"All internal Government communications (emails, texts, etc everything) by anyone within the Scottish Government (civil servants, SPADs, ministers etcs) in regards to FOI original's response 202500447375 and the subsequent review response 202500452341".

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2025-05-12
Reference: FOI/202500455247
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Freedom of Information request pilot queries: FOI release

Interesting, sounds like a new process then? Not something thats on your website. So i'd like to FOI each below question: 1. Why did this process come about? 2. Why is it no explained on the website? 3. Who made the decision? - can I see the decision making process? Not sure I am allowed! 4. When did the process st...

FOI partially withheld 85 score 19 working days correspondence 2 attachments

Published: 2025-05-08
Reference: FOI/202500455113
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Inclusive communication practices in the Scottish Government: FOI release

1. Do you track requests for inclusive communication support in your listed authority? This could include (but is not limited to) requests for communication support for meetings (online or in person) and for static resources, e.g. large print, telephone calls, email/digital correspondence, Easy Read, Braille, Moon, Gui...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 15 working days correspondence meetings s.2 s.12(1) s.3 s.4 s.5 s.6 s.7 s.8

Published: 2025-05-01
Reference: FOI/202500455927
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Copy of information referenced in the Scottish Information Commissioner’s Decision Notice 186/2024: FOI release

Copies of the information that is referenced in the Scottish Information Commissioner’s Decision Notice 186/2024. Please could you send me copies of the information referenced above and a copy of the review response and all other information that was subsequently identified and sent to the applicant.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence s.25(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-04-30
Reference: FOI/202500454839
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

First Minister's interview with Nick Robinson's Political Thinking radio show documentation: FOI release

All documentation held about John Swinney's interview with Nick Robinson's Political Thinking radio show in October 2024, including correspondence sent and received (including internal), briefings, analysis of how it went, between September 1 2024 and December 1 2024.

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

Published: 2025-04-16
Reference: FOI/202500453333
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Freedom of Information requests received by the Deputy First Minister: FOI release

How many FOI requests for info come in about Kate Forbes since she started as Deputy? What were they about?

FOI partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.20

Published: 2025-04-10
Reference: FOI/202500453667
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Former First Minister's trip to Qatar: FOI release

1. I am looking for the number of staffers, anyone from Scotgov or anyone or tasked by Scotgov to accompany and attend with the FM or in support of, or in any capacity whatsoever, that went to Qatar with Humza Yousaf and his wife Nadia El Nakla on February 12, 2024? 2. Did Mr Yousaf and his wife pay for the trip or wa...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 64 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings spending whatsapp s.39(1) s.32(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-04-08
Reference: FOI/202400401024
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

Playfair library speech documentation: FOI release

All documentation held by the Scottish Government about John Swinney's speech at Playfair Library on January 6, including correspondence sent about it, briefings and analysis, along with reviews of how it went, from between December 15 2024 and the date of this FOI.

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

Published: 2025-03-28
Reference: FOI/202500452710
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Menu and costs for the First Minister's lunch at Bute House: FOI release

All items of information held in relation to the food and drink provided for the First Minister's lunch at Bute House on 13 January 2025 with his advisers on the Scottish Ministerial Code and others, including, but not be limited to, food and drink menus and a breakdown of catering costs, including all information in b...

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

Published: 2025-03-26
Reference: FOI/202500453287
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Documents and legal advise relating to decision notice (193/2024): FOI release

In relation to decision notice (193/2024), you asked for: 1) In regards to the legal advice that was released. When were the last edits made to the documents that were released? 2) Any communications (whatsapps, emails, texts anything) by ministers, spads, civil servants discussing when to release the legal advice, w...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers whatsapp s.38 s.26 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202400445520
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Information regarding the decision not to give the Scottish Information Commissioner legal advice: FOI release

1) Any and all communications, meetings, minutes, records discussing/referencing the decision not to give the Scottish Information Commissioner the legal advice requested from FOI 202300390057 during his investigation that resulted in decision notice 193/2024. 2) Who within the Scottish Government made the decision no...

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

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202500448762
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Information regarding the Ministerial Statement: Legal Advice Relating to Scottish Information Commissioner Decision: FOI Review

Original request 202400445432 1) All briefing notes provided to ministers (e.g. John Swinney, Jamie Hepburn) in preparation of the statement to the Scottish Parliament on the 29th of October: Ministerial Statement: Legal Advice Relating to Scottish Information Commissioner Decision by civil servants, SPADs and anyone ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 2 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings whatsapp s.21(4) s.25 s.38(1) s.36(1) s.30 6 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202500452157 Review of 202400445432
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector