Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

22,640releases indexed
40,478attachments found
29.5avg calendar days
8,386partially withheld
2016-06-13oldest in sample
2026-09-02newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,386 unclear 7,405 not held 3,239 released 1,581 already published 700 cost limit 627 clarification 372 withheld 249 transferred 81

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 5149 s.20 4430 s.34(1) 3727 s.39(2) 3593 s.30 2994 s.17(1) 2922 s.25(1) 2520 s.10(4) 2060 s.11(2) 1619 s.29(1) 1223 s.2 1222 s.3 958

Timeline

2026-09 1 2026-08 299 2026-07 476 2026-06 1 2026-05 410 2026-04 312 2026-03 217 2026-02 589

Directorate Profiles

Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate 1,312 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 978 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 961 releases · 30.9 avg days Learning Directorate 871 releases · 34.3 avg days Economic Development Directorate 737 releases · 39.7 avg days Constitution Directorate 702 releases · 35.9 avg days Population Health Directorate 665 releases · 28.5 avg days People Directorate 657 releases · 25.6 avg days
Clear
1,312 matching releases

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

Permanent Secretary blog post on internal intranet: FOI release

Under FoI could you please send me a blog post on Saltire written by Leslie Evans about the Black Lives Matter movement, and include all comments which were left by staff in response to this. The post I am referring to was referenced by Ms Evans in a Q&A session with staff on July 23. Ms Evans said: "I was equally thou...

FOI not held 70 score 42 working days over deadline correspondence s.17(1) s.39(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2021-10-20
Reference
FOI/202100226047
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Equality and rights, 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

Saltire comments regarding pronouns intranet poll: FOI release

I understand there was a poll run recently on the Scottish Government's Saltire intranet service about the use of pronouns on email signatures. The poll I am referring to is mentioned in this FOI response: https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202100210730/. Under FoI, could you please provide copies of all comments wh...

FOI not held 70 score 42 working days over deadline correspondence s.17(1) s.39(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2021-10-18
Reference
FOI/202100225976
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Equality and rights, 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

Scottish Government use of public relations and media firms: FOI release

“In excel spreadsheet form, please list any public relations, communications, media consultancy or lobbying firms hired by your organisation in the last five years: Please provide: The name of the firm (or individual/freelancer) The contract number The start and end date of each contract The amount of money paid to ea...

FOI already published 80 score 19 working days correspondence contracts spending s.25 s.27(1) s.12 14 attachments
Published
2021-10-13
Reference
FOI/202100232978
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Ministerial briefings provided between 18th May 2021 and 2nd June 2021: FOI release

All briefings provided to the new Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, the Minister for Children and Young People and the Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training between 18th May 2021 and 2nd June 2021.

FOI partially withheld 65 score 74 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings s.29(1) s.38(1)
Published
2021-10-11
Reference
FOI/202100208478
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Total spend on covid-19 advertising: FOI release

How much has the Scottish Government spent on Covid advertising in 2020 and so far in 2021?

FOI released 75 score 17 working days correspondence spending s.20
Published
2021-10-08
Reference
FOI/202100233012
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Money and tax, Public sector

Breakdown of Scottish Government advertising spending costs: FOI release

How much was spent by the Scottish Government on advertising in 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21, and how much has been spent this year to date (2021/22) on advertising. Please include a breakdown of ALL costs including: 1. Cost of television advertising 2. Cost of radio advertising 3. Cost of newspaper advertising 4. Cost of...

FOI withheld 55 score 19 working days correspondence spending s.27(1)O
Published
2021-10-06
Reference
FOI/202100231696
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

COVID-19 advertising: FOI release

1) A list of all media outlets, including but not restricted to, newspapers, TV stations, radio stations, & the internet, who have received payments from the Scottish Government or its agents for advertisements regarding all information concerning the current pandemic, the restrictions, and vaccines. 2) A detailed bre...

FOI withheld 55 score 18 working days correspondence contracts spending s.2 s.33 s.33(1)
Published
2021-09-15
Reference
FOI/202100225513
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

COVID-19 cost of targeted advertisement: FOI release

1. The amount of money spent by the Scottish Government on advertising campaigns encouraging the public to accept a Covid-19 vaccine when offered it, from December 2020 to the date of this request. 2. Breakdown by month and medium (eg TV, Google, Facebook, Twitter, radio, print). 3. Breakdown by spend per targeted camp...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 18 working days correspondence contracts spending s.33 s.33(1)
Published
2021-09-10
Reference
FOI/202100226589
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Money and tax, 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

Senior staff executive team question and answer session: FOI release

It is my understanding that the Scottish Government senior staff executive team carries out Q&A sessions with other government staff and there have been three of these since last July. Can I please have a transcript of all questions and answers for each session from July 2020 to date? If that involves too much work, co...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence s.38(1) 8 attachments
Published
2021-07-26
Reference
FOI/202100218490
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Communications regarding Freedom of Information request: FOI release

Any correspondence (emails, letters, phone calls, handwritten notes or any other documents) regarding an FOI request that sent on the 5th of May 2021 (reference number 202100199466). I would ask for correspondence between the lead official and/or Scottish Government ministers and/or the SG FOI Unit and/or special advis...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.38(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2021-07-26
Reference
FOI/202100217275
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

Duration of social media Covid-19 advertisement campaigns: FOI release

Further to FOI/202100195521 on social media spending, information relating to the precise timings that each of these ads was purchased for; to clarify that it's when the ad was first purchased and paid for, and the duration for which the ad was supposed to run for on the respective social media network.

FOI released 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence spending
Published
2021-06-29
Reference
FOI/202100207265
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

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

Correspondence relating to former Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work: FOI release

Please provide all Scottish Government correspondence (internal or external) related to Derek Mackay MSP for the one-month period from Monday, February 3, 2020 to Tuesday, March 3, 2020. This would include correspondence involving ministers, MSPs and civil servants.

FOI cost limit 70 score 29 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.38(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2021-06-02
Reference
FOI/202100190045
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector