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

1,312 matching releases

Scottish Government advertising spend on social media platform X: FOI release

A record of all spending by the Scottish Government and associated departments on any advertising on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) since October 27th, 2022. Please break this down by month and from which project and/or department.

FOI unclear 50 score 15 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2025-03-12
Reference: FOI/202500451618
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Parliamentary question costs: FOI release

How much does it cost in 2024-25 for Scottish Government officials to respond to one parliamentary question? How much did it cost in 2023-24 for Scottish Government officials to respond to one parliamentary question?

FOI unclear 55 score 11 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)

Published: 2025-03-04
Reference: FOI/202500452185
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Freedom of Information publications and reasons for non-publication: FOI release

A full list of all FOISA request reference numbers for 2021-2025 including the date of publication of the response on the Scottish Government Website, and a separate list of all FOISA publications which have been responded to by the requestor but not published and the reason for nonpublication.

FOI/EIR released 100 score 20 working days correspondence s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-04
Reference: FOI/202500450423
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Advertising and public information campaign queries: FOI release

1. A list of all government-funded advertising or public information campaigns that were abandoned before launch between 2019 and the present. 2. The total cost incurred for each abandoned campaign, including but not limited to media planning, creative development, consultancy fees, and production costs. 3. The reaso...

FOI unclear 55 score 15 working days correspondence spending s.3

Published: 2025-02-25
Reference: FOI/202500450714
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Ministerial salary information: FOI release

I am responding to the following three of the your 17 questions: 9. For year 2023 - provide the salary breakdown of each Scottish Ministers and any increases that were allocated and to whom and the amount 10. For year 2024 - provide the salary breakdown of Scottish Ministers and any increases that were allocated and ...

FOI unclear 55 score 7 working days correspondence ministers spending s.17(1)

Published: 2025-02-24
Reference: FOI/202500451978
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Media requests from broadcasters to interview Scottish Government Ministers: FOI release

A list of how many media requests were made by broadcasters to speak to Scottish Government Ministers between December 1 2024 and the date of this FOI, and whether they were rejected and accepted, the Minister wanted and the reasons for acceptance and rejection.

FOI released 100 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.2 s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-02-21
Reference: FOI/202500449172
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

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

Cost of First Minister's trip to France for D-Day commemorations: FOI release

A full breakdown of the costs of John Swinney heading to France for D-Day commemoration, including money spent on civil servants and people who accompanied him.

FOI partially withheld 65 score 13 working days correspondence ministers spending s.39(1)

Published: 2025-02-18
Reference: FOI/202500449160
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: International, 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

Correspondence between the Scottish Government and Elon Musk: FOI release

Any emails sent by Scottish government special advisers which mention Elon Musk between January 1st and today, January 7th. Any emails sent by Scottish government media officers (press officers) which mention Elon Musk between January 1st and today, January 7th. Any emails sent by, or on behalf of, Scottish government ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 s.32(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-02-14
Reference: FOI/202500446991
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Requests for First Minister to appear on podcasts: FOI release

A full list of requests for First Ministers to appear on podcasts in 2022, 2023, 2024, along with the name of the podcast and whether it was accepted or not, and reason why it was rejected.

FOI not held 45 score 18 working days correspondence ministers s.17(1)

Published: 2025-02-14
Reference: FOI/202500446688
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Correspondence regarding social media misinformation: FOI release

All the documentation received or sent by John Swinney/his office including minutes/notes from meetings, correspondence sent and received (including internal), briefings and policy notes, about social media misinformation and what can be done, between August 1 2024 and August 15 2024.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2025-02-14
Reference: FOI/202500446556
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Business, industry and innovation, 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

Appointment of Independent Advisers on the Scottish Ministerial Code: FOI release

1. Following the appointment of new independent ministerial code advisers, whether the Scottish Government opened up applications to the public for the position of independent adviser on the ministerial code. If so, how many applicants were there for the position? 2. If not, how many people were interviewed for the po...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings s.17(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-01-28
Reference: FOI/202400445249
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

Engagements attended by Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity: FOI release

A list of Jim Fairlie’s engagements as Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity from 1 November 2024 and the minutes of those engagements.

FOI not held 70 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.17(1) s.38(1) s.28 4 attachments

Published: 2025-01-27
Reference: FOI/202400444866
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

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 Ministers and disclosure checks: FOI release

1. Whether Scottish Ministers undergo any form of disclosure check before, during or after their appointment as a Scottish Minister. 2. If yes, please provide the outcomes of these checks for each current Scottish Minister. 3. Please also state whether the First Minister is aware of any criminal convictions (either s...

FOI not held 45 score 15 working days correspondence ministers s.15(1) s.17

Published: 2025-01-21
Reference: FOI/202400443080
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Former Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care correspondence: FOI release

All correspondence sent and received by the Scottish Government, including internally, all briefings, all analysis, all minutes/notes from meetings, about or from Michael Matheson, from between September 1 2024 and October 1.

FOI already published 80 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.36 s.30 s.38 2 attachments

Published: 2025-01-21
Reference: FOI/202400442492
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Materials for the Scottish Government's public Ayr Cabinet Meeting: FOI release

Full minutes/briefings written for the Scottish Government's public Ayr Cabinet Meeting on November 4.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-01-21
Reference: FOI/202400442735
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Communities and third sector, Public sector