Scottish Government FOI Index

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

s.38(1) 5149 s.20 4430 s.34(1) 3727 s.39(2) 3593 s.30 2994 s.17(1) 2922 s.25(1) 2520 s.10(4) 2060 s.11(2) 1619 s.29(1) 1223 s.2 1222 s.3 958

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

Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate 1,312 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 978 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 961 releases · 30.9 avg days Learning Directorate 871 releases · 34.3 avg days Economic Development Directorate 737 releases · 39.7 avg days Constitution Directorate 702 releases · 35.9 avg days Population Health Directorate 665 releases · 28.5 avg days People Directorate 657 releases · 25.6 avg days

Clear

57 matching releases

Social media spend: FOI release

With regards to a) The Scottish Government as a whole and b) Individual Ministers, for the financial year 2025-26: 1) The total amount spent by a) and b) on paid subscriptions to social media platforms including but not limited to X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, YouTube etc. 2) The total amount spent by a) and b) on ...

FOI not held 45 score 8 working days correspondence ministers contracts spending s.2 s.17(1) s.27(1)

Published: 2026-08-10
Reference: FOI/202600521350
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Personal use of SCOTS devices Saltire article comments: FOI release

1. Saltire article: Personal use of SCOTS devices. 2. ALL comments under the article.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 8 working days correspondence s.2 s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-03-30
Reference: FOI/202600501995
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Correspondence and activity involving Special Adviser emails: FOI release

1. Since the start of 2025, please provide a list of the FOI's which have been subject to consideration by the FoI.SpAdsPO@gov.scot email address and/or Special Adviser emails. 2. Any correspondence between FoI.SpAdsPO@gov.scot and the FOI Unit since January 1, 2025. 3. Any correspondence between FoI.SpAdsPO@gov.scot a...

FOI cost limit 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.2 s.12 s.27(1) s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-03-30
Reference: FOI/202600501632
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Team agreements correspondence in the Hybrid Working Team: FOI release

1. ALL information held on TEAM AGREEMENTS. 2. ALL internal correspondence in the HYBRID WORKING TEAM from the past 3 months about TEAM AGREEMENTS.

FOI already published 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence s.2 s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-02-09
Reference: FOI/202500492486
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Release of legally privileged information and use of WhatsApp on Scottish Government phones: FOI release

1. Could you provide how many occasions in the last two years that the Scottish Government has been forced to publicly release legally privileged information, and include what this info was and why it had to be released? 2. Could you supply how many incidents have been recorded of government staff, officials or minist...

FOI not held 70 score 17 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.25(1) s.2 s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-02-02
Reference: FOI/202500491146
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Former First Minister’s engagements and financial transactions with NEON (New Economy Organisers Network): FOI release

Under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I am requesting the following information regarding Nicola Sturgeon’s engagements and any financial transactions with NEON (New Economy Organisers Network) during her tenure as First Minister of Scotland (from November 20, 2014, to March 28, 2023) or in any official...

FOI not held 45 score 18 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.2 s.3 s.17(1)

Published: 2026-01-06
Reference: FOI/202500482305
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Information pertaining to catering, staffing and menus for official events: FOI Review

Original Request - 202500462429 1. How many official events (state dinners, lunches, cocktail receptions) have been held at Bute House since the 1st of April 2024? Please provide a brief description of each event as well as notable guests. 2. How much money has been spent on catering, staffing, and organising these ...

FOI not held 70 score 19 working days correspondence ministers spending s.2 s.21(4) s.25(1) s.27(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-10-13
Reference: FOI/202500471460 - Review of 202500462429
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Pay rise for Scottish Government ministers: FOI release

1. All correspondence between the First Minister, the First Minister’s staff, and the Scottish Parliament relating to the recent pay rise for Scottish Government ministers. 2. Confirmation of whether the First Minister has received a pay rise as part of this change. If so, please provide details of the amount and effe...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 14 working days correspondence ministers s.2 s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-17
Reference: FOI/202500465280
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Evidence for Scottish Government hybrid working policy decision: FOI release

Under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I am submitting a refined request for information regarding the decision to transition from full-time remote work to a hybrid working policy, as referenced in the Saltire article “Next Phase of Hybrid Working” (7 May 2025) and your response to FOI/202500465200. The ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence meetings spending s.2 s.3 s.30 s.5 s.38(1) s.27(1) s.27 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-17
Reference: FOI/202500470884
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

First Minister ministerial salary: FOI release

You asked for: 1. The total gross ministerial salary paid to the First Minister of Scotland for the months of April 2025 and May 2025, including: The amount paid, The pay rate applied (i.e. whether the salary was frozen at 2008-09 levels or included any uplift), Any adjustments or deductions made in either month, inc...

FOI not held 45 score 1 working days correspondence ministers spending s.2 s.17

Published: 2025-09-04
Reference: FOI/202500468199
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: 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

Ministerial salary increase timing and messaging records: FOI Review

Original request 202500462016 Access to records related to the timing and public messaging of the recent ministerial salary increase. Specifically: 1. **Internal Communications:** - Emails, meeting minutes, and memos between the Office of the First Minister and the Public Relations teams discussing how the timing of ...

