Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

22,640releases indexed
40,478attachments found
29.5avg calendar days
8,386partially withheld
2016-06-13oldest in sample
2026-09-02newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,386 unclear 7,405 not held 3,239 released 1,581 already published 700 cost limit 627 clarification 372 withheld 249 transferred 81

Top Exemptions

Timeline

2026-09 1 2026-08 299 2026-07 476 2026-06 1 2026-05 410 2026-04 312 2026-03 217 2026-02 589

Directorate Profiles

Clear
231 matching releases

Consultation Hub response statistics since 2015: FOI release

For each year that the consultation hub (http://consult.scotland.gov.uk) has been operating since October 2015, please provide: 1. The average length of time taken from the closure of a consultation to the publication of responses. 2. The average length of time taken from the closure of a consultation to the publicat...

FOI released 75 score 20 working days correspondence s.2 s.3 s.17(1)
Published
2023-12-04
Reference
FOI/202300379124
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Gifts handed out by the Scottish Government for 2023, 2022 and 2021: FOI release

Please provide me with a list of presents and gifts handed out by the Scottish Government for 2023, 2022 and 2021. Please advise what the gifts were, how much they cost, who the recipient was and when the gifts were handed out.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-29
Reference
FOI/202300369999
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Nicola Sturgeon’s visit to Dr Bell’s Family Centre: FOI release

The Scottish Government is included as one of the ‘Funders’ of ‘Dr Bell’s Family Centre’ in Leith (details included on their website). Please provide information of all funding and grants that have been awarded to ‘Dr Bell’s Family Centre’ during the period April 2015 until April 2023. On September 5th 2022 First Minis...

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.17(1)
Published
2023-11-23
Reference
202300348494
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Salary and costs for the Cabinet Office assigned to the Minister for Independence: FOI release

The monthly/annual running costs for the Cabinet Office assigned to the Minister for Independence. Broke down into following. Minister’s salary. Staff(s) salary. Estimated office costs (office space and relevant office supplies, running costs for phones/postage and equipment).

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending s.17(1)
Published
2023-11-21
Reference
202300349523
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Freedom of Information (FOIs) cases discussed at Cabinet: FOI release

During the Scottish Parliament's Convener's Group meeting on September 27, 2023, Humza Yousaf said that certain FOIs had been brought to cabinet to discuss. Which FOIs were they, why were they brought to cabinet, and what was the resulting decision? Please also provide the responses to the FOIs that were brought to Cab...

FOI not held 45 score 10 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings s.17(1)
Published
2023-11-21
Reference
FOI/202300378309
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Travel by Ministers for Party Political Occasions: FOI release

In Section 9.23 of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers – Party Political Occasions, it states that; ‘Where a visit is a mix of political and official engagements, it is important that the Government and the party each meet a proper proportion of the actual cost’. Please provide information on whether or not the S...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 26 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers meetings spending s.9 s.17(1) s.39(1)
Published
2023-11-20
Reference
FOI/202300373939
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Social media and media advertising spend on COVID-19 vaccination programme: FOI release

The amount of money spent by the Scottish Government on social media and media advertising to encourage people to take the COVID-19 vaccinations, including paying or rewarding 'social media influencers', media personalities and public figures.

FOI not held 45 score 18 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)
Published
2023-11-16
Reference
FOI/202300375231
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence that mentions BBC journalist Sarah Smith: FOI release

Please provide all emails or correspondence between Nicola Sturgeon, her office, civil servants and James Dornan MSP and his office that mention BBC journalist Sarah Smith from January and February this year. Please provide any internal Scottish Government emails or correspondence between Nicola Sturgeon and other memb...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence s.17(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-13
Reference
202200285489
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

List of all adverts funded by the Scottish Government hosted on YouTube: FOI release

A list of all adverts funded by the Scottish Government hosted on YouTube in December 2022 and January 2023. The amount spent on these adverts. All correspondence relating to the ‘visit Glasgow this winter’ advert that has appeared on YouTube with the Scottish Government’s branding. Whether or not the Scottish Governme...

FOI not held 45 score 18 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)
Published
2023-11-03
Reference
202300338164
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence relating to devolved vs reserved matters: FOI release

1. Any correspondence held by the Scottish government between the permanent secretary John Paul Marks and the cabinet secretary Simon Case, in relation to devolved vs reserved matters. By this I mean things like the constitution and foreign affairs – potential examples would be the subject of a “minister for independen...

FOI/EIR not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings s.2 s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.17(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-02
Reference
FOI/202300367840
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Breakdown of food and takeaway deliveries received at Bute House: FOI release

Please provide me with a breakdown of food and takeaway deliveries received at Bute House over the last five years. Please specify which foods were ordered on each occasion, which business the food was ordered from, and what the cost was.

FOI unclear 55 score 17 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)
Published
2023-11-02
Reference
202200319167
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Scottish Government's Twitter accounts: FOI release

For each member of the government, can you release details of the accounts they have blocked on Twitter? Can you release details of all accounts blocked by each of the Scottish Government's Twitter accounts? Clarification We wrote to you to clarify the scope of your request with regards to “each of the Scottish Gover...

