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
442 matching releases

Salaries and number of ministers, special advisors and civil servants in 2003, 2013 and 2023: FOI release

For each of the years 2003, 2013 and 2023 can you provide please the following information: 1. The total number of Ministers in post at The Scottish Government/The Scottish Executive. 2. The total salaries for these Ministers for the year in question. 3. The total number of civil servants dedicated to the Private Of...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.4 s.25(1) s.17(1) s.27(1)
Published
2024-08-01
Reference
FOI/202400421758
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public Sector

BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show - Deputy First Minister's interview 19th November 2023: FOI release

All emails, correspondence, WhatsApp messages, text messages and notes in relation to the Deputy First Minister's interview appearance and subsequent cancellation for BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show episode of Sunday 19 November.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.38(1) 6 attachments
Published
2024-07-18
Reference
FOI/202300385699
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

Former First Minister's interests correspondence: FOI release

Any internal or external correspondence, including any attachments, WhatsApp messages, text messages, instant messaging, memos, OneNotes, minutes, agendas, appendixes or other correspondence relating to Aamer Anwar being included as a "personal friend" in the First Minister's interests.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-07-04
Reference
FOI/202300390913
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence relating to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry sent to the Former First Minister between 26 June 2023 – 2 July 2023: FOI release

A copy of correspondence (email, letter and informal messages) including references to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry sent to the First Minister or his office between 26 June 2023 – 2 July 2023 (inclusive). For each request please provide all copies of attachments sent alongside this correspondence.

FOI partially withheld 85 score 29 working days over deadline correspondence ministers 4 attachments
Published
2024-06-18
Reference
FOI/202400394928
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands BBC Shetland interview: FOI release

1. Who was interviewed from the Scottish Government by BBC Shetland on October 4 2023? 2. All briefing notes prepared for their interview. 3. All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government setting up the interview and any correspondence sent following the interview, 4. Minutes written from the inter...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-05-21
Reference
FOI/202300390822
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Farming and rural, Public sector

Ministerial Preferences: FOI release

I would like to request the most up to date version of the document that states Ministerial preferences for how briefings, speeches and correspondence are prepared and handled.

FOI partially withheld 85 score 18 working days correspondence ministers briefings 2 attachments
Published
2024-05-14
Reference
FOI/202300386996
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Bute House Agreement meetings: FOI release

How many Scottish Government Cabinet meetings Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater have attended since the Bute House Agreement and the present day and when each of these meetings were attended for each of the two Greens ministers. I would also like to know why they attended each Cabinet meeting and what was discussed.”

FOI partially withheld 65 score 18 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.30
Published
2024-04-30
Reference
FOI/202400402561
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

The Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Commissioner: FOI release

All emails, text messages, WhatsApp's, minutes and other forms of communications of/between Ministers, SPADs, civil servants and other Scottish Government officials regarding/referencing/discussing the court case known as The Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Commissioner (case reference number XA10/23) up ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers meetings whatsapp s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) 4 attachments
Published
2024-04-18
Reference
FOI/202300388336
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
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

First Minister's trip to Qatar: FOI release

1. Were any costs incurred to the taxpayer by the First Minister's recent trip to Qatar and if so what were these costs? 2. Did the First Minister have any meetings as First Minister while he was on the trip? 3. What arrangements were in place during the First Minister's trip for him to stay in touch with Government ...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings spending s.39(1)
Published
2024-04-09
Reference
FOI/202400402828
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

NHS funding social media message correspondence: FOI release

This request concerns the following tweet/post on Twitter/X: https://x.com/scotgov/status/1736370730051195272?s=46&t=y9v1mXDn2DQJqjCpgZcKXg Please answer the following questions. In answers where the person or persons concerned cannot be named, please state their positions. 1. Who composed the post/tweet? And who pr...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.1 s.2 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2024-03-25
Reference
FOI/202300390033
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, 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

Freedom of Information request statistics: FOI release

1. How many requests for information made under FOISA has the Scottish Government received between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023? 2. Of those requests, how many received a full response within the 20 working day limit as set out in FOISA? 3. Of those requests, how many were either fully or partially refused by ...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.29 s.17(1)
Published
2024-03-04
Reference
FOI/202400392833
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Equality and rights, Public sector

First Minister's COP 28 travel: FOI release

1) What class of flight the first minister has booked to take him to and from COP28. 2) The cost of travel for the first minister to and from COP28. 3) If any of the first minister’s flights were chartered or private aircraft.

FOI partially withheld 65 score 14 working days correspondence ministers spending s.2 s.25(1)
Published
2024-02-28
Reference
FOI/202300387839
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Scottish Government officials authorised to post on X/Twitter account: FOI release

A list of those persons authorised to tweet from the @scotgov X/Twitter account. If there is a person (or persons) who must approve any tweet from the account, please identify who those persons are.

FOI partially withheld 65 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.34(1)
Published
2024-02-26
Reference
FOI/202300390046
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Jason Leitch WhatsApp messages: FOI release

Correspondence on the topic of how to respond to a media enquiry from The Times newspaper about Jason Leitch deleting his WhatsApp messages each day and any resulting follow-up enquiry by other journalists or publications. This should include, but not be limited to, discussions between civil servants, special advisers,...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers whatsapp s.30 s.38 s.36 2 attachments
Published
2024-02-20
Reference
FOI/202400394859
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

National Clinical Director WhatsApp messages: FOI release

All internal communications, including emails and informal electronic communications, which relate to the gathering of information in relation to this denial, the formulation of the denial and the signing off of the denial ("It is not correct to suggest that the National Clinical Director deleted every WhatsApp message...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence whatsapp s.30 s.38 s.36 2 attachments
Published
2024-02-20
Reference
FOI/202400394753
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

Michael Matheson expenses in his capacity as a Government Minister: FOI release

A full list of expenses accrued by Michael Matheson and members of his staff in relation to his duties as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport and Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care. Could this data please be provided for the period 20 May 2021 to 16 November 2023.

FOI partially withheld 65 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.25(1)
Published
2024-01-26
Reference
FOI/202300385475
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

Communications between the Scottish Government and UK monarchy on various topics: FOI release

Any communications between the government and the UK monarchy or their representatives which refer – either directly or indirectly – to: Laws and legislation The Crown Estate Any property or assets owned by the monarchy in Scotland Crown consent Carbon emissions. Please include all communication channels used by gove...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence spending whatsapp s.38 s.41 s.20 18 attachments
Published
2024-01-10
Reference
202300339844
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Alleged ministerial code breach by Jenny Gilruth: FOI release

1. All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish government, Humza Yousaf and Jenny Gilruth over her allegedly breaching the ministerial code over delaying rail works in her constituency, 2. Has an investigation been started by the First Minister into this incident after he promised to do so on 18 May? 3. If s...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.38 s.36 s.30 s.25(1) 4 attachments
Published
2024-01-05
Reference
202300361845
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence between Scottish Government special adviser Jeanette Campbell and Angela Constance: FOI release

A copy of all correspondence between Scottish Government special adviser Jeanette Campbell and Angela Constance from 31 March 2023 until present.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 33 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.38(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2024-01-05
Reference
202300359276
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector