Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

4,100releases indexed
6,376attachments found
25.6avg calendar days
1,683partially withheld
2025-05-08oldest in sample
2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 1,683 unclear 998 not held 683 released 264 already published 195 cost limit 138 clarification 71 withheld 52 transferred 16

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 1230 s.34(1) 920 s.20 818 s.30 745 s.39(2) 676 s.17(1) 634 s.25(1) 505 s.10(4) 431 s.11(2) 362 s.29(1) 297 s.2 287 s.3 212

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 298 releases · 25.1 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 254 releases · 28.0 avg days Culture and External Affairs Directorate 173 releases · 27.7 avg days Marine Directorate 150 releases · 26.9 avg days Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate 149 releases · 32.6 avg days People Directorate 144 releases · 23.2 avg days Local Government and Housing Directorate 132 releases · 26.4 avg days Safer Communities Directorate 120 releases · 22.6 avg days
Clear
173 matching releases

Memorandum of understanding between the Scottish Government and the Ile-de-France region correspondence: FOI release

Could you supply all documentation held by the government, including correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from meetings, briefings and analysis, about Kate Forbes signing the memorandum of understanding between the Scottish Government and the Ile-de-France region, from the last two month...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence briefings meetings s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-04-01
Reference
FOI/202600502404
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Documentation regarding the First Ministers trip to London to speak at Institute for Government: FOI release

'All briefings written for and minutes/notes from meetings from John Swinney's trip to London on November 19 and any feedback written about it afterwards'

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.32(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-03-30
Reference
FOI/202600501448
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Director for Culture and External Affairs correspondence with Historic Environment Scotland: FOI Review

Original request 202500493275 Emails between Director for Culture and External Affairs Kenneth Hogg and Historic Environment Scotland from the last month.

FOI partially withheld 85 score 20 working days correspondence 2 attachments
Published
2026-03-30
Reference
FOI/202600501171 Review of 202500493275
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Scottish Museum of Empire, Slavery, Colonialism and Migration correspondence: FOI release

I am requesting all correspondence (including emails, meeting minutes, etc.) involving Scottish Government officials or ministers, regarding the new Scottish Museum of Empire, Slavery, Colonialism and Migration, between 1/7/2025 and the present (14/1/2026).

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.38(1) s.30 s.33(1) s.29(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-03-30
Reference
FOI/202600501452
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Historic Environment Scotland requests to meet with the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture: FOI Review

Original request 202500493296 All emails which refer to requests from Dr Hugh Hall (Historic Environment Scotland) to meet with Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture. The Herald reported there were around six requests.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-03-30
Reference
FOI/202600501131 Review of 202500493296
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Minutes of meetings between First Minister and European Union's Ambassador to the United Kingdom: FOI release

1. How many times has John Swinney met Pablo Serrano in the last 12 months, and 2. can you supply all minutes/notes from these meetings, as well as any written feedback from after them?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.30 s.28(1) s.28 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-03-25
Reference
FOI/202600501237
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Ministerial trips: FOI release

You asked for the following details of all foreign travel undertaken by Cabinet Secretary Angus Robertson from 1 January 2023 to 23 December 2025: Dates of travel Destinations Purpose of visit Number of accompanying officials Breakdown of costs including flights (class of travel, cost per person), accommodation (hotel...

FOI released 100 score 34 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.25(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-03-24
Reference
FOI/202500499472
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Meeting with the Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK: FOI release

3. All documentation held from/about John Swinney's meeting with Husam Zomlot on September 1 2025, including minutes/notes from it, briefings ahead of it, correspondence setting it up, and analysis after it, between August 15 2025 and September 31 2025. 4. All documentation held by the Scottish Government, including c...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.28(1) s.32(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.28
Published
2026-03-23
Reference
FOI/202600500632
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, International, Public sector

Cost of the First Minister’s “A Moment of Challenge” speech on 28 January 2026: FOI release

The total cost of the First Minister’s “A Moment of Challenge” speech on 28 January 2026. Broken down by all costs involved – including room hire, catering, equipment, etc. and any briefings prepared by the Scottish Government for this speech.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings spending s.30 2 attachments
Published
2026-03-23
Reference
FOI/202600503834
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

First Minister's visit to Washington DC - Meetings with Lord Peter Mandelson and the attendance to the State Banquet: FOI release

I am writing to make a request for information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. This request concerns First Minister John Swinney's visit to Washington DC between 7-10 September 2025, his interactions with Lord Peter Mandelson (then UK Ambassador to the United States), and any knowledge or discussi...

FOI already published 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.2 s.17 s.25(1) s.28(1) s.32(1) s.38 s.25 s.28 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-03-10
Reference
FOI/202600505175
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

First Minister's visit to Washington DC - Interactions with Lord Peter Mandelson: FOI release

I am writing to make a request for information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. This request concerns First Minister John Swinney's visit to Washington DC between 7-10 September 2025, his interactions with Lord Peter Mandelson (then UK Ambassador to the United States), and any knowledge or discussi...

FOI already published 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.3 s.17 s.25 s.28(1) s.32(1) s.33(1) s.38 s.28 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-03-10
Reference
FOI/202600505179
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Note of a call between the First Minister and Lord Peter Mandelson: FOI release

The minutes and/or notes of any meetings between the First Minister and Lord Peter Mandelson since February 2025 - or the minutes or notes of any meetings that they both attended.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.25 2 attachments
Published
2026-03-10
Reference
FOI/202600505204
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

First Minister and Leader of Sinn Fein meeting documentation: FOI release

All documentation related to the meeting between the First Minister and the Leader of Sinn Fein, Mary Lou McDonald TD, in Dublin on 26 November 2025, including copies of all the briefing material provided to the First Minister in preparation for the meeting.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-02-24
Reference
FOI/202500498329
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Briefing material prepared for the First Minister's meeting with the US Ambassador: FOI release

“Could you supply all briefing material prepared for John Swinney's meeting with the US Ambassador on November 1, as well as any minutes/notes from meetings and any readouts?”.

FOI not held 70 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.17 s.28(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.32(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-02-24
Reference
FOI/202500496710
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Historic Environment Scotland meeting note information: FOI release

This is a follow up request to a previous FOI response. Your ref: 202500492731 The above referenced response includes a document titled “HES Meeting – High Level Note - 24th July 2025”. Please provide a full list of people who were sent this document, naming recipients where possible, and listing job titles where nam...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence meetings whatsapp s.38(1) s.34(1) s.36(2) 2 attachments
Published
2026-02-24
Reference
FOI/202500497374
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture meeting with Swiss Ambassador: FOI release

You asked for a record of the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture's meeting with Dominique Paravicini in October 2025.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-02-23
Reference
FOI/202500496279
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, International, Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture’s visit to Switzerland and Germany: FOI release

Under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I would like to request the following information... 1. all briefing sent to Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Cultures for work holiday to Switzerland in November 2025. 2. all briefing sent to Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Af...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings s.28(1) 4 attachments
Published
2026-02-23
Reference
FOI/202500496305
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, International, Public sector

Details of the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy's visit to COP 30: FOI release

1. A list of individuals the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy and/or her officials met with at COP 30. 2. Any briefings provided to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy ahead of her visit to COP 30. 3. Any correspondence (including emails, letters, phone calls, handwritten notes, WhatsAp...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings whatsapp s.29(1) s.30 s.32 s.33(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-02-18
Reference
FOI/202500494736
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, International, Public sector

Summerhall documentation: FOI release

All documentation held by the Scottish Government, including correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from meetings, briefings, analysis, about Summerhall venue in Edinburgh, between August 1 2025 and October 1 2025.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence briefings meetings s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-02-18
Reference
FOI/202500494599
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom meeting material: FOI release

A copy of the briefing pack for and the minutes from the meeting between the First Minister and Dr Husam Zomlot, Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK, on 22nd September 2025.

FOI not held 70 score 35 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.17 s.28(1) s.32(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-02-18
Reference
FOI/202500491414
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Details of First Minister’s trip to Ireland: FOI release

1. The cost of hosting the St Andrews Day reception at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin in November 2025. Please break this down by all costs involved including venue hire, catering, equipment, and any other costs. 2. A list of people/organisations who attended the St Andrews Day reception at the Guinness Storehouse ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 9 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.2 s.4 s.27(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-02-18
Reference
FOI/202500495817
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Museums Galleries Scotland documentation regarding the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC): FOI release

1. Could you supply all documentation held by the Scottish Government, including correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from meetings, briefings and analysis, about the Scottish Government's target to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, from the last month? 2. Could you supply all d...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence briefings meetings s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-02-18
Reference
FOI/202500494289
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Public sector