Scottish Government FOI Index

8,100releases indexed

12,778attachments found

26.3avg calendar days

3,233partially withheld

2024-04-15oldest in sample

2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 3,233 unclear 2,138 not held 1,271 released 577 already published 335 cost limit 300 clarification 127 withheld 93 transferred 26

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 2197 s.20 1678 s.34(1) 1655 s.39(2) 1422 s.30 1343 s.17(1) 1138 s.25(1) 1033 s.10(4) 875 s.11(2) 707 s.29(1) 577 s.2 501 s.3 379

Timeline

2026-05 339 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 535 releases · 27.5 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 486 releases · 27.5 avg days Population Health Directorate 333 releases · 25.2 avg days Marine Directorate 321 releases · 26.4 avg days Local Government and Housing Directorate 311 releases · 25.6 avg days People Directorate 268 releases · 24.4 avg days Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate 247 releases · 31.4 avg days Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate 221 releases · 24.0 avg days

Clear

81 matching releases

Scottish Government exercising Section 50 (5) of the FOISA act: FOI release

1) Since January 1st 2002, how many times has the Scottish Government not handed over information to the Scottish Information Commissioner for investigations due to exercising section 50(5) of the FOISA act? 2) Can you please cite the SIC decision number and FOI reference number concerning these?

FOI already published 55 score 16 working days correspondence briefings s.50(5) s.14(2) s.14 s.17(1) s.25(1)

Published: 2025-09-23
Reference: FOI/202500468778
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

DG Education and Justice contacts: FOI release

In your letter, you requested the following information: Organisation Information for DG Education and Justice Confirmation of contact details for SCS and other leadership roles present within DG Education and Justice.

FOI unclear 80 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-08
Reference: FOI/202500460443
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Education, Law and order, Public sector

Scottish Government writing style guide list of words to avoid: FOI release

You asked for ‘A list of banned words as referred to in the attached style guide as “words to avoid”.’

FOI unclear 80 score 13 working days correspondence s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-08-07
Reference: FOI/202500473284
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Queries regarding draft responses to Freedom of Information requests: FOI release

1. Between 1 January 2025 and present date, on how many occasions, broken down by Scottish Government Minister/Cabinet Secretary, has a Scottish Government Minister or Cabinet Secretary, when presented with a draft response to a Freedom of Information Request, responded with any other decision than approving of that dr...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.3 s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-23
Reference: FOI/202500464096
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Scottish Information Commissioner investigations information: FOI release

1) Since January 1st 2020, how many times has the Scottish Government not handed over information to the Scottish Information Commissioner for investigations due to exercising section 50(5) of the FOISA act? 2) Can you please cite the SIC decision number and FOI reference number concerning these?

FOI already published 55 score 19 working days correspondence s.50(5) s.25(1) s.17(1) s.15(1)

Published: 2025-07-23
Reference: FOI/202500464684
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

Scottish Government request responses and use of free & frank advice exception: FOI release

In this request, when I refer to ‘free and frank advice exceptions’ I mean to refer to the application of a exemption from disclosure of requested information from a public body as an FOI or EIR request on the grounds that disclosure would inhibit the free and frank provision of advice, inhibit the free and frank excha...

FOI clarification 80 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings spending s.2A s.25(1) s.6(1) s.12 s.29(1) s.30 s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-17
Reference: FOI/202500461547
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Scottish Government website publication breakdown: FOI release

The Scottish Government’s Publications site lists distinct (https://www.gov.scot/publications/) items – ten per page. These items are by default sorted in chronological order from newest to oldest, and results can be filtered by categories ‘Content Type’, ‘Topic’, and date of most recent update. Please provide the fol...

FOI unclear 55 score 8 working days correspondence s.25(1)

Published: 2025-07-07
Reference: FOI/202500459264
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Honours and Awards process in Scotland: FOI Review

Original request 202500455400 I recently contacted the cabinet office asking about who and how awards and honours were determined in Scotland. They informed me the entire process in managed by the Honours and Protocol unit in the Scottish Government and that they simple rubber stamp the recommendations from Scottish G...

FOI already published 80 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-06-18
Reference: FOI/202500457091 Review of 202500455400
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Scottish Government and Ministerial Code Former Advisor communications: FOI release

Any and all communications between the Scottish Government (officials, SPADs, ministers, everyone) and Mr James Hamilton, the then advisor on the ministerial code from April 1st 2021 to December 31st 2023.’

FOI already published 80 score 33 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.38(1) s.25(1) s.26 s.30 s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-06-16
Reference: FOI/202500452188
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Copy of information referenced in the Scottish Information Commissioner’s Decision Notice 186/2024: FOI release

Copies of the information that is referenced in the Scottish Information Commissioner’s Decision Notice 186/2024. Please could you send me copies of the information referenced above and a copy of the review response and all other information that was subsequently identified and sent to the applicant.

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

Published: 2025-04-30
Reference: FOI/202500454839
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Honours and Awards process in Scotland: FOI release

I recently contacted the cabinet office asking about who and how awards and honours were determined in Scotland. They informed me the entire process in managed by the Honours and Protocol unit in the Scottish Government and that they simple rubber stamp the recommendations from Scottish Govt. Therefore, can you please...

FOI already published 55 score 10 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1)

Published: 2025-03-27
Reference: FOI/202500455400
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: 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

Criteria for responding to FOI requests: FOI release

1) It is a requirement that SPADs and/or the FM's chief of staff clear FOI responses from civil servants in the FOI unit? 2) How many FOIs were received by the Scottish Government in 2024, and how many of these were cleared by SPADs and/or FM's chief of staff before release? 3) What is the purpose of the following em...

FOI/EIR cost limit 45 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.20 s.3 s.12 s.25(1) s.5

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202500447375
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Former Minister for Children and Young People WhatsApp messages from Ministerial position during Covid: FOI release

Claire Haughey's WhatsApp messages from her ministerial position during the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 14 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.25(1) s.38(1) s.29(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202400426487
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, 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

Former Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

Aileen Campbell's Covid 19 WhatsApp messages.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.25(1) s.29(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202400436351
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public sector

Director General for Strategy & External Affairs WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

Joe Griffin's Covid WhatsApp messages.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.25(1) s.29(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202400436352
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public sector

Former Director General for Education and Justice WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

I wish to make a Freedom of Information Request for the following individuals WhatsApp messages from the Covid 19 pandemic. Paul Johnston.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence whatsapp s.25(1) 10 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202400439469
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Eid Mubarak celebration at Edinburgh Castle: FOI release

Correspondence held by the Scottish Government, including all sent/received and internal, briefing notes, minutes/notes from meetings, about the Eid Mubarak celebration at Edinburgh Castle, funded by the government, between April 1 and May 1 2024.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 120 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.32(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-18
Reference: FOI/202400432000
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

Briefing materials provided to Ministers for appearances at Scottish Parliament portfolio questions sessions: FOI release

All briefing materials provided to Ministers for appearances at Scottish Parliament portfolio questions sessions on 5 February 2025. I mean to refer to briefing materials compiled or given at any time in the current Scottish Parliamentary term, but to narrow down these materials to just those provided for Portfolio Que...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.30 s.33(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-18
Reference: FOI/202500451876
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Freedom of Information publications and reasons for non-publication: FOI release

A full list of all FOISA request reference numbers for 2021-2025 including the date of publication of the response on the Scottish Government Website, and a separate list of all FOISA publications which have been responded to by the requestor but not published and the reason for nonpublication.

FOI/EIR released 100 score 20 working days correspondence s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-04
Reference: FOI/202500450423
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 regarding social media misinformation: FOI release

All the documentation received or sent by John Swinney/his office including minutes/notes from meetings, correspondence sent and received (including internal), briefings and policy notes, about social media misinformation and what can be done, between August 1 2024 and August 15 2024.

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

Published: 2025-02-14
Reference: FOI/202500446556
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

Legal costs incurred to challenge the release of information: FOI release

Any legal costs incurred over the last five years by the Scottish Government or other agencies to challenge the release of information requested via freedom of information requests. Costs may include those paid to lawyers and external barristers. Please provide details of every legal case.

FOI unclear 55 score 14 working days correspondence ministers spending s.25(1) s.17(1)

Published: 2025-01-31
Reference: FOI/202500446774
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector