Scottish Government FOI Index

21,792releases indexed

39,278attachments found

29.7avg calendar days

8,073partially withheld

2016-06-13oldest in sample

2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,073 unclear 7,195 not held 3,052 released 1,533 already published 668 cost limit 605 clarification 348 withheld 241 transferred 77

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4905 s.20 4252 s.34(1) 3567 s.39(2) 3455 s.30 2866 s.17(1) 2763 s.25(1) 2372 s.10(4) 1971 s.11(2) 1559 s.29(1) 1168 s.2 1152 s.3 903

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 1,275 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 961 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 919 releases · 31.1 avg days Learning Directorate 859 releases · 34.4 avg days Economic Development Directorate 725 releases · 40.0 avg days Constitution Directorate 685 releases · 36.1 avg days Population Health Directorate 645 releases · 28.7 avg days People Directorate 631 releases · 25.8 avg days

Clear

427 matching releases

Former First Minister's briefing notes on Friday January 5: FOI release

Humza Yousaf's briefing notes on Friday January 5, prepared ahead of a round of broadcast interviews.

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

Published: 2024-09-17
Reference: FOI/202400393895
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Former Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care iPad bill correspondence: FOI release

All emails or letters sent or received by (a) Humza Yousaf (b) Michael Matheson and (c) any member of the Scottish Government Communications and Public Engagement team that refer to the Health Secretary’s iPad bill. The timeframe for this request is the following specific days. Tuesday the 14th November and Wednesday...

FOI partially withheld 85 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-17
Reference: FOI/202400395190
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Former First Minister's speech to the SNP conference: FOI release

All correspondence between the Permanent Secretary and/or his office and the First Minister and/or his private office or Special Advisers relating to the First Minister's speech to the SNP conference on 17/10/23. For the avoidance of doubt, this should include all emails or other electronic communications of any other ...

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

Published: 2024-09-17
Reference: FOI/202400396121
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Number of times Former First Minister has taken his children on official visits: FOI release

Since becoming First Minister, how many times has Humza Yousaf taken his children on official visits, press events etc. Please provide all documents, emails, briefings, text messages, whatsapps relating to the First Minister bringing his children to work events, visits etc and their provision of care.

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

Published: 2024-09-17
Reference: FOI/202400396167
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Resignation of Mr Matheson as Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care: FOI release

The exact time and format in which Michael Matheson first informed Humza Yousaf of his resignation as Health Secretary and please provide the documentary evidence of this (the original email/WhatsApp/text) as well as Humza Yousaf's response). All discussions from the Scottish Government planning press lines or media r...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings whatsapp s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-17
Reference: FOI/202400398386
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Cost of First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture's trip to Germany for the Euros: FOI release

How much of taxpayers money was used by John Swinney, Angus Robertson et all to go to Germany for the Euros.

FOI partially withheld 65 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.39(1)

Published: 2024-09-12
Reference: FOI/202400422831
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

First Minister's trip to Germany and Euro 2024: FOI release

So what official business was he there for? Very strange that a failed First Minister of devolved assembly happened to be in Germany at the same time as a football game!!! But attending a Scotland football match so who paid for that ticket? Also you spelled something rong###.

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

Published: 2024-09-12
Reference: FOI/202400423100
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Data costs incurred by Former Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care of Scotland: FOI Review

Original request 202300384550 Correspondence (including WhatsApps, phone calls, text messages, emails and meetings) related to roaming charges racked up by Michael Matheson.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 37 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings spending whatsapp s.30 s.29(1) s.38(1) 6 attachments

Published: 2024-09-12
Reference: FOI/202300389191 Review of 202300384550
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Ministers and staff who visited Germany during Euro 2024: FOI release

1. List of all ministers and staff (grade/profession if not SCS) who visited Germany during the Euros 2024. 2. The total cost of these trips (broken down by spend).

FOI partially withheld 65 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.27(1)

Published: 2024-09-09
Reference: FOI/202400422955
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Cost of First Minister and his team to attend the Euros 2024: FOI release

How much public money was used for our First Minister, and his team, to attend the Euros football game in Germany in June 2024?

FOI partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending s.39(1)

Published: 2024-09-05
Reference: FOI/202400419221
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Cost of John Swinney and company to attend the Euros24: FOI release

Who is paying for John Swinney and company to attend the Euros24 and what is it costing?

FOI partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending s.39(1)

Published: 2024-09-05
Reference: FOI/202400419244
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Former Health Secretary's resignation and the Former Deputy First Minister's attendance at tax advisory meeting: FOI release

1. All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government, including internal correspondence, briefings and notes, about Michael Matheson's resignation, and whether he will take his severance payment, between February 5 2024 and March 5 2024. 2. The reason behind Shona Robison missing the Scottish Government ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 14 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-05
Reference: FOI/202400404652
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Money and tax, Public sector

UK Spring Budget post on Twitter/X: FOI release

This request concerns the following tweet/post on Twitter/X: https://x.com/scotgov/status/1766116922909692407?s=48&t=y9v1mXDn2DQJqjCpgZcKXg Please answer the following questions. In answers where the person or persons concerned cannot be named, please state their positions. (1.) Who composed the post/tweet? (2.) Who...

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

Published: 2024-09-05
Reference: FOI/202400403346
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Economy, Money and tax, Public sector

Internal correspondence regarding the Scottish Government from the First Minister: FOI release

All internal correspondence including, emails, letters, minutes and messages regarding the publication of the First Minister's speeches on the Scottish Government website for the last 18 months.

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

Published: 2024-09-04
Reference: FOI/202400412231
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Programme for Government, Public sector

Ineos Grangemouth and Michael Matheson MSP correspondence: EIR release

1. Could you supply all correspondence sent and received by the Scottish Government, including internally, all briefings, all analysis, all minutes/notes from briefings, about Ineos Grangemouth, from the last two months? 2. Could you supply all correspondence sent and received by the Scottish Government, including int...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence briefings meetings s.20 s.39(2) s.10(5) s.10 s.38 s.30 s.27 4 attachments

Published: 2024-09-04
Reference: EIR/202400415721
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Economy, Public sector

Resignation of Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care: FOI release

All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government, including internal correspondence, minutes, notes and briefings held, about the resignation of Michael Matheson between January 15 2024 and the date of this FOI?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.30 s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-04
Reference: FOI/202400397967
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Programme for Government, Public sector

Correspondence regarding Former First Minister meeting cancellations and resignation: FOI release

1. All correspondence, including internally, briefings and notes about Humza Yousaf cancelling his appearance at the Colleges Scotland conference on Wednesday 24 April, and him being subsequently replaced by Jenny Gilruth, held from between April 22 until the date of this FOI. 2. All correspondence, including internal...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 25 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.29 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.41 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-04
Reference: FOI/202400412001
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Former First Minister Bute House guests lists: FOI release

A list of every visitor/guest to Bute House since Humza Yousaf became First Minister and the number of times each guest has visited.

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

Published: 2024-09-03
Reference: FOI/202400409833
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Impartiality of the Scottish Government with regards to political messaging: FOI release

All internal discussions on handling this (202400408775) request. This should include any email correspondence relating to it; any Teams messages relating to it; any documents produced which outlined the assessment made of the balance of public interest test; its inclusion in any summaries going to SCS, Special Adviser...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-03
Reference: FOI/202400413226
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Responses to Ministerial Code breach complaints: FOI release

Scottish Government's response to a previous FoI request (dated 15 March 2024, case reference: 202400401399) which had asked for the text of the 20 most recent complaints against Scottish Ministers that were reviewed against the Scottish Ministerial Code, and asked for: "copies of the Scottish Government's response and...

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

Published: 2024-09-03
Reference: FOI/202400420598
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Public Interest Tests: FOI release

1. Monthly, from January 2023 to present date, the number of Scottish Government FOI responses sent that invoked a public interest test in deciding whether to uphold an exemption. (A response that invoked more than one test would still count as a single instance) 2. Monthly, from January 2023 to present date, the numb...

FOI partially withheld 85 score 19 working days correspondence briefings 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-03
Reference: FOI/202400415303
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Parliamentary Portfolio Questions session of 20th March 2024 on Constitution, External Affairs and Culture: FOI release

1. The date on which the Parliamentary Portfolio Questions session of 20th March 2024 on Constitution, External Affairs and Culture was entered into the Ministerial Diary of the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture 2. Any other engagements in the Cabinet Secretary's diary on 20th March 2024...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending s.17(1) s.27(1)

Published: 2024-09-03
Reference: FOI/202400412097
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Freedom of Information (FoI) requests for consideration by Special Advisers: FOI release

1) Since the start of 2024, please provide a list of the FOI's which have been subject to consideration by the FoI.SpAdsPO@gov.scot email address and/or Special Adviser emails. 2) Any correspondence between FoI.SpAdsPO@gov.scot and the FOI Unit since January 1, 2024. 3) Any correspondence between FoI.SpAdsPO@gov.scot...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 s.17(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-08-30
Reference: FOI/202400406282
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Decision Notice 045/2024: FOI release

1) Can you provide me with a list of ministers who received the one-on-one sessions on record keeping as mentioned in the decision notice, and confirm if the First Minister was one of them? 2) Can you confirm when these took place, and who delivered them? 3) Can you confirm if Special Advisers were also trained on th...

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

Published: 2024-08-30
Reference: FOI/202400406748
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Holocaust Memorial Day Saltire article: FOI release

I understand that the article on the Scottish Government's intranet, Saltire, to make Holocaust Memorial Day was this year published without the ability for Scottish Government civil servants to comment on it. Under FOI legislation, I request: (1) all communications, in whatever form (email, Teams, WhatsApp, etc) abou...

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

Published: 2024-08-29
Reference: FOI/202400396399
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Arts, culture and sport, Public sector