FOI not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers meetings s.2 s.25 s.17(1) s.38(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-30
Reference: FOI/202500466490 Review of 202500462016
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Ministerial salary increase timing and messaging records: FOI release

Access to records related to the timing and public messaging of the recent ministerial salary increase. Specifically: 1. **Internal Communications:** - Emails, meeting minutes, and memos between the Office of the First Minister and the Public Relations teams discussing how the timing of the announcement was chosen. - ...

FOI not held 70 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings spending s.2 s.25(1) s.17(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-21
Reference: FOI/202500462016
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

Correspondence regarding Former First Minister memoirs: FOI release

You requested the following information: 1. Any information held on advice provided to Nicola Sturgeon about the Radcliffe Rules around political memoirs. 2. Whether Nicola Sturgeon has submitted a manuscript of her memoir, Frankly, to the Permanent Secretary for approval under those rules. 3. A copy of any part of ...

FOI withheld 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 s.3 s.33(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-06-09
Reference: FOI/202500458988
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Inclusive communication practices in the Scottish Government: FOI release

1. Do you track requests for inclusive communication support in your listed authority? This could include (but is not limited to) requests for communication support for meetings (online or in person) and for static resources, e.g. large print, telephone calls, email/digital correspondence, Easy Read, Braille, Moon, Gui...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 15 working days correspondence meetings s.2 s.12(1) s.3 s.4 s.5 s.6 s.7 s.8

Published: 2025-05-01
Reference: FOI/202500455927
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Media requests from broadcasters to interview Scottish Government Ministers: FOI release

A list of how many media requests were made by broadcasters to speak to Scottish Government Ministers between December 1 2024 and the date of this FOI, and whether they were rejected and accepted, the Minister wanted and the reasons for acceptance and rejection.

FOI released 100 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.2 s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-02-21
Reference: FOI/202500449172
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Redaction training on Consultations: FOI release

1. The training materials used to instruct staff in the redaction of consultations, including the threshold at which comments are to be redacted for being: Inappropriate or offensive content that might be harmful to others Inflammatory or likely to result in distress and alarm Criticism of colleagues, teams, business ...

FOI unclear 55 score 16 working days correspondence contracts s.3 s.2 s.25(1)

Published: 2025-02-14
Reference: FOI/202500447203
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Correspondence on the death of former First Minister Alex Salmond: FOI release

1. A copy of all emails of staff members of the First Minister’s office that refer to the news of Alex Salmond’s death. The time range of this request is Saturday 12th October to Monday 14th October. Staff members refers to all workers recognised as working directly for the First Minister. All emails means emails se...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.38(1) s.30 s.28(1) s.39(1) s.34(1) s.2 s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-11-20
Reference: FOI/202400436164
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Gifts given by Scottish Government Ministers: FOI Review

Original request 202400426991 1. A list of gifts given by Scottish Government Ministers during external meetings and overseas travel to, for example, other Ministers etc over the last five years. 2. Please include (i) the Scottish Government Minister who gave the gift, (ii) the individual who received the gift, and (...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.2 s.17(1) s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-10-21
Reference: FOI/202400431907 Review of 202400426991
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Gifts given by Scottish Government Ministers: FOI release

1. A list of gifts given by Scottish Government Ministers during external meetings and overseas travel to, for example, other Ministers etc over the last five years. 2. Please include (i) the Scottish Government Minister who gave the gift, (ii) the individual who received the gift, and (iii) the price of this gift.

FOI already published 80 score 18 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.2 s.25(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-10-04
Reference: FOI/202400426991
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

Contact Centre, use of CRM and AI & Automation systems: FOI release

Contact Centre – target to organisations we know have a CC Do you have a customer/ citizen facing contact centre? If not please skip these questions Do you employ and manage your own agents, or do you outsource to a third party? If you outsource who to? How many contact centre agents do you have? Do agents work from h...

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence contracts spending s.2

Published: 2024-09-13
Reference: FOI/202400410991
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

The National newspaper and Newsquest publications spend: FOI release

1. How much has the Scottish Government spent on The National newspaper, including any grants, advertising contracts and paid subscriptions? Please also detail any other payments made to the newspaper. If possible, please provide this information since 2014. 2. How much has the Scottish Government spent on Newsquest p...

FOI not held 45 score 11 working days correspondence contracts spending s.2

Published: 2024-09-04
Reference: FOI/202400413762
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Freedom of Information guidance, monitoring the social media profiles of journalists and sex offender name changing: FOI release

1. Could you supply the full internal guidance/guidebook for dealing with FOIs which the Scottish Government abide by, including whether Special Advisers are given first look at them, and what details they are provided with? 2. Could you supply details about whether the Scottish Government monitor the social media pro...

FOI withheld 80 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.38(1) s.34(1) s.2 s.25(1) s.17(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.36(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-02
Reference: FOI/202400408156
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Law and order, Public sector

Freedom of Information (FoI) requests for consideration by Special Advisers: FOI release

1) Since the start of 2024, please provide a list of the FOI's which have been subject to consideration by the FoI.SpAdsPO@gov.scot email address and/or Special Adviser emails. 2) Any correspondence between FoI.SpAdsPO@gov.scot and the FOI Unit since January 1, 2024. 3) Any correspondence between FoI.SpAdsPO@gov.scot...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 s.17(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-08-30
Reference: FOI/202400406282
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector