Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

8,100releases indexed
12,778attachments found
26.3avg calendar days
3,233partially withheld
2024-04-15oldest in sample
2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 3,233 unclear 2,138 not held 1,271 released 577 already published 335 cost limit 300 clarification 127 withheld 93 transferred 26

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 2197 s.20 1678 s.34(1) 1655 s.39(2) 1422 s.30 1343 s.17(1) 1138 s.25(1) 1033 s.10(4) 875 s.11(2) 707 s.29(1) 577 s.2 501 s.3 379

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 535 releases · 27.5 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 486 releases · 27.5 avg days Population Health Directorate 333 releases · 25.2 avg days Marine Directorate 321 releases · 26.4 avg days Local Government and Housing Directorate 311 releases · 25.6 avg days People Directorate 268 releases · 24.4 avg days Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate 247 releases · 31.4 avg days Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate 221 releases · 24.0 avg days
Clear
60 matching releases

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

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

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

Mobile phone usage of Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice: FOI release

You asked for confirmation of whether or not the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice has a government mobile and whether or not it is used for sending text or WhatsApp messages, as well as a copy of all messages sent and received on the 7th October, 8th October and 9th October.

FOI unclear 50 score 7 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp
Published
2024-10-28
Reference
FOI/202400435419
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

WhatsApp/Text Messages related to Appeal 202100255908: FOI release

Regarding this FOI Appeal https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202100255908/ Please release all the information not released or disclosed or that had a redaction applied in the above FOI request as it is now credible that exemptions applied may have being misapplied or misused, in order to not release some or all of ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.26 s.30 s.28(1) s.29(1) s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-10-04
Reference
FOI/202400426366
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Former First Minister's messages during the Covid 19 pandemic: FOI release

Nicola Sturgeon's What's App messages 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
2024-09-23
Reference
FOI/202400423476
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Puberty Blocker Correspondence: FOI release

Under FOI I would please like to request all correspondence (including emails, attachments, typed or handwritten notes, letters, notes/records of phone calls, minutes of meetings, briefings, WhatsApp messages or otherwise) between ministers of the scottish Government and their special advisors mentioning the term 'pube...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.30 s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-09-18
Reference
FOI/202400410045
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Health and social care, Public sector

Correspondence relating to Celtic FC: FOI release

Any WhatsApp messages or text messages and conversations sent or received by any government minister which include the word 'Celtic', 'Celtic FC', or conversations relating to Celtic FC, during the months of November 2020, December 2020 and January 2021.

FOI unclear 75 score 20 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp 2 attachments
Published
2024-09-18
Reference
FOI/202400409508
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Emails sent and received by the Former First Minister: FOI Review

Original request - 202400411476 1. The last three emails that Humza Yousaf sent as First Minister from his First Minister email account. 2. The last three emails that Humza Yousaf received as First Minister from his First Minister email account. 3. The last three emails that Humza Yousaf sent as First Minister to em...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 283 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.17(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-09-18
Reference
FOI/202400416176 Review of 202400411476
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Former First Minister's speech to the SNP conference: FOI release

All correspondence between the Permanent Secretary and/or his office and the First Minister and/or his private office or Special Advisers relating to the First Minister's speech to the SNP conference on 17/10/23. For the avoidance of doubt, this should include all emails or other electronic communications of any other ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings whatsapp s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2024-09-17
Reference
FOI/202400396121
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Number of times Former First Minister has taken his children on official visits: FOI release

Since becoming First Minister, how many times has Humza Yousaf taken his children on official visits, press events etc. Please provide all documents, emails, briefings, text messages, whatsapps relating to the First Minister bringing his children to work events, visits etc and their provision of care.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings whatsapp s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-09-17
Reference
FOI/202400396167
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Resignation of Mr Matheson as Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care: FOI release

The exact time and format in which Michael Matheson first informed Humza Yousaf of his resignation as Health Secretary and please provide the documentary evidence of this (the original email/WhatsApp/text) as well as Humza Yousaf's response). All discussions from the Scottish Government planning press lines or media r...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings whatsapp s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-09-17
Reference
FOI/202400398386
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector