Scottish Government FOI Index

21,792releases indexed

39,278attachments found

29.7avg calendar days

8,073partially withheld

2016-06-13oldest in sample

2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,073 unclear 7,195 not held 3,052 released 1,533 already published 668 cost limit 605 clarification 348 withheld 241 transferred 77

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4905 s.20 4252 s.34(1) 3567 s.39(2) 3455 s.30 2866 s.17(1) 2763 s.25(1) 2372 s.10(4) 1971 s.11(2) 1559 s.29(1) 1168 s.2 1152 s.3 903

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 1,275 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 961 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 919 releases · 31.1 avg days Learning Directorate 859 releases · 34.4 avg days Economic Development Directorate 725 releases · 40.0 avg days Constitution Directorate 685 releases · 36.1 avg days Population Health Directorate 645 releases · 28.7 avg days People Directorate 631 releases · 25.8 avg days

Clear

525 matching releases

Syrian and Ukrainian Refugees: FOI release

"A few years ago you loudly said that you would take in some Syrian Refugees into your personal home. Did You? Also as Bute House has many facilities will you take Ukrainian Refugees there or at your personal house? Mr Harvie spends 90% of his time in Edinburgh hotels so his house is empty a lot of the time Mr Harvie w...

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending

Published: 2022-05-09
Reference: FOI/202200287856
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector, Ukraine

Television advertisement costs: FOI release

Details on the 'Drive Like Gran's in the car' advertising spend, including: How much did these adverts cost to produce? How much is the Scottish Government spending on these adverts being shown on the various TV channels, which are fairly regular?

FOI unclear 50 score 14 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2022-05-05
Reference: FOI/202200286390
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public safety and emergencies, Public sector, Scottish Budget

Spending for Bute House décor: FOI release

I would like to know details of any spending at Bute House on furnishings, carpets and flooring, from January 2018 to date. I would like the information broken down on a monthly basis with a brief summary of the items purchased.

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2022-05-05
Reference: FOI/202200284935
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Scottish Budget

Government spending on influencers in the last two years: FOI release

1. The amount spent by the Scottish Government on working with influencers in the last two years. Please break this down by year. 2. Please include details of the influencers (including name), how much they were paid and projects they were hired to work on. 3. The amount spent by the Scottish Government identifying inf...

FOI unclear 55 score 16 working days correspondence spending s.25(1)

Published: 2022-05-03
Reference: FOI/202200284746
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Scottish Budget

Cost of replacing the Scottish Government briefing backdrop: FOI release

The total cost of replacing the Scottish Government briefing backdrop following the realisation of it looking like the Russian navy flag.

FOI unclear 50 score 14 working days correspondence briefings spending

Published: 2022-05-03
Reference: FOI/202200285535
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Spend on external public relations (PR) and communications firms: FOI release

“The amount spent by the Scottish Government on using outside PR/communications firms in the last three years. Please break this down by year. Please include details of the firms used (including name), how much they were paid and projects they were hired to work on.”

FOI unclear 75 score 20 working days correspondence spending 2 attachments

Published: 2022-03-28
Reference: FOI/202200282462
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Guidance on official communications: FOI release

Copies of any style guides or documents used to advise Scottish Government employees or ministers on how to write communications going out internally or to the public.

FOI unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2022-03-03
Reference: FOI/202100268306
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Breakdown of marketing spend on Covid-19 public information campaigns: FOI release

“Costs to the Scottish taxpayer of the daily briefings and the information campaign alerting the public to the dangers of Covid.”

FOI unclear 50 score 16 working days correspondence briefings spending

Published: 2022-02-23
Reference: FOI/202200276186
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public sector

Scottish Government communication staff: FOI release

1. The number of communications staff. 2. A breakdown of these staff by job description and/or job title (e.g. number of press officers, heads of press office, directors of communications, social media staff, etc) and for each, their salary bands. 3. If available or applicable, please provide a breakdown of the above d...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence s.3

Published: 2022-02-16
Reference: FOI/202200269219
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

First Minister overseas travel: FOI release

Was the first minister on holiday abroad anytime from December 1st 2021 to January 7th 2022. If so what were her travel plans?

FOI unclear 50 score 13 working days correspondence ministers

Published: 2022-02-15
Reference: FOI/202200271194
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

Total cost of First Minister Christmas cards: FOI release

I would like to know using FOI act how much this Xmas card cost to design and print to the Scottish taxpayers.

FOI unclear 50 score 25 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending

Published: 2022-02-09
Reference: FOI/202100266101
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Prevalence and development of health campaigns which use acronyms: FOI release

Information relating to the prevalence and development of health campaigns that use acronyms such as FACTS and FAST with a specific focus on the following: 1. Why was an acronym chosen over a slogan for the FACTS campaign? 2. How much did the Scottish Government dedicate to FAST (Stroke campaign) or was it solely the W...

FOI unclear 50 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence

Published: 2022-02-07
Reference: FOI/202100265342
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public sector

Total spend on radio advertising in Grampian area: FOI release

The spend by all Departments of Scottish Government on radio advertising in the Grampian area regarding any topics that are directly or indirectly related to COVID-19 and variants between the dates of June 1st 2021 and December 14th 2021 inclusive, broken down by week number.

FOI unclear 50 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence spending

Published: 2022-02-04
Reference: FOI/202100264035
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Money and tax, Public sector

First Minister official meetings on 2 November 2021: FOI release

Email traffic between the First Minister's staff and: The staff of the Prime Minister of Belgium, regarding their meeting on the 2nd of November The staff of EIB president Werner Hoyer, regarding their meeting on the 2nd of November Associates of Greta Thunberg and Vanessa Nakate, regarding their meeting on the 1st of...

FOI unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.17(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2022-01-18
Reference: FOI/202100252780
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Guidance on display flags on official cars overseas: FOI release

The protocol / guidance used for displaying flags on official cars used by the First Minister on her visits to foreign countries.

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers

Published: 2022-01-05
Reference: FOI/202100253807
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

Process for on-boarding a new Ministerial appointment: FOI release

Could you please set out the process followed when a new government minister is appointed? I would like to know the following: 1. Who contacts the newly nominated minister to invite them to Bute House, how they are contacted and when they are contacted 2. What information is provided to the newly nominated minister ahe...

FOI unclear 55 score 26 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.4 s.17(1)

Published: 2021-12-21
Reference: FOI/202100249378
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Government social media accounts: FOI release

1. Who manages the social media pages on behalf of the Scottish Government? 2. Are individual people if so, how many and in addition, namely a subject with the name Richard L Russel or Richard Russell excluded from viewing such pages? If so why so? 3. During the pandemic did the Scottish Government take all reasonable ...

FOI unclear 55 score 98 working days over deadline correspondence s.1 s.3 s.4

Published: 2021-12-17
Reference: FOI/202100221455
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Marketing spend 2019-2021: FOI release

How much money the Scottish government has paid to external PR companies in the years 2020 and 2021 to date and the nature of the campaigns that they have been employed to undertake directly relating to enhancing the image of the Scottish government.

FOI unclear 50 score 40 working days over deadline correspondence spending

Published: 2021-11-05
Reference: FOI/202100244156
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Number of full time equivalent (FTE) frontline media roles: FOI release

"May I have updated information pertaining to the number of FTE (Full time equivalent) frontline media roles currently active in the Scottish Government? The previous statement from July was that there were 54.9 FTE jobs."

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence

Published: 2021-11-04
Reference: FOI/202100242442
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector, Work and skills

Information regarding Janey Godley appearance on Covid-19 advert: FOI release

1. Whether Scottish Government funds were used to pay Ms Godley? 2. If payment was taken out of the bike SNP party funds? 3. Will Ms Godley be reported to the police for hate crime?

FOI unclear 50 score 25 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending

Published: 2021-11-01
Reference: FOI/202100238775
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Money and tax, Public sector

Total spend of Covid-19 advertising: FOI release

You asked for the cost of all adverts about the coronavirus that are on TV and radio every day and how much is it costing for all these adverts to be shown daily especially the latest advert by Janey Godley

FOI unclear 50 score 26 working days over deadline correspondence spending

Published: 2021-11-01
Reference: FOI/202100237983
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Money and tax, Public sector

Business dealings with Janey Godley: FOI release

You asked for information in relation to the Scottish Government's business dealings with the comedian Janey Godley, including: A copy of all contracts and agreements. A list of all payments of (a) fees and (b) expenses, by date. A copy of all communications with JG or her agent. For each contract / agreement, a copy ...

FOI unclear 50 score 26 working days over deadline correspondence contracts spending

Published: 2021-11-01
Reference: FOI/202100237623
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Money and tax, Public sector

Janey Godley's appearance in Coronavirus advert : FOI release

How much Janey Godley was paid to star in the covid information adverts by the Scottish Government?

FOI unclear 50 score 27 working days over deadline correspondence spending

Published: 2021-10-29
Reference: FOI/202100236917
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Money and tax, Public sector

Cost relating to Ministerial roles for Green MSPs: FOI release

It is about the SNP Green Coalition and the cost to the British Taxpayer. It would be normal have two jobs out when two jobs are added to the costs of government but it seems in this case two jobs have been added …. Which adds to the costs of government. So my simple questions are 1 What is the total costs of adding tw...

FOI unclear 50 score 10 working days correspondence ministers spending

Published: 2021-10-19
Reference: FOI/202100235571
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Budgeted cost of Patrick Harvie MSP and Lorna Slater MSP: FOI release

What is the budgeted cost of Patrick Harvie MSP and Lorna Slater MSP, in their Ministerial roles. Specifically broken down by: Additional Government salary and pension Extra staff costs including salaries and pension Additional administrative costs Ancillary running costs Expenses including travel and accommodation

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence ministers spending

Published: 2021-10-14
Reference: FOI/202100235109
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector