Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

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

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

Clear
2,878 matching releases

Independence spending in the Budget documentation: FOI release

All documentation held by the Scottish Government, including minutes/notes from meetings, correspondence sent and received, briefings, analysis, about independence spending in the Budget, from the last two months.

FOI cost limit 70 score 20 working days correspondence briefings meetings spending s.38(1) s.34(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.30C 2 attachments
Published
2025-04-09
Reference
FOI/202500453343
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Correspondence regarding Horizon Post Office system: FOI release

1. All briefings prepared ahead of Angela Constance's appearance at Holyrood on Tuesday 9 January to discuss the Horizon Post Office scandal? 2. Why did Lord Advocate not speak about Horizon that day? 3. All correspondence between the Scottish Government and the Crown Office/Lord Advocate regarding Horizon between De...

FOI withheld 80 score 34 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.30 s.2 s.38(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-04-08
Reference
FOI/202400393692
Directorate
Justice Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Health care for transgender individuals queries: FOI release

1 - a copy of all equality impact assessments related to any policies or strategies related to or impacting health care for transgender individuals in the last 10 years. If there are not EQIAs available for all these policies, please provide any explanations as to why it was not carried out for any policies that are av...

FOI cost limit 45 score 18 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.12 s.17(1) s.25(1) s.30
Published
2025-03-28
Reference
FOI/202500453110
Directorate
Population Health Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, 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

Correspondence regarding restriction on promotions of food high in fat, salt and sugar: FOI release

All correspondence sent and received and minutes/notes from meetings held by the Scottish Government with supermarkets, shops or trade representatives about restricting promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt, from the last year.

FOI clarification 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.25(1) s.27(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-27
Reference
FOI/202500451984
Directorate
Population Health Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, 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

Legal advice given to the Scottish Government/ministers in reference to The Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Commissioner: FOI release

Within the legal advice published by the Scottish Government on the 26th of October 2024, in response to FOI 202400394394, on page 69 the following passage exists: "Thus REDACTED, request that Mr Hamilton be permitted to engage independent legal advice and charge the costs to the Scottish Government was set out in an ...

FOI cost limit 70 score 36 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.30 s.38(1) s.12 s.17(1) 4 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400438168
Directorate
Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Legal advice in response to Scottish Information Commissioner’s decision 193/2024: FOI release

In regards to FOI 202400445520, the following passage exists within the information released: "For information at this stage, I am attaching a copy of all the legal advice that we will release in response to the Scottish Information Commissioner’s recent decision 193/2024. There are 25 separate documents (named A-Y), ...

FOI already published 80 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1) s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202500448605
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

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

Former Director General of Economy WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

I wish to make a Freedom of Information Request for Liz Ditchburn's Covid 19 WhatsApp messages.

FOI already published 80 score 20 working days correspondence whatsapp s.25 s.30 s.38(1) s.25(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400436411
Directorate
Covid Inquiries Response Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, 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