Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

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
536 matching releases

Guidance on display flags on official cars overseas: FOI release

The protocol / guidance used for displaying flags on official cars used by the First Minister on her visits to foreign countries.

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2022-01-05
Reference
FOI/202100253807
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Process for on-boarding a new Ministerial appointment: FOI release

Could you please set out the process followed when a new government minister is appointed? I would like to know the following: 1. Who contacts the newly nominated minister to invite them to Bute House, how they are contacted and when they are contacted 2. What information is provided to the newly nominated minister ahe...

FOI unclear 55 score 26 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.4 s.17(1)
Published
2021-12-21
Reference
FOI/202100249378
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Government social media accounts: FOI release

1. Who manages the social media pages on behalf of the Scottish Government? 2. Are individual people if so, how many and in addition, namely a subject with the name Richard L Russel or Richard Russell excluded from viewing such pages? If so why so? 3. During the pandemic did the Scottish Government take all reasonable ...

FOI unclear 55 score 98 working days over deadline correspondence s.1 s.3 s.4
Published
2021-12-17
Reference
FOI/202100221455
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Marketing spend 2019-2021: FOI release

How much money the Scottish government has paid to external PR companies in the years 2020 and 2021 to date and the nature of the campaigns that they have been employed to undertake directly relating to enhancing the image of the Scottish government.

FOI unclear 50 score 40 working days over deadline correspondence spending
Published
2021-11-05
Reference
FOI/202100244156
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Number of full time equivalent (FTE) frontline media roles: FOI release

"May I have updated information pertaining to the number of FTE (Full time equivalent) frontline media roles currently active in the Scottish Government? The previous statement from July was that there were 54.9 FTE jobs."

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence
Published
2021-11-04
Reference
FOI/202100242442
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector, Work and skills

Information regarding Janey Godley appearance on Covid-19 advert: FOI release

1. Whether Scottish Government funds were used to pay Ms Godley? 2. If payment was taken out of the bike SNP party funds? 3. Will Ms Godley be reported to the police for hate crime?

FOI unclear 50 score 25 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending
Published
2021-11-01
Reference
FOI/202100238775
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Money and tax, Public sector

Total spend of Covid-19 advertising: FOI release

You asked for the cost of all adverts about the coronavirus that are on TV and radio every day and how much is it costing for all these adverts to be shown daily especially the latest advert by Janey Godley

FOI unclear 50 score 26 working days over deadline correspondence spending
Published
2021-11-01
Reference
FOI/202100237983
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Money and tax, Public sector

Business dealings with Janey Godley: FOI release

You asked for information in relation to the Scottish Government's business dealings with the comedian Janey Godley, including: A copy of all contracts and agreements. A list of all payments of (a) fees and (b) expenses, by date. A copy of all communications with JG or her agent. For each contract / agreement, a copy ...

FOI unclear 50 score 26 working days over deadline correspondence contracts spending
Published
2021-11-01
Reference
FOI/202100237623
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Money and tax, Public sector

Janey Godley's appearance in Coronavirus advert : FOI release

How much Janey Godley was paid to star in the covid information adverts by the Scottish Government?

FOI unclear 50 score 27 working days over deadline correspondence spending
Published
2021-10-29
Reference
FOI/202100236917
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Money and tax, Public sector

Cost relating to Ministerial roles for Green MSPs: FOI release

It is about the SNP Green Coalition and the cost to the British Taxpayer. It would be normal have two jobs out when two jobs are added to the costs of government but it seems in this case two jobs have been added …. Which adds to the costs of government. So my simple questions are 1 What is the total costs of adding tw...

FOI unclear 50 score 10 working days correspondence ministers spending
Published
2021-10-19
Reference
FOI/202100235571
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Budgeted cost of Patrick Harvie MSP and Lorna Slater MSP: FOI release

What is the budgeted cost of Patrick Harvie MSP and Lorna Slater MSP, in their Ministerial roles. Specifically broken down by: Additional Government salary and pension Extra staff costs including salaries and pension Additional administrative costs Ancillary running costs Expenses including travel and accommodation

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence ministers spending
Published
2021-10-14
Reference
FOI/202100235109
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

List of Scottish Government special advisers 2021: FOI release

A list of Scottish Government special advisers as of March 24, 2021 and their area of expertise as well as for a list of Scottish Government special advisers as of August 5, 2021, and their area of expertise.

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence special advisers s.25(1)
Published
2021-09-29
Reference
FOI/202100235832
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Transcript of interview between journalist and Education Secretary: FOI release

You asked for a transcript of the interview between the P&J and Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville.

FOI unclear 75 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence 2 attachments
Published
2021-09-06
Reference
FOI/202100224700
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Communication between Kenny MacAskill MP and Neale Hanvey MP: FOI release

Any email/whatsapp communications or meetings between Kenny MacAskill MP and Neale Hanvey MP and Scottish Government Ministers from Feburary 27th 2021 to March 28th 2021.

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.38 s.38(1)
Published
2021-08-26
Reference
FOI/202100224533
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Consultation data on Citizen Space: FOI release

For a research project, we have analysed the case of "We asked, You said, We did" of the Scottish Government. Is it possible to have some statistics for the period from 2015 to 2020. In particular: 1) the n. of consultations closed per each year. 2) the n. of the published responses per each consultation per each yea...

FOI unclear 50 score 33 working days over deadline correspondence
Published
2021-08-24
Reference
FOI/202100223045
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Publication of information in the media about civil servants: FOI release

Any policy or guidance you have on how the Scottish Government deals with the publication of information in the media about civil servants”. You noted a particular interest in “understanding the approach to the media seeking to publish damaging information about junior civil servants i.e. non-senior civil service grade...

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2021-08-10
Reference
FOI/202100218105
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Full-time equivalent media officers: FOI release

Please provide the number of FTE media officers employed by the Scottish government in the financial years 2020/21, 2019/20, 2018/19, 2017/18, and 2016/17. Please also provide the budget for the Scottish government's media relations department in each of those years.

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence spending
Published
2021-07-19
Reference
FOI/202100215223
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Custom audience feature used in Facebook advertising campaigns: FOI release

If any Scottish Government advertising campaigns have made use of Facebook's custom audiences feature in order to target advertising and what data was uploaded to Facebook to create the audience?

FOI unclear 50 score 9 working days correspondence
Published
2021-07-12
Reference
FOI/202100217339
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Covid-19 breakdown of media expenditure: FOI release

1. How much has the SNP spent on media for covid 19 everyday? 2. How much is the budget? 3. Have the SNP used money that could have fed homeless and poorer families just to talk about a virus with a 99.9% survival rate?

FOI unclear 50 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending
Published
2021-06-11
Reference
FOI/202100199714
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Money and tax, Public sector

Scottish Governments annual spend on fair trade goods: FOI release

Data on the Scottish Government‘s total annual spend on fair trade goods, including items purchased for resale, for the financial year 19/20. You asked for the data to be broken down by: Vendor name Whether they were contracted/non-contracted Description of item(s) purchased Total value per order

FOI unclear 75 score 10 working days correspondence contracts spending 2 attachments
Published
2021-06-03
Reference
FOI/202100199142
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Bute House refurbishment costs: FOI release

"Given recent media coverage on Downing Street spending, over last 14 years how much has been spent by SNP Government on refurbishments of Bute House? What were sources of that financing and was that in excess of the annual public budget? If so where did that funding come from?"

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending
Published
2021-06-01
Reference
FOI/202100197363
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

First Minister Bute House maintenance allowance: FOI release

Does the First Minister of Scotland receive an allowance for costs associated with maintaining and furnishing her official residence – Bute House? If yes: How much is that allowance? And is it an annual payment? Please can I receive a breakdown of what has been spent from that budget, from November 20th 2014 to the pr...

FOI unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence ministers spending
Published
2021-06-01
Reference
FOI/202100198297
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Building, planning and design, Public sector

Scottish Government practice around disposal of confidential waste: FOI release

You asked for information on various aspects of the Scottish Government's arrangements for dealing with confidential waste. 1. Has confidential waste been procured via tender or framework or another means? 2. If a framework, could you confirm the name of the framework please? 3. Actual contract values of each framework...

FOI unclear 55 score 5 working days correspondence contracts spending s.3 s.5
Published
2021-05-21
Reference
FOI/202100201930
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Annual road vehicle procurement: FOI release

All information held by the Scottish Government from 2016 onward which shows the number of road vehicles procured annually by the Scottish Government and by NDPBs, or as great a subset of the total as is held centrally, broken down by year, by fuel (petrol, diesel, electric) and where possible by agency or body.

FOI unclear 55 score 18 working days correspondence contracts s.17(1)
Published
2021-05-20
Reference
FOI/202100184977
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Transport