FOI unclear 55 score 34 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.17(1)
Published
2023-10-27
Reference
202300337483
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Gifts received by First Minister: FOI release

Please provide me with a list of all gifts received by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon over her term in office. Please tell me what the items are, when they were gifted and by whom. If possible, please include a value. Please also tell us whether Ms Sturgeon was able to keep these gifts or not.

FOI partially withheld 65 score 9 working days correspondence ministers s.11 s.25(1) s.17(1) s.27(1)
Published
2023-10-24
Reference
202300348626
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Ministerial contact time: FOI release

Please supply the content of all documentation regarding the preferences of all current Scottish Government ministers for working on or being contacted on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, and during anti-social hours, including preferences regarding a disinclination to work or be contacted during such days and time...

FOI not held 45 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.17(1)
Published
2023-10-19
Reference
202300356735
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Royal Household handling of requests: FOI release

Accordingly, please provide any information held by the Scottish Government in relation to the following matters: How any request by the Royal Household for information in relation to a Bill for which consent is sought, or any objection to the Bill’s content, are to be handled, including any general policies or practi...

FOI cost limit 45 score 19 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.17(1) s.20 s.30 s.36(1) s.41
Published
2023-10-11
Reference
202300359750
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Documentation regarding ministerial briefing preferences: FOI release

The content of all documentation regarding Ministerial preferences detailing how current Scottish Government Ministers prefer their briefings, speeches and correspondence to be prepared and handled.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.17(1) s.29(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-10-11
Reference
202300360682
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Public money spend to The Lines Agency between 2022-23: FOI release

How much public money was paid to the agency The Lines Between in 2022 and 2023 respectively? Was a proportion of that payment given by The Lines Between to the firm Taylor McKenzie and if so how much and for what purpose?

FOI unclear 80 score 20 working days correspondence contracts spending s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-10-09
Reference
202300359683
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Angus Robertson's time abroad: FOI Release

You asked for: How many days this year has Angus Robertson not been in Scotland for (up to the date of this FOI?) List all of the foreign trips to countries outside of Scotland he has taken and their dates. The total amount spent on trips outside of Scotland that he has been on? What is his budget for trips outside...

FOI not held 45 score 12 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.17(1) s.25(1)
Published
2023-09-14
Reference
202200331592
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence between the First Minister and Patrick Harvie, Andrew Wilson and Ian Blackford: FOI review

In your original request, dated 5 January 2023, you asked for: any correspondence between the First Minister, either directly, on her behalf, or by her office or assistants, and Patrick Harvie of the Scottish Greens between 01-June-2021 and 31-August- 2021. This would include all correspondence, ie emails, texts, dire...

FOI cost limit 45 score 19 working days correspondence ministers spending whatsapp s.12 s.17(1)
Published
2023-09-12
Reference
202300343738 review of 202300336762
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Highest number of FOI requests made by a single person in one day: FOI release

What is the largest number of FOI requests made to yourselves by a single person in one day, and who made those requests (and in what capacity, e.g. journalist, media, lobbying, campaigner, party researcher)? For each of the years 2023 (so far), 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019, what is the largest number of FOI requests made...

FOI not held 45 score 20 working days correspondence s.38(1) s.34(1) s.17(1)
Published
2023-09-06
Reference
FOI/202300371085
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Ministerial car arrangements March 2023: FOI release

1. Copies of any enquiries from ministers/representatives of ministers on whether the service would be available from the pub on March 23. 2. Any internal discussion within the SG over whether use of the car service for this event would be appropriate, and any responses to ministers/their representatives. 3. Any corres...

FOI not held 45 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.3 s.17(1)
Published
2023-08-21
Reference
FOI/202300366303
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Former First Minister trip to London March 2023: FOI release

1) Under FOI could I please request all correspondence related to Nicola Sturgeon's travel arrangements for her trip to London on March 19-20, 2023. This should include, for example, any discussion around whether to book economy or business class flights and what sort of hotel she would stay in. 2) Could you please als...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.3 s.17(1) s.39(1)
Published
2023-08-21
Reference
FOI/202300365915
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Ministerial Preferences for Out of Hours Working: FOI Review

Original request - 202300341181 "Please supply the content of all documentation regarding the preferences of all current Scottish Government ministers for working on or being contacted on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, and during anti-social hours, including preferences regarding a disinclination to work or be c...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-05-02
Reference
FOI/202300349479 Review of 202300341181
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

First Minister media interviews: FOI release

The number of individual (one on one rather than press conference) media interviews given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon between 4 December 2020 and 4 December 2022. Please list these by outlet e.g “The Times” or "STV News" along with the journalist's name and the date. Please list all interviews given regardles...

FOI not held 70 score 10 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1) s.27 s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-02-21
Reference
FOI/202200332827
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Collaborative messaging apps and non-work / social spaces: FOI release

Please see the notes at the bottom for clarification on these requests. 1. Do you use one or more collaborative messaging apps? ** If no to Q1, Q2-4 do not apply to you and I do not need a response to them. ** 2. Please supply: 2.1. a list of names of those apps, and 2.2. the total number of your employees and workers ...

FOI not held 45 score 19 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.1 s.4 s.17(1)
Published
2022-12-05
Reference
FOI/202200328528
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector