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

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

Breakdown of Government Car Service (GCS): FOI release

1. Details of The Government Car Service in Scotland (GCS) from April 2017 to April 2021 showing a breakdown of when this service has been used to transport documents to people/addresses. I am looking for a breakdown showing the date of each GCS car trip, where each document was dropped off to and who the document was ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2021-05-24
Reference
FOI/202100184349
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Correspondence relating to the draft Independence Referendum Bill: FOI release

Copies of correspondence (emails, letters, handwritten notes and/or otherwise) to Mike Russell and/or Nicola Sturgeon from members of the public with any reference to the draft independence referendum bill published 22 March.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence s.38 2 attachments
Published
2021-05-21
Reference
FOI/202100186133
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Law and order, 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

Renovations or decorating work at Bute House: FOI release

1) Between May 2007 and November 2014 inclusive, how much money was spent by the Scottish Government on renovations or decorating work at Bute House? 2) Between December 2015 to date, how much money was spent by the Scottish Government on renovations or decorating work at Bute House?

FOI not held 65 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending 2 attachments
Published
2021-05-10
Reference
FOI/202100171833
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Building, planning and design, Money and tax, Public sector

Decisions on unacceptable actions: FOI release

1. Has the Scottish Government procedure on making someone subject to an unacceptable actions decision been considered by independent counsel in order to ensure that there can be no reasonable perception that there might be bias, or that the process is incompatible with Article 6 and Article 10 of the Human Rights Act....

FOI unclear 55 score 6 working days correspondence s.5
Published
2021-05-07
Reference
FOI/202100185878
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Spending on newspaper advertising: FOI release

The amount of money spent by the central Scottish Government in 2020-21 on advertising within newspapers and magazines, both print and online, in total and broken down by the amount spent with each title.

FOI withheld 55 score 17 working days correspondence contracts spending s.33 s.33(1)
Published
2021-05-07
Reference
FOI/202100184019
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Communications relating to vaccine rollout: FOI release

Correspondence (emails, notes, minutes of calls, memos and/or otherwise) from the Scottish Government Communications Team regarding the poll undertaken by Savanta ComRes by The Scotsman on 11 February 2021 between the period of 9 February 2021 to 23 February 2021.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence meetings s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2021-05-05
Reference
FOI/202100164031
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

COVID-19 survey gender identity questions: FOI release

"I have been taking the above survey, run on the Scottish Government's behalf by Progressive Research. One of the demographic questions asks what is my 'gender identity', and gives response options pertaining to biological sex (male and female), as well as "other gender identity" and "prefer not to say". Since gender i...

FOI unclear 55 score 27 working days over deadline correspondence s.7
Published
2021-04-29
Reference
FOI/202100173238
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Equality and rights, Public sector

Total advertising spend for 2019-2020: FOI release

Details of the total Scottish government spend on PR and advertising during the last financial year? Do you have provisional figures for the current year?

FOI unclear 50 score 78 working days over deadline correspondence spending
Published
2021-04-14
Reference
FOI/202000118552
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Digital, product recognition and research expenditure: FOI release

Please detail all above the line advertising spend by the Scottish government in 2020. Please note, I do not need the Media spend, I would like to see how much was spend on developing and producing advertising via external agencies (including advertising agencies, PR agencies, digital agencies and content agencies) in ...

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence spending
Published
2021-04-14
Reference
FOI/202100163186
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Total costs of flags: FOI release

The spend on flags for Scottish buildings across: 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence spending
Published
2021-04-12
Reference
FOI/202100162404
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Flag flying and purchasing statistics: FOI release

1. A breakdown of the types and numbers of each flag owned by the Scottish Government that are to be flown on official days. 2. A breakdown of the cost and number purchased of each flag type over the past 12 months. 3. The cost of repairs made to owned flags over the past 12 month (with a breakdown by type of possible)...

FOI unclear 55 score 18 working days correspondence spending s.2 s.3
Published
2021-04-12
Reference
FOI/202100163026
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
International, Programme for Government, Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs meetings: FOI release

From 1 October 2020 to present: 1. A list of all meetings that Michael Russell has conducted with foreign officials. Including details of the date of the meeting and who was present at the metting. 2. Copies of the minutes from all the above meetings.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.25(1) s.30 s.32(1) s.38(1) 4 attachments
Published
2021-04-09
Reference
FOI/202100136000
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs correspondence: FOI release

From 29 December 2020 to 5 January 2021: Copies of all emails from/to Michael Russell including the term ‘no deal’. This can be in the subject header, body of the email, attachment to the email and/or otherwise.

FOI unclear 75 score 19 working days correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2021-04-08
Reference
FOI/202100133649
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Brexit, Public sector

Emails concerning Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, Europe and External Affairs: FOI release

From 22 December 2020 to 29 December 2020: Copies of all emails from/to Michael Russell including the term ‘no deal’. This can be in the subject header, body of the email, attachment to the email and/or otherwise.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.38 s.30 2 attachments
Published
2021-04-07
Reference
FOI/202100133548
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Correspondence with Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, Europe and External Affairs including the term ‘no deal’: FOI release

From 15 December 2020 to 22 December 2020: Copies of all emails from/to Michael Russell including the term ‘no deal’. This can be in the subject header, body of the email, attachment to the email and/or otherwise.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.38 2 attachments
Published
2021-04-06
Reference
FOI/202100133526
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Details regarding First Minister's Scottish Government website biography photograph: FOI release

"Who paid for this photograph? Who owns the copyright or licensing rights? It has been used in the recent past on the side of a bus, on a helicopter and in advertising material specifically for political and campaign purposes. Can I please ask whom in the Scottish Government decided it can be used in a publicly funded ...

FOI unclear 50 score 6 working days correspondence ministers spending
Published
2021-04-01
Reference
FOI/202100168781
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

COVID-19 Visitors to St Andrews House Edinburgh: FOI release

A record of guests/visitors who have visited St Andrews House Edinburgh from 1st December 2020 until the present date- 5th February 2021. Guests/Visitors are defined as people who are not members of government, MSPs or civil servants. Any personal information that can identify someone doesn't have to be included, but a...

FOI unclear 75 score 18 working days correspondence 2 attachments
Published
2021-04-01
Reference
FOI/202100151568
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Communications relating to drug deaths statistics: FOI release

All emails, letters, minutes of meetings, briefings, hand written notes, records of phone or other conversations and messages on encrypted phone apps between any permutation of the following people - The Public Health Minister, The Cabinet Secretary for health, the First Minister and the Chair of the Drugs death task f...

FOI unclear 75 score 17 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings 2 attachments
Published
2021-03-31
Reference
FOI/202100157878
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, Public sector

COVID-19: YouGov omnibus survey research results: FOI release

1. The results of research the Scottish Government has commissioned through the YouGov omnibus survey in the past 12 months on: a. Covid-19 Regulations and compliance with Covid-19 advice b. Covid-19 vaccine c. Adherence or compliance with self-isolation advice and requirements. 2. A copy of any other research the Scot...

FOI withheld 80 score 20 working days correspondence s.2 s.27 2 attachments
Published
2021-03-29
Reference
FOI/202100152730
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public sector

Correspondence regarding Margaret Ferrier between September and October 2020: FOI release

Any communications, correspondence, be it email, text message, whatsapp or of any kind available relating to Margaret Ferrier MP between the Scottish Government Ministers/Special Advisors and people external to the Scottish Government between September 14th and October 14th.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 14 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.38(1) s.25 2 attachments
Published
2021-03-26
Reference
FOI/202000118037
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector