Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

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
145 matching releases

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

Pay grades or salary bands for current Special Advisors: FOI release

1. An updated list of all current Special Advisers (SpAds) employed by the Scottish Government. 2. The pay grades or salary bands for each individual SpAd.

FOI unclear 55 score 10 working days correspondence special advisers s.25(1)
Published
2025-01-21
Reference
FOI/202400444257
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Former Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care correspondence: FOI release

All correspondence sent and received by the Scottish Government, including internally, all briefings, all analysis, all minutes/notes from meetings, about or from Michael Matheson, from between September 1 2024 and October 1.

FOI already published 80 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.36 s.30 s.38 2 attachments
Published
2025-01-21
Reference
FOI/202400442492
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

List of Freedom of Information requests submitted: FOI release

In FOI Request Number 202400432136, it was disclosed that 'Journalist A' of the Daily Express, has submitted 353 FOI/EIR Requests so far in 2024. I would like to request, under the FOI Scotland Act, the following information: A list of the text of all FOI requests made by this requester. With requests that were refus...

FOI already published 80 score 18 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.12 2 attachments
Published
2024-11-20
Reference
FOI/202400436151
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Former First Minister WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

Humza Yousaf's WhatsApp messages during the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 39 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.25(1) s.38(1) s.28 2 attachments
Published
2024-11-01
Reference
FOI/202400425739
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

Communications between the Scottish Government and UK monarchy: FOI release

Please share any communications exchanged between the government and the UK monarchy or their representatives from 21 February 2023 to the present date, which relate to: Laws and Legislation The Crown Estate Property or assets owned by the monarchy Crown consent Carbon emissions Deer Please include all communication ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 16 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.41 2 attachments
Published
2024-10-16
Reference
FOI/202400431736
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Gifts that Scottish Ministers received as part of international visits: FOI release

A breakdown of the gifts, and the cost of these gifts, that Scottish Ministers presented as part of international visits during the financial years: 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24.

FOI already published 80 score 18 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.25(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-10-04
Reference
FOI/202400426838
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
International, 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

Former First Minister's messages during the Covid 19 pandemic: FOI release

Nicola Sturgeon's What's App messages during the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.25(1) s.38(1) s.28 2 attachments
Published
2024-09-23
Reference
FOI/202400423476
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Puberty Blocker Correspondence: FOI release

Under FOI I would please like to request all correspondence (including emails, attachments, typed or handwritten notes, letters, notes/records of phone calls, minutes of meetings, briefings, WhatsApp messages or otherwise) between ministers of the scottish Government and their special advisors mentioning the term 'pube...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.30 s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-09-18
Reference
FOI/202400410045
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Health and social care, Public sector

Resignation of Mr Matheson as Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care: FOI release

The exact time and format in which Michael Matheson first informed Humza Yousaf of his resignation as Health Secretary and please provide the documentary evidence of this (the original email/WhatsApp/text) as well as Humza Yousaf's response). All discussions from the Scottish Government planning press lines or media r...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings whatsapp s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-09-17
Reference
FOI/202400398386
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Former Health Secretary's resignation and the Former Deputy First Minister's attendance at tax advisory meeting: FOI release

1. All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government, including internal correspondence, briefings and notes, about Michael Matheson's resignation, and whether he will take his severance payment, between February 5 2024 and March 5 2024. 2. The reason behind Shona Robison missing the Scottish Government ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 14 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-09-05
Reference
FOI/202400404652
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Money and tax, Public sector

Chief of Staff to the First Minister: FOI release

All Chief of Staff to the First Minister, and who the First Minister was they were Chief of Staff to The tenure of duration of each chief of staff General duties, roles and responsibilities of the Chief of Staff to the First Minister Engagements of the Chief of Staff within the Scottish Government, office of the First ...

FOI not held 45 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.25(1)
Published
2024-09-04
Reference
FOI/202400411404
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Resignation of Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care: FOI release

All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government, including internal correspondence, minutes, notes and briefings held, about the resignation of Michael Matheson between January 15 2024 and the date of this FOI?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.30 s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-09-04
Reference
FOI/202400397967
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Programme for Government, Public sector