Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

21,792releases indexed
39,278attachments found
29.7avg calendar days
8,073partially withheld
2016-06-13oldest in sample
2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,073 unclear 7,195 not held 3,052 released 1,533 already published 668 cost limit 605 clarification 348 withheld 241 transferred 77

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4905 s.20 4252 s.34(1) 3567 s.39(2) 3455 s.30 2866 s.17(1) 2763 s.25(1) 2372 s.10(4) 1971 s.11(2) 1559 s.29(1) 1168 s.2 1152 s.3 903

Timeline

2026-05 339 2026-04 312 2026-03 217 2026-02 589 2026-01 479 2025-12 177 2025-11 263 2025-10 217

Directorate Profiles

Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate 1,275 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 961 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 919 releases · 31.1 avg days Learning Directorate 859 releases · 34.4 avg days Economic Development Directorate 725 releases · 40.0 avg days Constitution Directorate 685 releases · 36.1 avg days Population Health Directorate 645 releases · 28.7 avg days People Directorate 631 releases · 25.8 avg days
Clear
198 matching releases

The Annual Budget allocated to the Scottish Government Minister for independence: FOI release

The Annual Budget allocated to the Scottish Government Minister for independence. The number of civil servants that are accountable to the Scottish Government Minister for independence. A list of all meetings the Scottish Government Minister for independence has held to date with individuals and or organisations extern...

FOI unclear 55 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.17(1)
Published
2024-08-22
Reference
FOI/202300355396
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Independence of Scotland from the UK correspondence: FOI release

I write requesting the information under the Freedom of Information Scotland Act (“FOISA”): 1. All letters from the First Minister to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom which regards independence of Scotland from the UK. 2. The responses to the letters from the PM. To narrow down my request this should be from...

FOI unclear 50 score 12 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2024-07-10
Reference
FOI/202400411864
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Translations and consultations costs for the proposed Scots Languages Bill: FOI release

I am requesting the following information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and any other relevant pieces of legislation: What organisation(s) were used for any translations of the consultation for the proposed Scots Languages Bill. What organisation(s) were used for any translations of the "Buildin...

FOI unclear 55 score 19 working days correspondence contracts spending s.17(1) s.25(1)
Published
2024-04-30
Reference
FOI/202400406725
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Civil servants working to develop the proposed independence: FOI release

Can I please request the following information: The number of civil servants currently working to develop the proposed independence prospectus. The pay grade of each staff member.

FOI unclear 55 score 18 working days correspondence s.17(1)
Published
2024-04-23
Reference
FOI/202400406545
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

State Pension Payments: FOI release

Since 5th May 2011, has the Scottish Government ever sought legal advice on who would be legally responsible for paying the state pension in an independent Scotland? In other words: has advice been sought on the question of whether a continuing UK Government would have a legal obligation to pay the state pension to peo...

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence spending
Published
2024-04-08
Reference
FOI/202400403372
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Building a new Scotland, Public sector

Building a New Scotland prospectus papers fiscal sustainability: FOI release

“In the course of preparing the Building a New Scotland series of independence papers, has the Scottish Government considered the affordability of the state pension (in the context of fiscal sustainability) in an independent Scotland? I don’t expect you to send me that work. I just want to know if it exists”.

FOI unclear 50 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence
Published
2024-02-26
Reference
FOI/202300390041
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Prospectus for Independence meeting at Bute House: FoI release

On 30th May 2022, a meeting was held at Bute House which was described as “a focused policy discussion about fiscal policy to test in detail the propositions in this area which are to be addressed in the updated prospectus for independence.” Please provide a list of all persons who attended this meeting. For those who ...

FOI unclear 75 score 20 working days correspondence meetings 2 attachments
Published
2024-02-22
Reference
FOI/202300373210
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Cost of "Building a New Scotland" Project: FOI release

I would like to submit an FOI request with regards to the series of 9 papers published by the Scottish Government titled "Building a New Scotland". Specifically, I would like to know the following: 1. How much did the project (e.g. commission, research and publication of the 9 papers) cost in total, and how long did i...

FOI unclear 55 score 17 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.17(1)
Published
2024-02-19
Reference
FOI/202400391532
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Non-Scottish Government individual consulted for input for Request Building a New Scotland paper: FOI release

The names of any non-Scottish Government individual consulted for advice or input for the Scottish Government's 'Building a New Scotland - A stronger economy with independence' paper. This should include but not be limited to any non-staff individual involved in a Scottish Government economic advisory board, committee,...

FOI unclear 50 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings
Published
2024-01-30
Reference
202200325598
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Independence prospectus staffing structure: FOI release

The number of civil servants currently working to develop the proposed independence prospectus. The pay grade of each staff member.

FOI unclear 55 score 12 working days correspondence s.17(1)
Published
2023-12-17
Reference
202300358409
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Number of civil servants who worked on the 'A stronger economy with independence' paper: FOI release

The number of civil servants who worked on the A stronger economy with independence paper from the Scottish Government. The total number of printed copies of this paper were made in total. If you can’t give me the overall total number of printed copies of the paper, can I please have the number of printed copies of t...

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence spending s.17(1)
Published
2023-12-17
Reference
202300358659
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Scottish Government position on pensions in an independent Scotland: FOI release

On 5/10/2022 Mr Ivan McKee attended a Lang Cat live event as a Scottish Government Minister. https://twitter.com/langcatlocke/status/1577684949183987716?s=46&t=FyUQtXuk-0za7QChYxvs9A At this event the Minister agreed that the SNP position was that Scottish Government pensions after independence would be funded by UK ...

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2023-12-16
Reference
202200323769
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence with Philip Whyte of the Institute for Public Policy Research: FOI release

Any correspondence, meeting minutes, briefings or notes, between the Scottish Government and Philip Whyte of the Institute for Public Policy Research, relating to their input in the Scottish Government's 'Building a New Scotland - A stronger economy with independence' paper, as referenced in the FOI response reference ...

FOI unclear 75 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence briefings meetings 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-16
Reference
202200331364
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence with Ewan Hunter relating to their input in the Scottish Government's 'Building a New Scotland - A stronger economy with independence' paper: FOI release

Any correspondence, meeting minutes, briefings or notes, between the Scottish Government and Ewan Hunter of the The Hunter Foundation, relating to their input in the Scottish Government's 'Building a New Scotland - A stronger economy with independence' paper, as referenced in the FOI response reference 202200325598.

FOI unclear 75 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence briefings meetings 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-16
Reference
202200331371
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Building a new Scotland marketing video: FOI release

My FOI request concerns the video which was published on the @scotgov Twitter account on Friday 28 October 2022 at 5pm, here: twitter.com/scotgov/status/1586025147785527307 and it relates also to the Scottish Government department behind the creation of this video. The video references a written and video project call...

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence spending s.17(1)
Published
2023-12-16
Reference
202200328753
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Discussions of independence referendum and the Supreme Court in cabinet meetings: FOI release

On how many occasions in (i) The calendar year 2022 (ii) the financial year 2022 2023 has the Scottish Government Cabinet discussed another independence referendum at meetings of the Cabinet? On how many occasions did the Cabinet discuss the Supreme Court at meetings of the Cabinet?

FOI unclear 50 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence meetings
Published
2023-12-08
Reference
202200330040
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Currency meeting regarding updated prospectus for independence: FOI release

In May 2022, a meeting was scheduled to be held at Bute House which was described as “a focused policy discussion about currency to test in detail the propositions in this area which are to be addressed in the updated prospectus for independence.” The meeting was originally scheduled for 9th May 2022 but appears to ha...

FOI unclear 75 score 19 working days correspondence meetings 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-05
Reference
FOI/202300373215
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

David Lonsdale and Ewan MacDonald-Russell of the Scottish Retail Consortium, relating to their input in Building a New Scotland: FOI release

Any correspondence, meeting minutes, briefings or notes, between the Scottish Government and David Lonsdale and Ewan MacDonald-Russell of the Scottish Retail Consortium, relating to their input in the Scottish Government's 'Building a New Scotland - A stronger economy with independence' paper, as referenced in the FOI ...

FOI unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence briefings meetings s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-28
Reference
202200331354
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Contracts issued to print material for Independence: FOI release

Contracts that were issued to print any material for Independence but now cancelled. Was any payments made to companies in advance of printing any material, if so what was the cost.

FOI unclear 50 score 11 working days correspondence contracts spending
Published
2023-11-28
Reference
202300338284
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Civil servants working on Independence in the modern world paper: FOI release

Can I please request the following information: The number of civil servants who worked on the Renewing Democracy through Independence paper from the Scottish Government. The total number of printed copies of this paper were made in total. If you can’t give me the overall total number of printed copies of the paper,...

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence spending s.17(1)
Published
2023-11-23
Reference
202300358658
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Staffing numbers for Draft Independence Referendum Bill: FOI release

"The Scottish Government published the Draft Independence Referendum Bill on 22 March 2021: The total cost of this to date. Not including the consultation. The number of civil servants that worked on this at the time and their pay grades."

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.25(1)
Published
2023-11-23
Reference
FOI/202300376995
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Cost of preparing Building a New Scotland publication: FOI release

1. How much money was spent on writing and developing the Building a New Scotland- A stronger economy with independence prospectus? Breakdown of these costs. 2. How much money was spent on writing and developing the second independence and first independence prospectuses in the series and breakdown of these costs? 3....

FOI unclear 55 score 26 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings contracts spending s.2 s.17(1)
Published
2023-11-14
Reference
202200325194
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Legal advice provided regarding independence referendum: FOI release

Please provide me with the legislative advice and reference provided to the Scottish Government and First Minister relating to the proposed Independence Referendum as referred to by the Information Commissioner in recent media.

FOI unclear 75 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-10
Reference
202200299367
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Number of civil servants working on independence prospectus: FOI release

The number of civil servants currently working to develop the proposed independence prospectus. The pay grade of each staff member.

FOI unclear 55 score 12 working days correspondence s.17(1)
Published
2023-11-09
Reference
202300358409
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector