Scottish Government FOI Index

8,100releases indexed

12,778attachments found

26.3avg calendar days

3,233partially withheld

2024-04-15oldest in sample

2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 3,233 unclear 2,138 not held 1,271 released 577 already published 335 cost limit 300 clarification 127 withheld 93 transferred 26

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 2197 s.20 1678 s.34(1) 1655 s.39(2) 1422 s.30 1343 s.17(1) 1138 s.25(1) 1033 s.10(4) 875 s.11(2) 707 s.29(1) 577 s.2 501 s.3 379

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 535 releases · 27.5 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 486 releases · 27.5 avg days Population Health Directorate 333 releases · 25.2 avg days Marine Directorate 321 releases · 26.4 avg days Local Government and Housing Directorate 311 releases · 25.6 avg days People Directorate 268 releases · 24.4 avg days Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate 247 releases · 31.4 avg days Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate 221 releases · 24.0 avg days

Clear

240 matching releases

Staffing and costs involved in coordinating work on the Independence Prospectus: FOI release

Please provide the number of staff employed within the Scottish Government’s Constitutional Futures Division who were involved in coordinating work on the independence prospectus and related activity, broken down by headcount and pay grade, at each of the following dates: 31 March 2022 31 March 2023 31 March 2024 31 M...

FOI unclear 55 score 18 working days correspondence ministers spending s.17(1)

Published: 2025-08-27
Reference: FOI/202500475992
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Temporary agency staff spend via Procurement Scotland framework: FOI release

1. The total spend on temporary agency staff (or contingent labour) by the Scottish Government and its executive agencies via the Procurement Scotland framework, for each of the past 2 financial years (or calendar years if more appropriate). 2. A breakdown of spend by department or agency, if available. 3. The names ...

FOI unclear 80 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence meetings contracts spending s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-08-20
Reference: FOI/202500474995
Directorate: People Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Rifle licenses issued in Scotland queries: FOI release

The number of rifle licenses issued in Scotland for the past five years with available data; the calibres of the rifles that were licensed in the same period; and the purpose for which each license was issued for.

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.15 s.25(1) s.17(1)

Published: 2025-08-18
Reference: FOI/202500474054
Directorate: Safer Communities Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Lothian Joint Valuation Board communications: FOI release

Please can you provide the number of and communication between yourselves and the Lothian Joint valuation Board on The number of people retiring from age 55: 2024 2025 Total amount of paid out tax free lump sums: 2024 2025 All pension paid to close eligible dependents: 2024 2025 And please can you provide the numbe...

FOI unclear 55 score 6 working days correspondence ministers s.17(1)

Published: 2025-08-13
Reference: FOI/202500476618
Directorate: Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Benefit fraud statistics: FOI release

Your request for information 1: How many cases of benefit fraud have been reported to Social Security Scotland in the past five financial years? (Broken down by 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25). Your request for information 2: Of these cases, how much money did victims lose in total? (Broken down by same y...

FOI unclear 55 score 10 working days correspondence s.25(1) s.17(1)

Published: 2025-08-06
Reference: FOI/202500473083
Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Special Advisers and ChatGPT documentation: FOI release

Any recorded transcripts, logs, outputs, or other documentation of interactions between Scottish Government Special Advisers and ChatGPT or any other large language model (LLM) from January 1, 2025, to June 18, 2025. This includes any saved chats, screenshots, exported files, or other relevant records held by the Scot...

FOI unclear 80 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-08-06
Reference: FOI/202500471620
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Scottish Government building renovations: FOI release

Please provide the total amount that the Scottish Government has spent on renovations and interior decorations to the offices of Scottish Ministers in St Andrews House, Victoria Quay, and Atlantic Quay, broken down into a table to list the offices of each minister and to cover every financial year from 2021-22 to date.

FOI unclear 55 score 17 working days correspondence ministers spending s.17 s.17(1)

Published: 2025-08-05
Reference: FOI/202500461363
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Building, planning and design, Public sector

Child Winter Heating Payment statistics: FOI release

The following information as for winter 2024-25, winter 2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22, 2020-21 - broken down by each winter (do not provide them in aggregate - provide each point broken down by winter): Request for information 1: Number of clients who received Child Winter Heating Payments (CWHP) for 2 children. Request ...

FOI unclear 80 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-08-04
Reference: FOI/202500468826
Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Long form and short form inspections data: FOI release

The number of long form and short form inspections conducted by HMiE Scotland since 1 Jan 2021. Included in the breakdown I request the following data: The quality indicators assessed for each inspection. What the assessment was against the 6 point scale laid down in Appendix 3 of “How good is our school?” 4th editio...

FOI unclear 80 score 17 working days correspondence s.17(1) 8 attachments

Published: 2025-08-04
Reference: FOI/202500469951
Directorate
Topic: Education, Public sector

Money lost to fraud and error due to the Covid pandemic: FOI release

How much money has the Scottish Government lost to fraud and error due to the Covid pandemic since 2020, and a breakdown of this?

FOI unclear 80 score 13 working days correspondence ministers spending s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-31
Reference: FOI/202500469229
Directorate: Business and Better Regulation Directorate
Topic: Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

Late Pension-Age Winter Heating Payments data: FOI release

Request for Information 1: The number of Late Pension-Age Winter Heating Payments that were paid in November 2024, December 2024, January 2025, February 2025, March 2025, April 2025 and May 2025 to date. Request for Information 2: The number of Late Pension-Age Winter Heating Payments that have yet to be paid. Reques...

FOI unclear 55 score 13 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)

Published: 2025-07-23
Reference: FOI/202500466086
Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Refugee numbers and funding support: FOI release

You asked: Under FOI, please can you advise the following information: How many refugees has Scotland taken in annually in 2024, 2023 and 2022? What are the top 5 most common countries where refugees have left from when entering Scotland? How much money has the Scottish Government provided to support refugees in 2024...

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence spending s.17(1)

Published: 2025-07-22
Reference: FOI/202500463390
Directorate: Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate
Topic: Equality and rights, Public sector

Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a Woman: FOI release

The total costs incurred by The Scottish Government in relation to other development, promotion, and subsequent defence of policies or legal positions involving the definition of the term ‘women’ - particularly where it concerns the gender identity alongside, or in place of biological sex. Please include: 1. Legal co...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.3 s.17(1)

Published: 2025-07-21
Reference: FOI/202500462238
Directorate: Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate
Topic: Equality and rights, Public sector

For Women Scotland versus Scottish Government legal case information: FOI release

How much has the Scottish Government spent defending the For Women Scotland v Scottish Government legal case, which concluded on April 16. If possible, please may I have a break down of costs: For example, £x on hotel accommodation, £y on legal fees, £z on travel? How many Scottish Government staff have been involved i...

FOI unclear 55 score 19 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)

Published: 2025-07-21
Reference: FOI/202500462387
Directorate: Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate
Topic: Equality and rights, Public sector

Scottish Government Media Monitoring Unit annual outturn: FOI release

Please provide, from 2016-17 to present, the Scottish Government’s annual outturn on its Media Monitoring Unit. For years where you do not have outturn figures, please indicate this, and provide estimates and/or budgeted spend. If this unit has a budget for 2025-26, please provide this. Please break down these outturn ...

FOI unclear 80 score 27 working days over deadline correspondence ministers contracts spending s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-17
Reference: FOI/202500460129
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Minister for Public Health and Women's Health's diary engagements: FOI release

1. A copy of the diary for the Minister for Public Health and Women's Health, Jenni Minto MSP, for Monday 28th April 2025, including but not limited to all meetings, engagements and any other commitments. 2. How much time Ms Minto spent at 'Holyrood Dog of the Year 2025' on Monday 28th April 2025, including travel tim...

FOI unclear 55 score 6 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.2 s.17(1)

Published: 2025-07-17
Reference: FOI/202500463649
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Cataract surgery waiting lists: FOI release

Under the Freedom of Information act I would like you to find out how many people of all ages are currently on the waiting list for cataract surgery in Scotland and why a 20 min operation per eye is taking 2 years to preform?

FOI unclear 55 score 15 working days correspondence meetings s.17(1)

Published: 2025-07-14
Reference: FOI/202500460623
Directorate: Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector

Adult Disability Payment (ADP) queries: FOI release

Request for information 1: Number of ADHD applicant(s) whom where authorised mandatory decision by adult disability payment decision maker. Request for information 2: Number of applicants whom have applied for adult disability with minor health problem(s) Such as... Anxiety depression etc Request for information 3: How...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.17(1) s.25(1)

Published: 2025-07-10
Reference: FOI/202500459274
Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector

Scottish Government staff salary information: FOI release

Scottish Government employees Pay increases Inc if pay progression is in place and continuing financial year beg April 2025 including an approx overall % pay rise equivalent across all standard grades and also separately for senior (heads of departments).

FOI unclear 55 score 8 working days correspondence s.17(1)

Published: 2025-07-08
Reference: FOI/202500461155
Directorate: People Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Social security benefit appointee information: FOI release

Request for Information 1: How many people who had their social security benefits moved from DWP to the Scottish Government had an appointee? Request for Information 2: Of the appointees that these people had how many have been checked by the Scottish Government to see if they are right? Request for Information 3: Of...

FOI unclear 55 score 19 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)

Published: 2025-07-08
Reference: FOI/202500458636
Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Loan from the sale of Lundin Links Hotel: FOI release

Information in relation to the Lundin Links Hotel site: 1. Now that the site has been sold, has the loan from the Scottish Government been repaid? If so, has it been repaid in full? 2. How much did the loan from the Scottish Government cost the taxpayer?

FOI unclear 55 score 16 working days correspondence ministers spending s.17(1)

Published: 2025-07-08
Reference: FOI/202500459917
Directorate: Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Percentage of school pupils gaining 5 and above awards at SCQF Level 6: FOI release

The percentage of school pupils gaining 5 and above awards at SCQF Level 6 and above in the Academic Year 2023-24, for all previous available years obtained under FOI.

FOI unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-07
Reference: FOI/202500462753
Directorate: Learning Directorate
Topic: Education, Public sector

Data on consultants hired to help administer agricultural support payments: FOI release

In terms external consultants that have been hired by the Scottish Government to help administer agricultural support payments could you outline: 1. The total number of consultants that have been involved since 2016? 2. Could you list the duties or functions carried out by the consultants since 2016? 3. Could you sh...

FOI unclear 55 score 14 working days correspondence ministers spending s.2 s.17(1)

Published: 2025-07-07
Reference: FOI/202500459422
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural, Money and tax, Public sector

Policy Officer spend across Scottish Government units: FOI release

By financial year from 2018-19 to present, expense on employing Policy Officers broken down by Scottish Government unit. By end of financial year from 2018-19 to present, number of Policy Officers employed by the Scottish Government, broken down by Directorate, Division, Branch, and Unit.

FOI unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence spending s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-01
Reference: FOI/202500459093
Directorate: People Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Student Awards Agency Scotland recruitment policy and procedure: FOI release

Do you have a recruitment policy which relates to permanent and short term contracts for those employed by SAS? Specifically, how are positions advertised, who oversees the recruitment process and how are candidates assessed? Are family members of senior management, including Board members, prohibited from employment ...

FOI unclear 55 score 17 working days correspondence contracts s.17(1)

Published: 2025-06-30
Reference: FOI/202500457723
Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector