Scottish Government FOI Index

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

s.38(1) 5149 s.20 4430 s.34(1) 3727 s.39(2) 3593 s.30 2994 s.17(1) 2922 s.25(1) 2520 s.10(4) 2060 s.11(2) 1619 s.29(1) 1223 s.2 1222 s.3 958

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

Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate 1,312 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 978 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 961 releases · 30.9 avg days Learning Directorate 871 releases · 34.3 avg days Economic Development Directorate 737 releases · 39.7 avg days Constitution Directorate 702 releases · 35.9 avg days Population Health Directorate 665 releases · 28.5 avg days People Directorate 657 releases · 25.6 avg days

Clear

533 matching releases

Freedom of Information requests received regarding ministerial trip to Scottish League Cup Final: FOI release

How many FOI requests about Neil Gray's ministerial trip to the Scottish League Cup Final on December 17 have been made, and how many were registered as sensitive and were sent to Special Advisers for comment and onwards to Ministers for clearance? Could you supply each of these "sensitive" FOI requests, who they went...

FOI unclear 50 score 4 working days correspondence ministers special advisers

Published: 2025-02-20
Reference: FOI/202500451289
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Freedom of Information request queries: FOI release

1. In case the Scottish Government does not currently have resources to answer all of the questions to a Freedom of Information request, what questions does the Scottish Government select from the request? Will the questions be answered in order, or will only the easiest questions be answered, or anything else? 2. How...

FOI/EIR unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence briefings s.14 s.60 s.20

Published: 2025-02-18
Reference: FOI/202500447643
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, 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

Freedom of Information requests sent to Special Advisers and Ministers: FOI release

1. How many FOI requests have been sent to Special Advisers and Ministers in the last 12 months, and how many haven't been sent in the same time period? 2. Could you detail which one they had been sent to i.e Special Adviser or Minister or both?

FOI/EIR unclear 55 score 14 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.20

Published: 2025-02-14
Reference: FOI/202500448221
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Former First Minister's outfits for Covid-19 briefings: FOI release

During Covid, First Minister Sturgeon was seen to be wearing a different outfit every night, was this paid for by the Scottish Government? Could you send the details out as soon as possible under the Freedom of information act.

FOI unclear 50 score 6 working days correspondence ministers briefings

Published: 2025-01-31
Reference: FOI/202500448339
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: 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

Meetings between the First Minister and newspaper editors: FOI release

The number and list of meetings the First Minister has had with newspaper editors since taking office, and for the minutes/notes from these meetings.

FOI unclear 50 score 7 working days correspondence ministers meetings

Published: 2025-01-29
Reference: FOI/202500447632
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Ministerial responsibility for Scottish Canals: FOI release

Ministerial Responsibility: 1. Which Minister(s) in the Scottish Government have had overall responsibility for Scottish Canals since 1 January 2022? 2. Please provide start and end dates, if there is more than one person. 3. Have any Ministers of State or other ministerial officials been assigned specific responsib...

FOI unclear 55 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.3 s.4

Published: 2025-01-27
Reference: FOI/202400444627
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

Training days attended by Special Advisers: FOI release

A breakdown of costs associated with any away days or training days attended by Special Advisers (SpAds) over the past five years. Details of the dates, locations, and purposes of these events.

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence special advisers spending s.17(1)

Published: 2025-01-22
Reference: FOI/202400444261
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

Scottish Government document download statistics: FOI release

Of all documents published by the Scottish Government on the Scottish Government website in the past year, please provide a breakdown of number of documents by the number of times they were downloaded. For example: Download Count Number of Documents 0 55 1 19 2 14 …. … [number of times the single most popular document...

FOI unclear 80 score 15 working days correspondence s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-01-20
Reference: FOI/202400442665
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Scottish Government Marketing and Brand Team data: FOI release

The total amount of money spent by the Scottish Government’s Marketing and Brand Team in each of the following financial years: 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 so far. Please provide any breakdown of this spending where possible. The number of employees in the Scottish Government’s Marketing and Brand Team in eac...

FOI unclear 75 score 19 working days correspondence ministers spending 2 attachments

Published: 2025-01-20
Reference: FOI/202400442234
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Bute House building costs in the last 5 years: FOI release

Could you supply the full costs of Bute House's upkeep from each of the last five years, with a breakdown by year and breakdown of each cost.

FOI unclear 50 score 13 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2025-01-16
Reference: FOI/202400439556
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Building, planning and design, Public sector

Costs for advert regarding driving when tired: FOI release

A breakdown of how much the driving when tired advert cost.

FOI unclear 50 score 12 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2025-01-09
Reference: FOI/202400440113
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Ministerial engagements when minister has been accompanied by family member or friend: FOI release

Please provide a list of all ministerial engagements in 2022, 2023 and 2024 when the minister has been accompanied by a spouse/partner, other family member or friend. In each case, please confirm: What was the relation of the guest to the minister? What was the reason that the minister was accompanied by a friend or f...

FOI unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.17(1) s.9 2 attachments

Published: 2024-12-17
Reference: FOI/202400440968
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Information disclosed from Scottish Information Commissioner decision 186/2024: FOI release

All of the information disclosed to the applicant due to the Scottish Information Commissioner's decision 186/2024 which the Scottish Government was required to disclose by 18th October 2024.

FOI unclear 75 score 17 working days correspondence 2 attachments

Published: 2024-11-26
Reference: FOI/202400436059
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Tickets received for Taylor Swift concerts: FOI release

A list of Employees & Elected Members / Members of Parliament & Scottish Parliament & any other under your or guests of your remit who received tickets for the Taylor Swift concerts in the UK for her tour in the Summer of 2024.

FOI unclear 50 score 11 working days correspondence ministers

Published: 2024-11-05
Reference: FOI/202400435991
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Number and cost of press, communications and media officers: FOI release

1. The total number of full-time equivalent (FTE) press and/or communications and/or media officers employed over the last five financial years (broken down by year). 2. The total cost (including salaries, benefits, and other associated costs) of employing these press and/or communications and/or media officers over t...

FOI unclear 50 score 41 working days over deadline correspondence spending

Published: 2024-11-04
Reference: FOI/202400433761
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Mobile phone usage of Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice: FOI release

You asked for confirmation of whether or not the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice has a government mobile and whether or not it is used for sending text or WhatsApp messages, as well as a copy of all messages sent and received on the 7th October, 8th October and 9th October.

FOI unclear 50 score 7 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp

Published: 2024-10-28
Reference: FOI/202400435419
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Legal advice given to the Scottish Government/ministers in reference to The Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Commissioner (case reference number XA10/23): FOI Appeal

Original request - 202300390057 All legal advice given to the Scottish Government/ministers in reference to the court case known as The Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Commissioner (case reference number XA10/23). This includes legal advice given in relation to the decision to appeal, as well as advice i...

FOI unclear 80 score 160 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-10-26
Reference: FOI/202400394394 - Appeal
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Projected cost of the 10.2% increase given to Consultant Doctors: FOI release

What is the yearly projected cost of the 10.2% increase given to Consultant Doctors?

FOI unclear 55 score 5 working days correspondence spending s.25(1)

Published: 2024-10-15
Reference: FOI/202400434059
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector

Consultations published by Scottish Government since May 2021: FOI release

How many consultations the Scottish Government have published since May 2021.

FOI unclear 50 score 17 working days correspondence

Published: 2024-10-14
Reference: FOI/202400430198
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Scottish Government communications policy: FOI release

a) In relation to SMP's who administers their inbox by reference to each SMP? b) Where there is an PA/Office Manager (civil service) is used, whether there is a standard rubric that they work to in relation to classifying information received and presenting to the minister? c) In reference to GDPR requests whether th...

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings

Published: 2024-10-14
Reference: FOI/202400429891
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Communities and third sector, Public sector

Documents and communications mentioning various MSP's: FOI release

1. All mentions of Russell Findlay in Scottish Government documents/communications since the 1st July 2024? 2. All mentions of Murdo Fraser in Scottish Government documents/communications since the 1st July 2024? 3. All mentions of Meghan Gallagher in Scottish Government documents/communications since the 1st July 20...

FOI unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence

Published: 2024-10-07
Reference: FOI/202400427080
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Social media campaigns aimed at supporting young people away from violence: FOI release

Since August 2023 has the Scottish Government help facilitate any social media campaigns aimed at supporting young people away from violence? If so, please could you provide details of that campaign(s) eg. when it took place, on what platform and for how long it ran Also, if so, can you detail how much said campaign(s)...

FOI unclear 50 score 11 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2024-10-04
Reference: FOI/202400427690
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Children and families, Public sector