Scottish Government FOI Index

21,863releases indexed

39,476attachments found

29.7avg calendar days

8,112partially withheld

2016-06-13oldest in sample

2026-05-20newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,112 unclear 7,200 not held 3,069 released 1,537 already published 671 cost limit 607 clarification 349 withheld 241 transferred 77

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4931 s.20 4280 s.34(1) 3589 s.39(2) 3481 s.30 2878 s.17(1) 2774 s.25(1) 2381 s.10(4) 1987 s.11(2) 1571 s.29(1) 1175 s.2 1158 s.3 908

Timeline

2026-05 410 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 1,279 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 967 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 923 releases · 31.0 avg days Learning Directorate 861 releases · 34.4 avg days Economic Development Directorate 729 releases · 39.9 avg days Constitution Directorate 685 releases · 36.1 avg days Population Health Directorate 645 releases · 28.7 avg days People Directorate 633 releases · 25.8 avg days

Clear

1,279 matching releases

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

Consenting process for Green Volt offshore wind farm: FOI release

At FMQs on 31st October 2024, John Swinney was asked about the consenting process for the Green Volt offshore wind farm, and he said this: “Earlier this year, information was released under freedom of information requests that showed that there had been no breaches of protocol.” Can you please identify which FOI resp...

FOI released 70 score 16 working days correspondence

Published: 2025-01-17
Reference: FOI/202400442028
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Energy, 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

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

Information regarding cost and numbers of received FOI requests: FOI release

How much would each Calendar day cost for a FOI request” to narrow the scope of your previous request which asked for “A copy of all FOI done to the Scottish government and there reply’s since legislation has been passed”. In addition you asked separately “Is there a maximum amount of FOI 1 person can have at a single ...

FOI not held 45 score 20 working days correspondence briefings spending s.17(1) s.14

Published: 2024-11-27
Reference: FOI/202400436903
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

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

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

List of Freedom of Information requests submitted: FOI release

In FOI Request Number 202400432136, it was disclosed that 'Journalist A' of the Daily Express, has submitted 353 FOI/EIR Requests so far in 2024. I would like to request, under the FOI Scotland Act, the following information: A list of the text of all FOI requests made by this requester. With requests that were refus...

FOI already published 80 score 18 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.12 2 attachments

Published: 2024-11-20
Reference: FOI/202400436151
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

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

Public Relations (PR) spend by the Scottish Government: FOI release

1. Total annual expenditure, from 2015 to present, annually, on public relations firms by: a. The Scottish Government b. All public bodies (broken down by public body) 2. Total annual expenditure, from 2015 to present, annually, on public relations firms by the Scottish Government, broken down by PR firm hired. 3. ...

FOI not held 45 score 20 working days correspondence contracts spending s.17(1)

Published: 2024-11-04
Reference: FOI/202400433499
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, 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

Former Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport WhatApp messages from her Ministerial position during Covid: FOI release

Jeane Freeman's WhatsApp messages from her ministerial position during the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.25(1) s.38(1) s.28 2 attachments

Published: 2024-11-01
Reference: FOI/202400426486
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 Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills of Scotland WhatsApp messages during the Covid 19 pandemic: FOI release

Shirley-Anne-Somerville's WhatsApp messages from her ministerial position during the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.38(1) s.29(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-11-01
Reference: FOI/202400427868
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

Minister for Public Finance WhatsApp messages during the Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

Ivan McKee's WhatsApp messages from the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI released 95 score 9 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp 2 attachments

Published: 2024-11-01
Reference: FOI/202400435290
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, 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