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

Election related communications mentioning Reform UK: FOI release

A copy of any emails, instant messages, texts, or handwritten notes by the permanent secretary or director-generals which mention the Reform party in the context of the Holyrood election.

FOI unclear 75 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence 4 attachments

Published: 2026-07-22
Reference: FOI/202600516320
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Freedom of information requests declined by Scottish Government due to cost: FOI release

I would be grateful if the SG could confirm that from 01/01/24 to date how many requests for information under FOI have been declined on the grounds of cost to reply?

FOI cost limit 45 score 10 working days correspondence spending s.12

Published: 2026-07-22
Reference: FOI/202600511756
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Stripe Communications procurement documents: FOI release

Please can you provide the successful pitch from Stripe Communications for the procurement of reference number JUL360697 which commenced on 21.6.19. Please also provide the notification from yourselves to the successful bidder.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence contracts s.33(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-07-20
Reference: FOI/202600515117
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Home and hybrid working policies for Scottish Government staff: FOI release

I am writing to make a request for information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. I would be grateful if you could provide the following information: 1. What is the Scottish Government's current hybrid working policy, including the minimum number of days per week or month that staff in hybrid roles...

FOI not held 45 score 19 working days correspondence meetings s.5 s.8 s.25(1) s.17(1)

Published: 2026-07-15
Reference: FOI/202600515340
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Cabinet Secretary for Health's expenses claims and receipts in 2026: FOI release

Under FOI, please provide copies of expense claims and all corresponding receipts for Neil Gray in 2026.

FOI unclear 55 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1)

Published: 2026-07-15
Reference: FOI/202600514652
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Correspondence which mentions King Charles: FOI release

Could you supply all documentation held by the Scottish Government, including correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from meetings, briefings and analysis, which mentions King Charles, limited to the first ministers office and external affairs/constitution office between February 15 2026 a...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.38(1) s.41 s.30 4 attachments

Published: 2026-07-14
Reference: FOI/202600514691
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Election 2026 Internal Readiness Project Board documentation: FOI release

The actions notes, substantive papers, update reports to senior leadership, distributed by the Election 2026 Internal Readiness Project Board, referred to by the response to FOI 202600509907

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence s.38(1) s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2026-07-13
Reference: FOI/202600514532
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Freedom of Information vexatious or repeated requests data: FOI Review

Original request 202600510718 1) Please provide the number of Freedom of Information requests refused by the Scottish Government for being vexatious since John Swinney became First Minister. Also provide the same for the time Humza Yousaf was First Minister and the same for when Nicola Sturgeon was First Minister. 2)...

FOI already published 55 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings spending s.14 s.17(1) s.25(1) s.38(1) s.14(1) s.15(1) s.21

Published: 2026-07-13
Reference: FOI/202600514634 Review of 202600510718
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care expense claims for 2024: FOI release

Copies of expense claims and all corresponding receipts for Neil Gray in 2024.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-05-20
Reference: FOI/202600514649
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government expense claims for 2025: FOI release

Copies of expense claims and all corresponding receipts for Shona Robison in 2025.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-05-20
Reference: FOI/202600514653
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government expense claims for 2024: FOI release

Copies of expense claims and all corresponding receipts for Shona Robison in 2024.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-05-20
Reference: FOI/202600514655
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Podcast transcript for Preparing for the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary Election: FOI release

Any intranet posts and comments on or about the Election 2026 Internal Readiness Project Board between February 1 2026 to April 13 2026.

FOI released 95 score 20 working days correspondence 2 attachments

Published: 2026-05-20
Reference: FOI/202600514538
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Compliance Metrics and quality assurance processes for FOI case management and documentation in 2025: FOI release

“Under FOI, please provide me with stats and figures relating to “casserole compliance” in 2025. Please also explain how every FOI case is quality assured that the same “compliance documents” are filled out and stored in the case file”.

FOI unclear 75 score 9 working days correspondence 2 attachments

Published: 2026-05-15
Reference: FOI/202600514647
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Direct communication between the First Minister and Permanent Secretary and their associated offices: FOI Review

Original Request 202600508787 Under FOI, I would like to request all documentation exchanged between the (1) First Minister and his office, and (2) Joe griffin and his office from 01 December to the date of this FOI. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not where either party have been copied to a chain of emails. Thi...

FOI cost limit 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2026-05-14
Reference: FOI/202600513029 - Review of 202600508787
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Brand Scotland marketing spend information: FOI release

1. For each financial year since 2020-21, please provide the amount spent on marketing by Brand Scotland, if possible, broken down by category (ie digital, broadcast, print, etc). 2. Please also provide the budgets for this spending in the current and next financial year.

FOI unclear 50 score 13 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2026-05-13
Reference: FOI/202600503218
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

First Minister emails relating to Lord Advocate and former Chief Executive of the Scottish National Party: FOI release

A copy of any email in the First Minister’s inbox (sent by him or received by him) relating to the Lord Advocate or Peter Murrell that was received or sent on 16th, February, 17th February, 18th February and 19th February.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.36(1) s.28(1) s.35(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-05-13
Reference: FOI/202600512647
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Number of Freedom of Information requests which have proceeded to a review: FOI release

I would like statistics on the number of FOIs which were dealt with by Ministerial Private Pffice staff and the number of those FOIs which then needed to be reviewed in 2025. For avoidance of doubt, this is an FOI Review. I would also like stats on the overall number of FOIs received by Scottish Government in 2025 and...

FOI unclear 50 score 6 working days correspondence ministers

Published: 2026-05-13
Reference: FOI/202600505303
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Ministerial expenses of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon: FOI release

In light of the information pertaining to Peter Murrell it is clear that there might have been some fraudulent activity with regards to SNP accounts. Can you please advise and reassure us that the expenses of the former first minister Nicola Sturgeon have been thoroughly checked to ensure that the same invoices were no...

FOI unclear 55 score 19 working days correspondence ministers spending s.17(1)

Published: 2026-05-13
Reference: FOI/202600506652
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Sensitive and routine Freedom of Information request statistics: FOI release

In reference to the express article linked here: https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-special-advisers-oversawhundreds-35647218 1) How many FOI requests from January 16th 2025 to January 15th 2026 were deemed "routine" 2) How many FOI requests from January 16th 2025 to January 15th 2026 were deeme...

FOI unclear 50 score 13 working days correspondence ministers special advisers

Published: 2026-05-12
Reference: FOI/202600513776
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Freedom of Information request statistics: FOI release

1. The number of FOIs dealt with by the Scottish Government in a) 2025 b) 2024 c) 2023 d) 2022. 2. The number of FOIs not responded to within the 28 day time frame in a) 2025 b) 2024 c) 2023 d) 2022. 3. The number of FOIs not responded to within 20 days of receiving confirmation following a clarification request a) 2...

FOI unclear 50 score 17 working days correspondence

Published: 2026-05-12
Reference: FOI/202600501634
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Cost of running the “We are Scotland" campaign: FOI release

The total cost/total budgeted cost of running the campaign entitled “We are Scotland - Scottish Government’s Community Cohesion Campaign” broken down by type of cost – for example, television advertising, outdoor advertising, graphic creation, etc.

FOI unclear 50 score 16 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2026-05-12
Reference: FOI/202600501724
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Minutes sent by Lord Advocates to First Minister and government staff advising of upcoming court cases: FOI release

Please send me all minutes sent by Lord Advocates to First Ministers and government staff advising them of high profile cases due in court. The Lord Advocate said the minute on the Murrell case on 19 January 2026 was part of a routine series of minutes and these minutes do not contain any privileged information that w...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.26 s.35(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-05-12
Reference: FOI/202600507614
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

First Minister Branchform update correspondence: FOI release

The Lord Advocate has shared a list of other occasions in which she informed the First Minister of details of criminal cases. The list revealed that on 20th March 2025 the First Minister was informed about Peter Murrell appearing in court, the charge of embezzlement, and an estimated amount of alleged embezzlement amo...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.34(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-05-12
Reference: FOI/202600508326
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

First Minister emails related to the Lord Advocate and the former Chief Executive of the Scottish National Party: FOI release

A copy of any email in the First Minister’s inbox relating to the Lord Advocate or Peter Murrell that was received on 20th February, 21st February , 22nd February and 23rd February. (2026)

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 s.29(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-05-12
Reference: FOI/202600508331
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Permanent Secretary correspondence: FOI release

Under FOI I would like to request all correspondence and notes of meetings between Joe Griffin and ministers in January 2026 to date.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2026-05-12
Reference: FOI/202600509753
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector