Scottish Government FOI Index

21,864releases indexed

39,478attachments found

29.7avg calendar days

8,113partially withheld

2016-06-13oldest in sample

2026-06-12newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,113 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

2026-06 1 2026-05 410 2026-04 312 2026-03 217 2026-02 589 2026-01 479 2025-12 177 2025-11 263

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

21,864 matching releases

Place Based Investment Programme: FOI release

You asked for information concerning the Place Based Investment Programme, specifically: Has Fife Council been awarded funds for the "gap site/city square, High Street, Dunfermline? If so, does the grant/fund carry specific conditions? I.E. what it can be used for. When did Fife Council receive the funding? Do the fun...

FOI unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence contracts

Published: 2025-07-08
Reference: FOI/202500468356
Directorate: Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Directorate
Topic: Building, planning and design, Communities and third sector, Public sector

Statistics on Scottish Government employees who have accessed specific AI website: FOI release

I would like to ask the following: 1. Has the Scottish Government made any record of how many Scottish Government employees have access the following website: ‘https://openai.com/’ 2. If possible, could this be broken down by job title and paygrade?

FOI cost limit 40 score 20 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2025-07-08
Reference: FOI/202500465495
Directorate: Digital Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Meetings on removal of two child benefit cap: FOI release

1. The number of Scottish Government meetings attended by First Minister that were held regarding the removal of two child benefit cap in September 2024, October 2024 and November 2024 2. The number of Scottish Government meetings attended by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice that were held regarding the remova...

FOI unclear 50 score 14 working days correspondence ministers meetings

Published: 2025-07-08
Reference: FOI/202500467617
Directorate: Social Security Directorate
Topic: Children and families, Public sector

ScotRail tickets purchased by Scottish Government: FOI release

How many first class ScotRail train tickets the Scottish Government has bought this 2007? How much money the Scottish Government has spent on first class ScotRail train tickets since 2007?

FOI not held 45 score 18 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)

Published: 2025-07-08
Reference: FOI/202500466785
Directorate: Scottish Procurement and Property Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

Scottish Government wage structure for specific job title: FOI release

1. As of the end of each financial year from 2018-19 to 2023-24, the median, mean, standard deviation, 25th percentile, 75th percentile, and 90th percentile wages of Scottish Government employees whose job title field contains “Head of”. 2. As of the end of each financial year from 2018-19 to 2023-24, the median, mean...

FOI unclear 50 score 16 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2025-07-08
Reference: FOI/202500459053
Directorate: People Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Business Managers employed by the Scottish Government: FOI release

Under the Freedom on information, I am looking to find out how many business managers the Scottish Government has, and how much is spent on these managers per year?

FOI unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2025-07-08
Reference: FOI/202500458737
Directorate: People Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Cost approval for Barlinnie Prison: FOI release

Details of any value-for-money test undertaken prior to ministers approving the contract for the new Barlinnie prison.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers contracts spending s.33(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-08
Reference: FOI/202500458592
Directorate: Justice Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Stobo Woodland Creation scheme: EIR release

1. All communication between Scottish Forestry and the Rural Payments Inspectorate Directorate concerning the site from 28 October 2024 up to the present day. 2. As a claim for payment was made on 15 May 2024 and the standard security was in place 4 July 2024, why was no payment made to the Forestry Carbon Sequestrati...

FOI/EIR not held 70 score 40 working days over deadline correspondence contracts spending s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.6(1) s.10(5) s.11(2) s.9 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-08
Reference: FOI/202500453790
Directorate: Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic: Environment and climate change, Public sector

Salary Bands within Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS): FOI release

Information of FTE salaries within SAAS (excluding NICs, Pension contributions, etc.) starting at £50k per year, and broken down by £5k bands, i.e. £50,000-£55,000, £55,000-£60,000, £60,000-£65,000, etc. for the 2023/24 Financial Year. 1. A breakdown of the number of Student Awards Agency Scotland employees grouped by...

FOI unclear 50 score 25 working days over deadline correspondence

Published: 2025-07-08
Reference: FOI/202500457728
Directorate
Topic: Education, Public sector

Ministerial correspondence, staffing and budget statement for the Offshore Wind Hub in Aberdeen: EIR release

1. All correspondence between Ministers, Special Advisers and Officials relating to the Scottish Government’s proposal to create an Offshore Wind Hub in Aberdeen as announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Local Government in the Scottish Government’s 2025/26 Budget Statement on 4 December 2024. 2. How many st...

FOI/EIR withheld 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.2

Published: 2025-07-08
Reference: FOI/202500458971
Directorate: Marine Directorate
Topic: Marine and fisheries, Public sector

Scottish Government spend on legal fees and court cases: FOI release

The total amount spent on legal fees and court cases over the last five years (2019-20 to 2023-24), and ten years (2014-15-2023-24), broken down by year, as well as a description of the costs (i.e. court case – independence referendum at Supreme Court).

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence spending s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-08
Reference: FOI/202500458502
Directorate: Legal Services (Solicitor to the Scottish Government)
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Cumulative costs of Scottish Government legal fees from 2020: FOI release

1. In the last five financial years (inclusive of 2024/25), please provide the details of which matters counsel or legal advice was sought for any cumulative cost of legal fees of more than £50,000. 2. This should include live and closed matters, with "matters" taken to be a general description of the action, not the ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence spending s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-08
Reference: FOI/202500458549
Directorate: Legal Services (Solicitor to the Scottish Government)
Topic: Law and order, 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

Annual subsidies of the Gourock to Dunoon route: FOI release

All information held by Transport Scotland which identifies the impact on annual subsidies on the Gourock to Dunoon route following the recent Ministerial announcement re the removal of three return sailings and the cost of Stantec’s CNA Report on the Gourock to Dunoon route.

FOI unclear 50 score 17 working days correspondence ministers spending

Published: 2025-07-07
Reference: FOI/202500461013
Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

Business rates relief for hospitality business information: FOI release

All external correspondence, minutes/notes from meetings, and briefings held about business rates relief for hospitality businesses, between December 1 2024 and December 15 2024.

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

Published: 2025-07-07
Reference: FOI/202500457524
Directorate: Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Code of Practice for Litter and Refuse notifications on Scottish Trunk Road network: EIR release

In Schedule 7 Part 1 of the 4th Generation Term Contract for management and maintenance of the Scottish Trunk Road network, Para 4.34.8 requires -"The Operating Company to notify the local authority in writing, with a copy to the Director, if the standard of cleanliness falls below that required by the Code of Practice...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 5 working days correspondence contracts s.20 s.39(2) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-07
Reference: EIR/202500461021
Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

Project Willow correspondence and information: EIR release

1. All correspondence (including emails, WhatsApps, meeting minutes, etc.) involving the Scottish Government regarding Project Willow and the Project Willow report. 2. All correspondence (including emails, WhatsApps, meeting minutes, etc.) involving the Grangemouth Future Industry Board regarding Project Willow and th...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence meetings whatsapp s.20 s.39(2) s.11(2) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-07
Reference: EIR/202500457610
Directorate: Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic: Energy, Public sector

Circumstances where a local authority can refuse housing: FOI release

Under what circumstances can a local authority refuse housing under any circumstances.

FOI unclear 80 score 18 working days correspondence s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-07
Reference: FOI/202500458308
Directorate: Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic: Housing, Public sector

South of Scotland Enterprise (SoSE) documentation: FOI Review

Original request 202500454174 Grant Award Information: Could you clarify what information the Sponsor Team and the Scottish Government (SG) received from SOSE regarding the £200,000 grant award to Laggan Outdoor Ltd? I would appreciate sight of the relevant documents and audit trail. Meeting Papers: Please provide acc...

FOI clarification 80 score 16 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.30 s.33(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-07
Reference: FOI/202500458697 Review of 202500454174
Directorate: Economic Development Directorate
Topic: Economy, Public sector

Blue Badge statistics: FOI release

The numbers of Blue Badges held in Scotland, how many applications were submitted, and how many were granted and refused each year between January 2020 and December last year. If you could also confirm the stats for the above between the start of January and the end of March this year it would be much appreciated.

FOI unclear 55 score 19 working days correspondence s.25(1)

Published: 2025-07-07
Reference: FOI/202500458187
Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

European Parliament correspondence: FOI release

All correspondence sent between the Scottish Government and MEPs or European Parliament officials and minutes/notes from any meetings between the Scottish Government and MEPs, from the previous 30 days (from 19 March 2025).

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence meetings s.38(1) s.38 s.32 s.27(1) s.27 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-07
Reference: FOI/202500458169
Directorate: EU Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

First Minister visit to St Fergus Gas Terminal documentation: EIR release

On 22/7/24 John Swinney MSP, First Minister, and Jack Middleton, Special Adviser met with Storegga Limited to visit the St Fergus gas terminal and undertake press work. Source: https://www.lobbying.scot/SPS/InformationReturn/SearchInformationReturnDetail/56630 https://www.gov.scot/news/fast-tracking-scotlands-energy-...

FOI/EIR released 100 score 14 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.6(1) s.11(2) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-07
Reference: EIR/202500459263
Directorate: Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic: Energy, Public sector

Constitutional role of Scottish Government in the operation of the Lord Lieutenants in Scotland: FOI release

The Scotland Act 1998 does not cover the operation of Lord-Lieutenants. They are directly responsible to the Monarch. Therefore, without a constitutional role why is the Scottish Government involved at all in the activities of the Lord-Lieutenants?

FOI unclear 50 score 14 working days correspondence ministers

Published: 2025-07-07
Reference: FOI/202500459160
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Training materials for the application of Freedom Of Information (Scotland) Act exemptions: FOI release

Copies of all materials intended to train or otherwise direct Scottish Government employees tasked with drafting FOI/EIR responses how and when to apply exemptions from the FOISA.

FOI already published 80 score 9 working days correspondence spending s.25 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-07
Reference: FOI/202500460007
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Information on the Deputy First Minister's meeting regarding workplace sickness: FOI release

In The Sunday Times on 23rd March 2025, Shirley-Anne Somerville is quoted as follows: “Economic inactivity due to sickness is a problem right across the UK. In certain areas of Scotland that rate is higher than elsewhere. That’s exactly why the Scottish Government’s looking at the reasons behind that. And in fact, Kat...

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

Published: 2025-07-07
Reference: FOI/202500458589
Directorate: Jobs and Wellbeing Economy Directorate
Topic: Economy, Public sector