Scottish Government FOI Index

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

1,334 matching releases

Posts on Viva Engage relating to the Victoria Quay Nursery: FOI release

1. ALL posts on Viva Engage from the past six months which relate to the VICTORIA QUAY NURSERY 2. ALL comments under those posts

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-01-26
Reference: FOI/202500490390
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Posts on Viva Engage which relate to 2025 - 2026 Pay Awards: FOI release

1. ALL posts on Viva Engage from the past six months which relate to 2025 2026 PAY AWARD 2. ALL comments under those posts

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-01-26
Reference: FOI/202500490409
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Freedom of Information (FOI) requests refused under Section 12 statistics: FOI release

Could you supply the number of FOI requests wholly or partially refused under Section 12 of FOISA for financial years 2020/2021 to 2024/2025, broken down by year.

FOI unclear 55 score 12 working days correspondence s.12

Published: 2026-01-21
Reference: FOI/202500490553
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Cost of raising of Palestinian flag on Scottish Government buildings: FOI relase

I requested to know who ordered the flag to be flown, especially with anniversary of 7th October pogrom fast approaching. What was the cost of the flag and where was it purchased from and from which funds or budget? Was any risk assessment performed to ascertain whether the flag could damage Scotland’s reputation, up...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.33(1) s.30 s.36(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-01-21
Reference: FOI/202500484830
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

Diary events for Minister for Parliamentary Business on 18th September 2025: FOI release

The reasons for Jamie Hepburn MSP’s non-attendance at First Minister’s Questions on 18 September 2025. Please provide details of any meetings, events, or other commitments scheduled during that period. Whether Jamie Hepburn MSP was present in the Scottish Parliament at any point on 18 September 2025, and whether he was...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.17(1) s.27(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-01-21
Reference: FOI/202500485183
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Meetings held between Scottish Government ministers and the Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP): FOI release

1. All correspondence between Scottish Government Ministers and their special advisers and Keith Brown MSP. This should include all email correspondence with and from his MSP email, SNP email and any other email accounts used by Keith Brown since 6 May 2025. 2. All meetings (including virtual) Keith Brown MSP has atte...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings spending s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.12 s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-01-20
Reference: FOI/202500487575
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture air travel details: FOI release

How many miles Angus Robertson has travelled by air since returning from Berlin on 06/05/2024, broken down by each individual trip.

FOI unclear 50 score 16 working days correspondence ministers

Published: 2026-01-20
Reference: FOI/202500488757
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

Correspondence regarding editing First Minister’s media release after publication: FOI release

This request relates to the following news release: https://www.gov.scot/news/challenging-poverty-with-family-friendly-policies/ When first published on 6th October 2025, the above news release included the following statement: The cost-of-living guarantee: Lower income tax than in the rest of the UK for the majori...

FOI partially withheld 85 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending whatsapp 2 attachments

Published: 2026-01-20
Reference: FOI/202500488097
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Children and families, Public sector

Social Media influencers used by Scottish Government in marketing campaigns 2021 – 2025: FOI release

Following Parliamentary Question S6W-40553 for payments to social media influencers and who they are.

FOI partially withheld 60 score 14 working days correspondence contracts spending

Published: 2026-01-20
Reference: FOI/202500489381
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

List of all job titles in the Honours and Protocols Team: FOI review

Original request 202500484832 1. The list of all job titles in the Honours and Protocols Team 2. The current management structure (organogram or similar) of the ‘Honours and Protocols Team’, no staff personal names are required however job titles would be appreciated 3. Current job descriptions of those roles in the...

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

Published: 2026-01-20
Reference: FOI/202500488756 Review of 202500484832
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

British Business Awards dinner information: FOI release

1) The full guest list of the event attended by the Deputy First Minister on 18 June 2025 with Anas Sarwar and Lord Haughey. 2) Whether any Scottish Government officials accompanied the Deputy First Minister at this dinner. Please also provide any notes or minutes held by the Scottish Government that documented what h...

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

Published: 2026-01-19
Reference: FOI/202500486908
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

Ministerial and Special Adviser private office structure: FOI release

For each of the following: Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs’ Private Office Minister for Victims and Community Safety’s Private Office Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans’ Private Office Special Advisers’ (SpAds) Private Office Please provide: A breakdown of all posts/roles within each off...

FOI partially withheld 85 score 7 working days correspondence ministers special advisers 2 attachments

Published: 2026-01-19
Reference: FOI/202500490036
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Correspondence sent or received by the Housing Secretary: FOI release

Please provide the following information between the dates of 11th June and 14th June 2025: All correspondence (including emails, letters, phone calls, handwritten notes, WhatsApp messages or any other documents) sent or received by the Housing Secretary. All information should include, but not be limited to, a detail...

FOI partially withheld 85 score 94 working days over deadline correspondence whatsapp 4 attachments

Published: 2026-01-19
Reference: FOI/202500472618
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Housing, Public sector

Raising of the Palestinian flag outside St Andrew’s House: FOI release

This should be treated as a single request and not aggregated with others. Please supply all items of information held by the Scottish Government related to the decision to raise the Palestinian flag outside St Andrew's House on 3 September 2025. https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/searc...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.30 s.36(1) s.33(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2026-01-14
Reference: FOI/202500484291
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Building, planning and design, Public sector

List of all job titles in the Honours and Protocols Team: FOI release

1. The list of all job titles in the Honours and Protocols Team 2. The current management structure (organogram or similar) of the ‘Honours and Protocols Team’, no staff personal names are required however job titles would be appreciated 3. Current job descriptions of those roles in the Honours and Protocols Team, ex...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-01-14
Reference: FOI/202500484832
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Government social media subscriptions and advertising spend: FOI release

You asked how much money has the Scottish Government spent on i) advertising and ii) subscriptions, upgrades or memberships for the following social media platforms: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Tik Tok, Instagram, LinkedIn And could this be broken down by the following financial years: 2024/25, 2023/24, 2022/23

FOI unclear 50 score 16 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2026-01-14
Reference: FOI/202500487900
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Special adviser expenses: FOI release

The details of the special adviser expenses that were published by the Scottish Government here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/special-advisers-gifts-hospitality-media-meetings-and-expenses-april-june-2025/ By details, I mean what accommodation was booked, where the accommodation was, what iExpenses refers to and ...

FOI unclear 50 score 16 working days correspondence special advisers meetings spending

Published: 2026-01-13
Reference: FOI/202500486812
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Communications regarding members of the Scottish Parliament: FOI release

1) Any communications - including texts, WhatsApps, emails, Teams messages, or any other sort of written communications - from Wednesday September 17 to Wednesday September 24 on the topic of Jamie Hepburn. 2) Any communications - including texts, WhatsApps, emails, Teams messages, or any other sort of written communi...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-01-13
Reference: FOI/202500486016
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Cabinet sub-committees meeting dates: FOI release

You asked for the dates of the last three meetings of each of the following Cabinet sub-committees: Legislation Local Government New Deal Climate Emergency The Promise Child Poverty Investment and Economy

FOI unclear 50 score 16 working days correspondence meetings

Published: 2026-01-13
Reference: FOi/202500487352
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Correspondence relating to Scottish Ministers attending events involving the King or the Royal Family: FOI release

“Please provide any correspondence, internal notes, or briefing material discussing decisions by Scottish Ministers on whether to attend or not attend events involving the King or Royal Family since 2024.”

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

Published: 2026-01-13
Reference: FOI/202500486398
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Independence papers advertising spend: FOI release

Details of how much money has been spent by the Scottish Government on advertising their Papers on Independence, broken down per platform.

FOI unclear 50 score 4 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2026-01-12
Reference: FOI/202500487075
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Scottish Government's Your Right to Decide research paper digital advertising costs: FOI release

The cost of digital advertising promoting the Scottish Government's Your Right to Decide research paper on online platforms (including but not limited to LinkedIn, Meta, Google).

FOI unclear 50 score 2 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2026-01-12
Reference: FOI/202500488760
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Government spend on social media advertising to promote “Your Right to Decide": FOI release

How much the Scottish Government spent on social media advertising to promote the constitutional paper published on 4 September 2025 entitled “Your Right to Decide” and asked that costs were broken down by spending on different social media platforms. You also asked for details on any other spending on advertising/mark...

FOI unclear 50 score 3 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2026-01-12
Reference: FOI/202500485197
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

Advertising costs from the last 5 years on STV North: FOI release

How much a) the Scottish Government, and b) Scottish Government Executive Agencies, have spent in each of the last five financial years - a) 2024-2025, b) 2023-2024, c) 2022-2023, d) 2021-2022, and e) 2020-2021 - on advertising with STV North [described by STV Commercial as North (Aberdeen and Dundee)].

FOI withheld 55 score 6 working days correspondence contracts spending s.33 s.33(1) s.17(1)

Published: 2026-01-08
Reference: FOI/202500487213
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

Permission to seek nomination as Aberdeen Central candidate for the 2026 election correspondence: FOI release

All internal correspondence (including by direct messaging application) and notes of phone calls or meetings (in person or virtual) discussing Jack Middleton’s request for permission to seek the nomination to become the SNP’s candidate in Aberdeen Central at the 2026 election for the Scottish Parliament.

FOI partially withheld 85 score 20 working days correspondence meetings whatsapp 2 attachments

Published: 2026-01-07
Reference: FOI/202500484041
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector