Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

11,099releases indexed
19,072attachments found
28.7avg calendar days
4,403partially withheld
2023-10-02oldest in sample
2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 4,403 unclear 3,109 not held 1,663 released 816 already published 409 cost limit 376 clarification 166 withheld 123 transferred 34

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 2824 s.20 2437 s.34(1) 2118 s.39(2) 1920 s.30 1721 s.17(1) 1465 s.25(1) 1326 s.10(4) 1159 s.11(2) 933 s.29(1) 703 s.2 586 s.6(1) 478

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 743 releases · 28.1 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 632 releases · 29.1 avg days Local Government and Housing Directorate 437 releases · 29.3 avg days Marine Directorate 406 releases · 26.4 avg days Population Health Directorate 404 releases · 25.8 avg days Environment and Forestry Directorate 354 releases · 34.0 avg days Economic Development Directorate 334 releases · 41.5 avg days People Directorate 332 releases · 23.9 avg days
Clear
67 matching releases

Correspondence regarding Former First Minister meeting cancellations and resignation: FOI release

1. All correspondence, including internally, briefings and notes about Humza Yousaf cancelling his appearance at the Colleges Scotland conference on Wednesday 24 April, and him being subsequently replaced by Jenny Gilruth, held from between April 22 until the date of this FOI. 2. All correspondence, including internal...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 25 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.29 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.41 2 attachments
Published
2024-09-04
Reference
FOI/202400412001
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Stewart Milne Group housebuilders, greyhound ban, holiday homes council tax, alcohol levy and Middle East Eye interview: FOI release

1. All correspondence received and sent about Stewart Milne Group housebuilders, including internally, briefings and minutes from any meetings about the company, from between November 1 2023 and the date of this FOI. 2. All briefings and analysis produced by or for the Scottish Government about the ban on greyhound ra...

FOI/EIR cost limit 70 score 73 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.12 s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.11(2) s.34(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-09-03
Reference
FOI/202400402718
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Economy, Housing, International, +1 more … 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

Scottish Budget, Former First Minister's Cabinet reshuffle and trip to Qatar: FOI release

1. All correspondence between the Scottish Government and the Institute for Fiscal Studies about the budget, including internal correspondence, notes, briefings and minutes from any meetings, between December 1 2023 and the date of this FOI. 2. All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government, including...

FOI already published 80 score 44 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.25 s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.39(1) s.2(1) s.39 s.41 s.47 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-30
Reference
FOI/202400399489
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Economy, 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

UK Parliament’s Scottish Affairs Committee: FOI release

All correspondence (including emails, attachments, typed or handwritten notes, letters, notes/records of phone calls, minutes of meetings, briefings, WhatsApp messages or otherwise) relating to the Minister for Transport’s invitation to give evidence to the UK Parliament’s Scottish Affairs Committee on Monday 11 Septem...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 59 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.17(1) s.1 s.38 s.29(1) s.27(1) s.30 4 attachments
Published
2024-08-14
Reference
FOI/202300377285
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Correspondence regarding Scottish Golf Open and Ministerial communications: FOI release

1. All correspondence, including internal correspondence, between the Scottish Government and organisers of the Scottish Golf Open about ministerial appearances at the event between July 13 and 16. 2. All briefings for ministers prepared for the event in question one, plus all minutes from meetings held there and the ...

FOI cost limit 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.29(1) s.38(1) s.12 s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-14
Reference
FOI/202300381827
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Various meetings and correspondence relating to former First Ministers: FOI release

1. All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government to Back Off Scotland and all briefings written for ministers about the group between March 2023 and the date of this FOI. 2. Did Humza Yousaf issue an instruction to his cabinet to support Nicola Sturgeon in June after her arrest and all written minist...

FOI already published 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.29(1) s.30 s.17(1) s.38(1) 8 attachments
Published
2024-08-12
Reference
FOI/202300374275
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

FOI requests rejected due to exceeding the cost limit and Section 29(1)(a) exemption: FOI release

1) the number of FOI requests made to the Scottish Government and its agencies which have been rejected due to exceeding the cost limit of £600 2) the number of FOI requests made to the Scottish Government and its agencies which have been rejected under the guise of the application of the Section 29(1)(a) exemption.

FOI cost limit 45 score 16 working days correspondence spending s.29(1)
Published
2024-04-30
Reference
FOI/202400407491
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

First Minister's family moving into Bute House: FOI release

Please provide me with any correspondence, briefing notes and memos concerning Humza Yousaf’s family moving into Bute House.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 33 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.39(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-04-16
Reference
FOI/202300384069
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Meetings the First Minister has attended between and including - 1st October 2023 and 31st January 2024: FOI release

1. A list of meetings the First Minister of Scotland has attended between and including - 1st October 2023 and 31st January 2024. 2. A list of these meetings that have minutes available as to their content. 3. A list of these meetings that do not have minutes available or minutes are not being provided for public vie...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.25(1) s.27(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.4
Published
2024-04-15
Reference
FOI/202400396967
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Information pertaining to WhatsApp messages: FOI Appeal

Request 1: I am writing to you to request the following information. For the month of August 2021, any WhatsApp messages or text messages sent or received by any government minister on government business. Request 2: I am writing to you to request the following information. For the entire month of March, 2021 (inc...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 88 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.17 s.26 s.28(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.19 s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-03-15
Reference
FOI Appeal of 202100255908 / 202100255912
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care meetings November 2023: FOI release

A list of meetings attended by / or scheduled to be attended by Michael Matheson between 8 November 2023 and 20 November 2023, including who was attending, subject of meeting etc. Did Michael Matheson or his office have to reschedule, cancel or fail to turn up to any of the above meetings?

FOI partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.27(1) s.29(1)
Published
2024-01-30
Reference
FOI/202300386135
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Health's scheduled meetings that have been cancelled since 19 February: FOI review

How many meetings and engagements originally scheduled within the window of 20 February 2023 - 27 March 2023 in the Cabinet Secretary for Health's Ministerial diary have been cancelled since 19 February?] I have concluded that a different decision should be substituted. Information is exempt under section 29(1)(d) if...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.29(1)
Published
2024-01-23
Reference
FOI/202300345923 Review of 202300344594
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance’s meeting with Ross Greer MSP: FOI release

All internal and external correspondence within and sent or received by the Scottish Government including attached documents, meeting handouts, memos, briefings to ministers, attendee lists, location of meeting, notes, minutes, or OneNote memos, linked to Shona Robison's meeting with Ross Greer on April 12 All internal...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 59 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-11
Reference
FOI/202300369457
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence regarding the Scottish Conservatives Removal of Office and Recall Bill: FOI release

Copies of any correspondence (briefing, letters, emails, handwritten notes, memos, minutes of calls, minutes of meetings, attachments and/ore otherwise) from and/or to civil servants and/or Special Advisers and/or Scottish Government MSPs regarding the Scottish Conservatives Removal of Office and Recall Bill.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 13 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.29(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-10-16
Reference
202300361918
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