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
685 matching releases

FOI response times: FOI release

1. The mean, median and maximum response times for an FOI to the Scottish Government over the last 12 months. 2. Over the last 12 months, the mean, median and maximum response time for an FOI to the Scottish Government lodged by an email address with an @parliament.scot domain. 3. Over the last 12 months, the mean, med...

FOI/EIR cost limit 45 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.2 s.20 s.12
Published
2022-11-17
Reference
FOI/202200324644
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence with Mayor of Greater Manchester and local authority: FOI release

Copies of all emails, letters, text and any other communication between the Scottish Government (including the First Minister, her office and all government officials) and Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, his team and that local authority. The time frame would be from the first such communication in 2022 ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.38(1) 6 attachments
Published
2022-11-03
Reference
FOI/202200317066
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Visit of Michelle O'Neill to Bute House and meeting with First Minister: FOI release

On May 20 this year, Michelle O'Neill MLA visited the First Minister at Bute House. https://www.gov.scot/news/first-minister-meets-michelle-oneill-mla/ Please supply all items of information generated by the First Minister, her officials and special advisers in relation to the arranging of this meeting, its conduct and...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-10-19
Reference
FOI/202200312323
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Independence spending 2014 – June 2022: FOI release

Since the SNP have been in power in the Scottish Government how much money have they spent on their pursuit of independence? Departments/staff, the 2014 referendum, opinion polls, and the new campaign started this month. Has this money come from Scottish Government budget or out of the SNP own finances?

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence contracts spending s.17(1) s.25(1)
Published
2022-10-17
Reference
FOI/202200306332
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Civil servants working on the proposed referendum on October: FOI release

How many civil servants and at what cost to the Scottish government will the proposed referendum on 19th October?

FOI released 100 score 6 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-10-05
Reference
FOI/202200315576
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Cost of independence court case so far: FOI release

1. How much has it cost the Scottish Government to take the independence bill to the Supreme court so far? 2. Breakdown of these costs? 3. Any estimation from yourselves about how much the entire Supreme court case will cost the Scottish government by the end of the case?”

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence spending s.27 s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-10-05
Reference
FOI/202200312762
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

External legal advice incurred relating to Referendum: FOI release

1) The cost of all external legal advice incurred by the Scottish Government producing the Lord Advocate’s written case to the Supreme Court on the question of whether a referendum on Scottish independence relates to reserved matters. 2) If possible, the lawyers/firms in receipt of the funds the Scottish Government pro...

FOI already published 80 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.2 s.27 s.25(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-10-05
Reference
FOI/202200312733
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Taxpayers money for independence work: FOI release

How much of the £20million of taxpayers money has been spent to date plus what is the quote for all the legal work you are commissioning for the supreme court hearing?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.17(1) s.27 2 attachments
Published
2022-10-05
Reference
FOI/202200312521
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Information on Independence Papers: FOI release

1. How much did the independence in the modern world papers cost and breakdown of this cost? 2. What design agency did you use to produce this paper and the second paper in the series renewing democracy through independence? 3. How many civil servants worked on the second independence paper renewing democracy through...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence contracts spending s.27(1) s.17(1)
Published
2022-10-04
Reference
FOI/202200312760
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

The number of Cabinet meetings attended by Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater since their appointment as Ministers to the Scottish Government: FOI release

1. The number of Cabinet meetings attended by Patrick Harvie since his appointment as a Minister of the Scottish Government. Please provide the dates and reasons for his attendance. 2. The number of Cabinet meetings attended by Lorna Slater since her appointment as a Minister of the Scottish Government. Please provide...

FOI unclear 50 score 5 working days correspondence ministers meetings
Published
2022-10-03
Reference
FOI/202200316256
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Preparation of independence prospectus papers: FOI release

I would like to request the following information please in relation to the Independence in the Modern wide world white paper along with any other documents produced to coincide with it. I understand 1 Senior official and 19 others worked on the project. Can you provide the following please. 1) The total accumulative a...

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.17(1) s.6
Published
2022-09-27
Reference
FOI/202200311764
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

2022 Census form statistics: FOI release

"Please can you provide me with the following: 1. The number of completed census forms for 2022. 2. The number of outstanding census forms as at this date. 3. The final date for census forms to be returned. 4. The number of fines (if any) issued for non-completion of a census form. 5. The number of these fines which ha...

FOI unclear 55 score 18 working days correspondence s.17(1)
Published
2022-09-27
Reference
FOI/202200314131
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

MSP and Ministerial salary entitlements: FOI release

"The annual figure that N Sturgeon has drawn as her salary from 2008/09 till April 2022. ie has the full salary for her roll been taken and taxed or has she only been paid her 2008/09 salary each year. Also a breakdown of what public Ministers that have "made available £250k" from their pay packet, was it taxed before ...

FOI unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence ministers spending
Published
2022-09-27
Reference
FOI/202200312722
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Money and tax, Public sector

Electoral Services in Scotland nationality choice option: FOI release

"If Electoral Services in Scotland allow the choice of "Scottish", as opposed to British, as an option when registering to vote for elections at all levels".

FOI unclear 50 score 6 working days correspondence
Published
2022-09-22
Reference
FOI/202200317318
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

The ten comparator countries in building a New Scotland: FOI release

On the 14th June 2022 the Scottish Government published the first in a series of papers called ‘Building a New Scotland’. The paper ‘Independence in the Modern World. Wealthier, Happier, Fairer: Why not Scotland?’ is described as setting out ‘a detailed analysis of the UKs performance across a range of economic and soc...

FOI not held 45 score 20 working days correspondence ministers contracts spending s.4 s.5 s.9 s.10 s.11 s.12 s.17(1)
Published
2022-09-05
Reference
FOI/202200311070
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Road worker fatalities or serious injuries on the network: EIR release

A copy of the text of the case filed by the Lord Advocate in relation to the Reference to the Supreme Court made by her on 28 June 2022.

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-08-31
Reference
FOI/202200314022
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

All correspondence regarding the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill: FOI release

The following information: “1) All correspondence (including meetings, emails, text/WhatsApp messages and phone calls) between any of the First Minister (and her office), the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (and his office) and the Lord Advocate (and her office) regarding the Scott...

FOI released 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings spending
Published
2022-08-29
Reference
FOI/202200308439
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Constitutional Futures Division: FOI release

A breakdown of the monthly headcount in the Constitutional Futures Division for each month from July 2020 to July 2022. For each month, please also confirm how many staff were employed in the division at each pay grade level and also what the total wage cost of the division was for each month.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence spending s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-08-25
Reference
FOI/202200311928
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence with Lord Advocate regarding the Supreme Court: FOI release

1) Any correspondence, including meetings, notes, memos, agendas, ministerial briefings and minutes, between the Scottish Government and the office of the Lord Advocate on the topic of the Lord Advocate's reference to the Supreme Court between January 1, 2022 and June 28, 2022. This should include any emails, letters, ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.2 s.36(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.25(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-08-22
Reference
FOI/202200312193
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Renewing Democracy through Independence: FOI release

1) The number of civil servants who worked on the Renewing Democracy through Independence paper from the Scottish Government published today. 2) The number of printed copies of this paper handed out at the launch event on 14 July 2022 and all costs to the Scottish Government associated with this launch event.

FOI unclear 55 score 17 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)
Published
2022-08-16
Reference
FOI/202200311120
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Prospectus for Independence: FOI release

In September 2021, the First Minister announced that Scottish Government civil servants would start work on a detailed prospectus for independence (as reported here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-58478187). On 21st May this year, the First Minister stated: 'we will shortly begin publishing an...

FOI withheld 55 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers contracts spending s.29(1)
Published
2022-08-10
Reference
FOI/202200302125
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Independence referendum and prospectus resources: FOI release

Given the rapidly increasing likely resources now being employed on another independent referendum, please supply me with exact details of that resource and the expected total budget, the Scottish Government is providing for the First Minister's referendum and independence planning, communications and public engagement...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.25(1)
Published
2022-08-02
Reference
FOI/202200308344
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector