Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

22,922releases indexed
40,952attachments found
29.5avg calendar days
8,507partially withheld
2016-06-13oldest in sample
2026-11-04newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,507 unclear 7,460 not held 3,292 released 1,599 already published 716 cost limit 637 clarification 377 withheld 251 transferred 83

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 5225 s.20 4485 s.34(1) 3789 s.39(2) 3640 s.30 3038 s.17(1) 2981 s.25(1) 2557 s.10(4) 2089 s.11(2) 1639 s.29(1) 1249 s.2 1245 s.3 980

Timeline

2026-11 48 2026-10 227 2026-09 8 2026-08 299 2026-07 476 2026-06 1 2026-05 410 2026-04 312

Directorate Profiles

Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate 1,336 releases · 27.8 avg days Marine Directorate 991 releases · 29.7 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 972 releases · 31.1 avg days Learning Directorate 871 releases · 34.3 avg days Economic Development Directorate 741 releases · 39.6 avg days Constitution Directorate 710 releases · 35.8 avg days Population Health Directorate 678 releases · 28.6 avg days People Directorate 667 releases · 25.5 avg days
Clear
1,336 matching releases

Legal advice given to the Scottish Government/ministers in reference to The Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Commissioner: FOI Review

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 cost limit 45 score 19 working days correspondence ministers spending s.21(4) s.60 s.12
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400445371 review of 202300390057
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Documents and legal advise relating to decision notice (193/2024): FOI release

In relation to decision notice (193/2024), you asked for: 1) In regards to the legal advice that was released. When were the last edits made to the documents that were released? 2) Any communications (whatsapps, emails, texts anything) by ministers, spads, civil servants discussing when to release the legal advice, w...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers whatsapp s.38 s.26 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400445520
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Legal advice in response to Scottish Information Commissioner’s decision 193/2024: FOI release

In regards to FOI 202400445520, the following passage exists within the information released: "For information at this stage, I am attaching a copy of all the legal advice that we will release in response to the Scottish Information Commissioner’s recent decision 193/2024. There are 25 separate documents (named A-Y), ...

FOI already published 80 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1) s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202500448605
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Information regarding the decision not to give the Scottish Information Commissioner legal advice: FOI release

1) Any and all communications, meetings, minutes, records discussing/referencing the decision not to give the Scottish Information Commissioner the legal advice requested from FOI 202300390057 during his investigation that resulted in decision notice 193/2024. 2) Who within the Scottish Government made the decision no...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202500448762
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Information regarding the Ministerial Statement: Legal Advice Relating to Scottish Information Commissioner Decision: FOI Review

Original request 202400445432 1) All briefing notes provided to ministers (e.g. John Swinney, Jamie Hepburn) in preparation of the statement to the Scottish Parliament on the 29th of October: Ministerial Statement: Legal Advice Relating to Scottish Information Commissioner Decision by civil servants, SPADs and anyone ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 2 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings whatsapp s.21(4) s.25 s.38(1) s.36(1) s.30 6 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202500452157 Review of 202400445432
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Criteria for responding to FOI requests: FOI release

1) It is a requirement that SPADs and/or the FM's chief of staff clear FOI responses from civil servants in the FOI unit? 2) How many FOIs were received by the Scottish Government in 2024, and how many of these were cleared by SPADs and/or FM's chief of staff before release? 3) What is the purpose of the following em...

FOI/EIR cost limit 45 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.20 s.3 s.12 s.25(1) s.5
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202500447375
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Special Advisers relationship with Freedom of Information requests: FOI Review

Original request 202500447375 1) It is a requirement that SPADs and/or the FM's chief of staff clear FOI responses from civil servants in the FOI unit? 2) How many FOIs were received by the Scottish Government in 2024, and how many of these were cleared by SPADs and/or FM's chief of staff before release? 3) What is ...

FOI clarification 50 score 8 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings spending
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202500452341 Review of 202500447375
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Queries regarding information provided to the Scottish Information Commissioner: FOI release

1) Has or did the Scottish Government order any kind of internal review and/or investigation as a result of the discovery that it had misled the SIC? 2) I request a copy of any report or communications surrounding such internal review and/or investigation. 3) Has anyone within the Scottish Government been dismissed o...

FOI not held 45 score 18 working days correspondence s.17(1)
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202500452202
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Information pertaining to Scottish Information Commissioner decision 004/2023: FOI release

In relation to the legal advice released by the Scottish Government in October 2024 in relation SIC decision notice 004/2023 and the court case XA10/23. The following passages exist: "It shows that Ministers failed to convey accurately the true position when making submissions to the Commissioner" and "Scottish Minist...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.3 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202500452221
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Former Minister for Public Health, Women's Health and Sport WhatsApp messages during the COVID-19 pandemic: FOI Review

Original request (202400395588) I wish to make a Freedom of Information Request for MSP Maree Todds WhatsApp messages from her ministeral role during the COVID-19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 61 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.37(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.36 s.38(1) s.36(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400405863 Review of 202400395588
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

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

Original request 202400426487 MSP Claire Haughey What's App messages from her ministerial position during the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400430870 Review of 202400426487
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Shona Robison's Covid 19 WhatsApp messages: FOI Review

Original request 202400427831 MSP Shona Robison's What's App messages from her ministerial position during the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.29(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI202400430842 Review of 202400427831
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Former Minister for Mental Health WhatsApp messages from February 2020 to February 2021: FOI release

1. Requesting Clare Haughey's WhatsApp messages from February 2020 to February 2021.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400438990
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Former Director General for Education and Justice WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

I wish to make a Freedom of Information Request for the following individuals WhatsApp messages from the Covid 19 pandemic. Paul Johnston.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence whatsapp s.25(1) 10 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400439469
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Mairi McAllan's WhatsApp messages during the Covid-19 pandemic: FOI Review

Original request: 202400435281 You asked for Mairi McAllan's WhatsApp messages from the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 78 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400436608 Review of 202400435281
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, Public sector

National newspaper spend: FOI release

1. The total value of news subscriptions paid for the National newspaper by the Scottish Government in 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 so far. Where possible, please breakdown these payments by the directorate responsible for paying these subscriptions too. 2. Of the media monitoring services the Scottish Government pays...

FOI unclear 50 score 11 working days correspondence ministers contracts spending
Published
2025-03-19
Reference
FOI/202500452859
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Eid Mubarak celebration at Edinburgh Castle: FOI release

Correspondence held by the Scottish Government, including all sent/received and internal, briefing notes, minutes/notes from meetings, about the Eid Mubarak celebration at Edinburgh Castle, funded by the government, between April 1 and May 1 2024.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 120 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.32(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-18
Reference
FOI/202400432000
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Access to Information Rights in Scotland: FOI release

You set your request in context by referencing the Scottish Government’s response to the Access to Information Rights in Scotland consultation: Access to Information Rights in Scotland Response to analysis of consultation responses published in November 2023, noting the following commitments made by the Scottish Govern...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.4 s.6 s.17(1) s.38(1) s.36(1) s.29(1) 4 attachments
Published
2025-03-18
Reference
FOI/202500450915
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Briefing materials provided to Ministers for appearances at Scottish Parliament portfolio questions sessions: FOI release

All briefing materials provided to Ministers for appearances at Scottish Parliament portfolio questions sessions on 5 February 2025. I mean to refer to briefing materials compiled or given at any time in the current Scottish Parliamentary term, but to narrow down these materials to just those provided for Portfolio Que...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.30 s.33(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-18
Reference
FOI/202500451876
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Meeting between Special Adviser and Shell UK Limited: FOI release

Information regarding the meeting between Davie Hutchison and Shell U.K. Limited at the Scottish Parliament on the 5th of September 2024. A full list of attendees, including full names and titles as well as those who the attendee represents A copy of the meeting agenda Meeting notes/minutes taken during the meeting, a...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 16 working days correspondence special advisers briefings meetings s.17
Published
2025-03-13
Reference
FOI/202500451632
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Specific Scottish Government electronic purchasing cards (ePC) charges: FOI Review

Original request: 202400437794 1) All the purchases on the Scottish Government electronic purchasing cards from September 2023 onwards which relates to expenditure directly for Scottish Ministers. For example, expenditure related to their personal travel, accommodation, food, items for their ministerial office etc. Pl...

FOI not held 70 score correspondence ministers spending s.3 s.4 s.5 s.6 s.21(4) s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.39(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-12
Reference
FOI/202500450004 Review of 202400437795
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

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