Scottish Government FOI Index

21,863releases indexed

39,476attachments found

29.7avg calendar days

8,112partially withheld

2016-06-13oldest in sample

2026-05-20newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,112 unclear 7,200 not held 3,069 released 1,537 already published 671 cost limit 607 clarification 349 withheld 241 transferred 77

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4931 s.20 4280 s.34(1) 3589 s.39(2) 3481 s.30 2878 s.17(1) 2774 s.25(1) 2381 s.10(4) 1987 s.11(2) 1571 s.29(1) 1175 s.2 1158 s.3 908

Timeline

2026-05 410 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 1,279 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 967 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 923 releases · 31.0 avg days Learning Directorate 861 releases · 34.4 avg days Economic Development Directorate 729 releases · 39.9 avg days Constitution Directorate 685 releases · 36.1 avg days Population Health Directorate 645 releases · 28.7 avg days People Directorate 633 releases · 25.8 avg days

Clear

2,156 matching releases

Council tax correspondence: FOI release

1. Could you supply all correspondence and minutes/notes of meetings between the Scottish Government and councils about council tax in the last two months? 2. Could you supply all documentation held by the Scottish Government about the cost of holding the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2026, including correspondence...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.38(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.36(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-04-09
Reference: FOI/202500453158
Directorate: Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Commonwealth Games cost documentation: FOI release

All documentation held by the Scottish Government about the cost of holding the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2026, including correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from meetings, briefings and analysis, from the last three months.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.29(1) s.30 s.33(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-04-09
Reference: FOI/202500453159
Directorate
Topic: Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Documentation regarding Scots heading to England to buy cheaper alcohol: FOI release

All documentation held by the Scottish Government, including correspondence sent/received and internally, briefings, analysis, minutes/notes from meetings, about Scots heading into England to buy cheaper alcohol, between September 1 2024 and the date of this FOI.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 28 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.38 s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2025-04-09
Reference: FOI/202500451644
Directorate: Population Health Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector

Details of First Minister's meeting with the Speaker of Lok Sabha, India: FOI release

Your request relates to the meeting between John Swinney, the First Minister of Scotland and Om Birla, Speaker of Lok Sabha, India on 8 January 2025. In your request you specifically asked for the following: - A full list of attendees, including the full names and titles of each attendee, as well as who each attendee ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.30 s.32(1) s.33(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.27(1) s.3 s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-04-09
Reference: FOI/202500453156
Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

Playfair library speech documentation: FOI release

All documentation held by the Scottish Government about John Swinney's speech at Playfair Library on January 6, including correspondence sent about it, briefings and analysis, along with reviews of how it went, from between December 15 2024 and the date of this FOI.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.38(1) s.30 s.38 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-28
Reference: FOI/202500452710
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Chief Executive of Social Security Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice correspondence: FOI release

1. All correspondence between Shirley-Anne Sommerville and David Wallace – Chief Executive of Social Security Scotland since July 2024. 2. All correspondence between Shirley-Anne Sommerville and David Wallace – Chief Executive of Social Security Scotland mention the “the two child cap” since July 2024.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 10 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.30 s.34(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-28
Reference: FOI/202500455135
Directorate: Social Security Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Briefing notes for the First Minister's Orkney visit: FOI release

Copies of all briefing notes created for the First Minister and his staff for their visit to Orkney on February 10-11, 2025. This included requests for all appendices, annexes, and attachments. You also requested all agendas and briefing notes (handwritten or typed) from meetings Mr Swinney and his staff attended duri...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.30 s.33 s.38 s.29 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-27
Reference: FOI/202500452457
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Green Volt Project correspondence: FOI release

1) Which Special Advisers or Ministers signed off or approved the Environmental Information Response and the attachments to the response which was given the reference number 202400434817? 2) The full email threads which discussed the initial draft freedom of information/environmental information response and attachmen...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.17(1) s.15 s.38 s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-26
Reference: FOI/202500450751
Directorate: Marine Directorate
Topic: Energy, Marine and fisheries, Public sector

Cyber attacks against the Scottish Government information: FOI release

An updated breakdown of the number of cyber attacks against the Scottish Government and its agencies in each of the past five years, as well as the names of which organisations were affected by these incidents.

FOI partially withheld 65 score 39 working days over deadline correspondence s.30

Published: 2025-03-26
Reference: FOI/202500450879
Directorate: Safer Communities Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Documentation regarding the Cass report: FOI release

Could you supply all documentation held by the Scottish Government about Dr Hilary Cass's report on gender identity in your people including correspondence sent and received, briefings, minutes/notes from meetings, analysis, from the last three months? Your request has been interpreted as relating to briefings, minute...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence briefings meetings s.25(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.2A 4 attachments

Published: 2025-03-26
Reference: FOI/202500452272
Directorate: Population Health Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector

CBI Scotland correspondence: FOI release

All correspondence sent and received, briefings, notes/minutes from meetings, between the Scottish Government and CBI Scotland, from the last three months.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-26
Reference: FOI/202500452273
Directorate: Business and Better Regulation Directorate
Topic: Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

Briefing Pack prepared for Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee: FOI release

The briefing pack that was prepared for Fiona Hyslop for her appearance before the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 21 February 2025.

FOI partially withheld 65 score 17 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.25 s.25(1) s.29 s.29(1) s.30

Published: 2025-03-26
Reference: FOI/202500452761
Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

Information regarding the decision not to give the Scottish Information Commissioner legal advice: FOI release

1) Any and all communications, meetings, minutes, records discussing/referencing the decision not to give the Scottish Information Commissioner the legal advice requested from FOI 202300390057 during his investigation that resulted in decision notice 193/2024. 2) Who within the Scottish Government made the decision no...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202500448762
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Information regarding the Ministerial Statement: Legal Advice Relating to Scottish Information Commissioner Decision: FOI Review

Original request 202400445432 1) All briefing notes provided to ministers (e.g. John Swinney, Jamie Hepburn) in preparation of the statement to the Scottish Parliament on the 29th of October: Ministerial Statement: Legal Advice Relating to Scottish Information Commissioner Decision by civil servants, SPADs and anyone ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 2 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings whatsapp s.21(4) s.25 s.38(1) s.36(1) s.30 6 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202500452157 Review of 202400445432
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Scottish Information Commissioner and Freedom of Information Appeal: FOI release

I would like to put in a FOI request for a copy of all the information that was disclosed to the original applicant and the additional information that the Scottish Information Commissioner decided had been wrongly withheld from them. It relates to the following: Decision Notice 083/2024: Communications relating to an...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.30 s.1(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/2024004427156
Directorate: People Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Correspondence between former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and James Hamilton: FOI release

In response to FOI/202100159382 The Scottish Government claimed it did not hold correspondence between Nicola Sturgeon/her office and James Hamilton. Given the recent ruling by the Inner House and the Information Commissioner, it is clear that for the purposes of Freedom of Information, this information is held. In l...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 38 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.30 s.38(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202400438682
Directorate: Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Former Minister for Public Health, Women's Health and Sport WhatsApp messages during the COVID-19 pandemic: FOI Review

Original request (202400395588) I wish to make a Freedom of Information Request for MSP Maree Todds WhatsApp messages from her ministeral role during the COVID-19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 61 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.37(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.36 s.38(1) s.36(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202400405863 Review of 202400395588
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Former Minister for Mental Health's WhatsApp messages during the Covid 19 pandemic: FOI Review

Original request 202400426487 MSP Claire Haughey What's App messages from her ministerial position during the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202400430870 Review of 202400426487
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Director General Scottish Exchequer WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

“Alyson Stafford Director-General Scottish Exchequer What's App messages during the Covid 19 pandemic.”

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.28(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202400427872
Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Deputy Director of Deposit Return Scheme WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

David McPhee's WhatsApp messages from the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence whatsapp s.25(1) s.29 s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202400436401
Directorate: Business and Better Regulation Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public sector

Director General for Net Zero WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

Roy Brannen's Covid 19 WhatsApp messages.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 27 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers whatsapp s.29 s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202400436386
Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Former Minister for Mental Health WhatsApp messages from February 2020 to February 2021: FOI release

1. Requesting Clare Haughey's WhatsApp messages from February 2020 to February 2021.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202400438990
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Mairi McAllan's WhatsApp messages during the Covid-19 pandemic: FOI Review

Original request: 202400435281 You asked for Mairi McAllan's WhatsApp messages from the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 78 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202400436608 Review of 202400435281
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector

First Minister phone call with Taoiseach documentation: FOI release

All documentation held surrounding John Swinney's phone call with Micheal Martin, the Taoiseach, on February 4, including email correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from the call and briefings relating to it.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.30 s.29(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-21
Reference: FOI/202500452337
Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

Anti-Racism Community Engagement Fund information: FOI release

1. The total amount of funding the Scottish Government made available under the Anti-Racism Community Engagement Fund. 2. The total number of events the Anti-Racism Community Engagement Fund supported. 3. A copy of the Event Reporting from each event, as submitted to the Design Advisory Group.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence s.3 s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-19
Reference: FOI/202500451681
Directorate: Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate
Topic: Equality and rights, Public sector