Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

21,864releases indexed
39,478attachments found
29.7avg calendar days
8,113partially withheld
2016-06-13oldest in sample
2026-06-12newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,113 unclear 7,200 not held 3,069 released 1,537 already published 671 cost limit 607 clarification 349 withheld 241 transferred 77

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4931 s.20 4280 s.34(1) 3589 s.39(2) 3481 s.30 2878 s.17(1) 2774 s.25(1) 2381 s.10(4) 1987 s.11(2) 1571 s.29(1) 1175 s.2 1158 s.3 908

Timeline

2026-06 1 2026-05 410 2026-04 312 2026-03 217 2026-02 589 2026-01 479 2025-12 177 2025-11 263

Directorate Profiles

Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate 1,279 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 967 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 923 releases · 31.0 avg days Learning Directorate 861 releases · 34.4 avg days Economic Development Directorate 729 releases · 39.9 avg days Constitution Directorate 685 releases · 36.1 avg days Population Health Directorate 645 releases · 28.7 avg days People Directorate 633 releases · 25.8 avg days
Clear
1,279 matching releases

Government support for the former First Minister after they leave office: FOI release

What government support does the former First Minister receive after they leave office? Full list of these, including cost and whether Nicola Sturgeon accepted it. Do they have access to any sort of car service after they leave office? If so, what service is this and how much does it cost? All correspondence received a...

FOI cost limit 45 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending s.12
Published
2023-11-06
Reference
202300360163
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Preparation of First Minister resignation: FOI release

How much has it cost the Scottish Government to move Nicola Sturgeon and her belongings out of Bute House in anticipation of the new First Minister moving in? Breakdown of these costs. Supply Nicola Sturgeon's diary of events in March up until she leaves her role as First Minister. Any correspondence (including emails,...

FOI cost limit 45 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending whatsapp s.12
Published
2023-11-06
Reference
202300346137
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Costings of events hosted at Bute House

You asked for: 1. A total, and breakdown on all costings related to entertainment hosted at Bute House over the past three years. This may include many events such as (but not limited to) engagements, receptions, drinks/lunches/dinners with guests/visitors, etc., broken down by year if possible. 2. A total on all spe...

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.20
Published
2023-11-06
Reference
202300355692
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

List of all adverts funded by the Scottish Government hosted on YouTube: FOI release

A list of all adverts funded by the Scottish Government hosted on YouTube in December 2022 and January 2023. The amount spent on these adverts. All correspondence relating to the ‘visit Glasgow this winter’ advert that has appeared on YouTube with the Scottish Government’s branding. Whether or not the Scottish Governme...

FOI not held 45 score 18 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)
Published
2023-11-03
Reference
202300338164
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Nicola Sturgeon MSP ministerial car access since 27 March 2023: FOI release

1) Does Nicola Sturgeon MSP still have access to the ministerial car fleet. 2) If so, who authorised this. 3) If so, why does she have such access as she clearly has no ministerial duties. 4) If so, please provide details of all journeys undertaken by her in the ministerial fleet since her replacement as FM on 27 Ma...

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.3 s.4
Published
2023-11-03
Reference
202300350302
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence relating to devolved vs reserved matters: FOI release

1. Any correspondence held by the Scottish government between the permanent secretary John Paul Marks and the cabinet secretary Simon Case, in relation to devolved vs reserved matters. By this I mean things like the constitution and foreign affairs – potential examples would be the subject of a “minister for independen...

FOI/EIR not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings s.2 s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.17(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-02
Reference
FOI/202300367840
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Items requested for official government trips: FOI release

What items does Nicola Sturgeon request in her rider for official government trips? What items does Lorna Slater request in her rider for official government trips? What items does Angus Robertson request in his rider for official government trips? What items does Humza Yousaf request in his rider for official governme...

FOI unclear 50 score 12 working days correspondence
Published
2023-11-02
Reference
202200327480
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Breakdown of food and takeaway deliveries received at Bute House: FOI release

Please provide me with a breakdown of food and takeaway deliveries received at Bute House over the last five years. Please specify which foods were ordered on each occasion, which business the food was ordered from, and what the cost was.

FOI unclear 55 score 17 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)
Published
2023-11-02
Reference
202200319167
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

First Minister's appearance on Loose Women 20 April 2022: FOI release

Following the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's appearance on the ITV panel show Loose Women on 20th April 2022 I am writing to request confirmation of two points:- 1) Did The First Minister receive an appearance fee for participating in the programme? 2) If a fee was paid How Much did the First Minister receive?

FOI unclear 50 score 15 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2023-11-02
Reference
202200326282
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Total number of expenses claimed by the First Minister: FOI release

Could I please receive the total number of expenses claimed by the First Minister in the years 2020- 2021, 2021-2022 and 2022 – 31 June 2023? Could I also receive the total expenses claimed by the FM office as a whole?

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending s.25(1)
Published
2023-11-02
Reference
FOI/202300374125
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

First Minister declined events: FOI release

A copy of correspondence sent from the First Minister’s office over the past six months declining requests to attend events and/or meetings.

FOI cost limit 45 score 61 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings spending s.12
Published
2023-11-02
Reference
202200311414
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

FM meetings: FOI Review

You requested a review stating the following: “I am writing to you to request an internal review of this decision. I do not believe the exemptions apply to all the information, particularly the briefing documents, and have been applied far too liberally. In any case, the public interest is in favour of disclosure.”

FOI already published 80 score 41 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.30 s.41 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.28(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-01
Reference
FOI/202300362913 review of 202300338437
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Annual expenditure on TV advertising: FOI release

Annual expenditure on TV advertising 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, covering all advertising expenditure including Government supported and Scottish public sector bodies, not only direct government costs.

FOI not held 40 score 16 working days correspondence spending
Published
2023-10-31
Reference
202300341792
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Influencer expenditure: FOI release

The total money paid by the Scottish Government to comedian Janey Godley or her representatives, from 2020-2023. This should include payments made as a social media ‘influencer’ or for TV, radio or other media appearances, where she was paid to represent the Scottish Government or support Scottish Government messaging ...

FOI unclear 55 score 15 working days correspondence spending s.25(1)
Published
2023-10-31
Reference
202300353877
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Cabinet meetings since the new Lord Advocate took up her post: FOI release

Please provide the dates of all Cabinet meetings since the new Lord Advocate took up her post, as well as stating which of these Cabinet meetings was attended by the new Lord Advocate.

FOI released 70 score 13 working days correspondence meetings
Published
2023-10-31
Reference
202300355574
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence sent by Scottish Government Special Advisers, mentioning “Humza Yousaf” or just “Humza”, between 15th February 2023 and 1st March 2023: FOI release

Please provide all correspondence sent by Scottish Government Special Advisers, and mentioning “Humza Yousaf” or just “Humza”, between 15th February 2023 and 1st March 2023.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence special advisers s.25(1) s.38(1) s.38 4 attachments
Published
2023-10-30
Reference
202300345536
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

COVID-19 social media spend: FOI release

The total money spent by the Scottish Government on marketing and advertising relating to COVID- 19, COVID-19 Lockdown & Restrictions and the COVID-19 vaccines from 2020 to 2023. Please provide a breakdown of the spend for each financial year, by each form of media - television, radio, digital, outdoor, social media, n...

FOI unclear 55 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings spending s.25(1)
Published
2023-10-30
Reference
202300353473
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Cost of living website costs and statistics: FOI release

You asked for information about the Scottish Government's website, gov.scot/costoflivingsupport and the associated media/promotional campaign designed to direct members of the public to it: The total cost of media and promotional campaigns, including development/agency costs for the content, for promoting the website ...

FOI unclear 50 score 16 working days correspondence spending
Published
2023-10-30
Reference
202200335955
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Scottish Government's Twitter accounts: FOI release

For each member of the government, can you release details of the accounts they have blocked on Twitter? Can you release details of all accounts blocked by each of the Scottish Government's Twitter accounts? Clarification We wrote to you to clarify the scope of your request with regards to “each of the Scottish Gover...

FOI unclear 55 score 34 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.17(1)
Published
2023-10-27
Reference
202300337483
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Ministerial engagements, travel & gifts (January-February): FOI release

I note there are no entries yet for 2023 placed on the public webpage Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts - gov.scot (www.gov.scot). Please confirm when January & February will be available.

FOI unclear 50 score 17 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2023-10-27
Reference
202300346457
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Spend by Scottish Government promoting interlinked smoke and fire alarms: FOI release

Please tell me how much money was spent by the Scottish Government on promoting the change in law which meant all homes had have interlinked smoke and fire alarms by 1st February 2021, before it was delayed in December 2020, broken down by type of marketing tool (e.g door to door leaflet, television ad, promoted posts ...

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence spending
Published
2023-10-26
Reference
202200329803
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Scottish Government media and social media expenditure for 2022: FOI release

The Scottish Government media and social media expenditure for 2022, with expenditure broken down for television, radio , newspapers, and social media companies.

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence spending
Published
2023-10-26
Reference
202200329888
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence relating to the updated Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts: December 2021 publication published on 6th March 2023: FOI release

Under Freedom of Information legislation I would be grateful to receive all correspondence relating to the updated Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts: December 2021 publication published on 6th March 2023.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-10-25
Reference
202300346455
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence relating to the updated Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts: November 2016 publication published on 6th March 2023: FOI release

Under Freedom of Information legislation I would be grateful to receive all correspondence relating to the updated Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts: November 2016 publication published on 6th March 2023.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-10-25
Reference
202300346461
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence relating to updated Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts: October 2017 publication (published 6th March 2023): FOI release

Under Freedom of Information legislation I would be grateful to receive all correspondence relating to the updated Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts: October 2017 publication published on 6th March 2023.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-10-25
Reference
202300346486
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector