Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

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
766 matching releases

MSP for Glasgow (Region) correspondence: FOI release

All correspondence between Scottish Government Ministers and Patrick Harvie since 8 May 2024.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.38 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-01-17
Reference
FOI/202400440051
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

MSP for Highlands and Islands (Region) correspondence: FOI release

All correspondence between Scottish Government Ministers and Ariane Burgess since 8 May 2024.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.38 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-01-17
Reference
FOI/202400440055
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

MSP for North East Scotland (Region) correspondence: FOI release

All correspondence between Scottish Government Ministers and Maggie Chapman since 8 May 2024.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.38 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-01-17
Reference
FOI/202400440058
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

MSP for West Scotland (Region) correspondence: FOI release

All correspondence between Scottish Government Ministers and Ross Greer since 8 May 2024.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.38 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-01-17
Reference
FOI/202400440057
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

Transcripts of press conferences by the Former First Minister: FOI release

“Digital transcripts of all press conferences, speeches, and briefings by the First Minister between the dates of 01/02/2020 and 31/05/2021.” I have interpreted ‘digital transcripts’ to mean both written transcripts and audio/video recordings.

FOI released 95 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings 2 attachments
Published
2024-12-17
Reference
FOI/202400437822
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence regarding Scottish Government Minister appearance on Sunday Show 6th October 2024: FOI release

Could you supply all documentation held, including correspondence sent and received (including internal), briefings, minutes/notes from meetings, about a Scottish Government Minister appearance on the Sunday Show on October 6, referencing either Paul McLennan or Shirley-Anne Somerville?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.38 2 attachments
Published
2024-12-17
Reference
FOI/202400437470
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Directorate for Communications and Ministerial Support staffing, specific spend details and Ministerial code guidance: FOI release

1. The total number of staff employed in the Directorate of Comms, Ministerial Support and Facilities (also known as Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate) in each of the following financial years: 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 and currently in 2024-25, broken down by pay scale. 2. What training cour...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings spending s.3 s.5 s.17(1) s.9 4 attachments
Published
2024-12-17
Reference
FOI/202400437904
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Redactions in WhatsAPP/text message documents: FOI Appeal

1. Please add to the released document all the "out of scope" redactions as the overall information is impossible to digest without their inclusion (86 out of scope redactions in 106 pages) 2. There are about 900 redacted text sections in the 106 pages released. It is unclear how many words, sentences, etc have been u...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 114 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.29(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2024-11-25
Reference
FOI/202400410703 - Appeal
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Correspondence on the death of former First Minister Alex Salmond: FOI release

1. A copy of all emails of staff members of the First Minister’s office that refer to the news of Alex Salmond’s death. The time range of this request is Saturday 12th October to Monday 14th October. Staff members refers to all workers recognised as working directly for the First Minister. All emails means emails se...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.38(1) s.30 s.28(1) s.39(1) s.34(1) s.2 s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-11-20
Reference
FOI/202400436164
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence regarding Scottish Labour leader comments on Housing Minister: FOI release

All correspondence (including emails) since 24 September in relation to the topic of Labour leader Anas Sarwar calling for Paul McLennan to be sacked from his role as Housing Minister.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 13 working days correspondence ministers s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-11-20
Reference
FOI/202400436871
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Correspondence mentioning ‘Oasis’ or ‘Oasis tickets’: FOI Review

Orginal Request 202400430224 A copy of all emails in the inbox of any of the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretaries in which ‘Oasis’ or ‘Oasis tickets’ is mentioned. You can search this by putting those words into the search box bit. Do this for each cabinet secretary. The time frame for this would be 25th August to ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 14 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-11-14
Reference
FOI 202400436053 Review of 202400430224
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, 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

Former Cabinet Secretary for Finance WhatsApp messages from ministerial position during the Covid 19 pandemic: FOI Review

Orginal Request 202400422240 ‘MSP Kate Forbes’ WhatsApp messages from her ministerial role during the COVID-19 pandemic’.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.28(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-11-01
Reference
FOI/202400426539 Review of 202400422240
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

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

Guidance for briefings for each Scottish Government Minister: FOI release

The guidance and templates for briefings for every Scottish Government Minister currently in post.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.29(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-10-31
Reference
FOI/202400432765
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, 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

Correspondence from senior civil servants including specified phrases: FOI release

‘Between 23 April and 1 June 2024, any e-mails or correspondence from senior civil servants including the phrase “SNP leadership contest”, “SNP leadership”, “leadership contest” or “leadership race”.’

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-10-23
Reference
FOI/202400432062
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

Media bids for Minister for Veterans and the Minister for Higher and Further Education: FOI release

Details of all the media bids for Graeme Dey since his appointment Minister for Higher and Further Education and Minister for Veterans; Can you indicate if those media bids were successful or unsuccessful? Can you also release all correspondence about media bids?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.30 s.29(1) s.29 4 attachments
Published
2024-10-21
Reference
FOI/202400431940
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

Former Minister for Public Health and Sport's WhatsApp messages during the Covid 19 pandemic: FOI Review

Original request 202400427867 MSP Mairi Gougeon's What's App messages from her Ministerial position during the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.29(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-10-15
Reference
FOI/202400432336 Review of 202400427867
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector