Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

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

Decision Notice 045/2024: FOI release

1) Can you provide me with a list of ministers who received the one-on-one sessions on record keeping as mentioned in the decision notice, and confirm if the First Minister was one of them? 2) Can you confirm when these took place, and who delivered them? 3) Can you confirm if Special Advisers were also trained on th...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-30
Reference
FOI/202400406748
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Holocaust Memorial Day Saltire article: FOI release

I understand that the article on the Scottish Government's intranet, Saltire, to make Holocaust Memorial Day was this year published without the ability for Scottish Government civil servants to comment on it. Under FOI legislation, I request: (1) all communications, in whatever form (email, Teams, WhatsApp, etc) abou...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence whatsapp s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-29
Reference
FOI/202400396399
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

UK Covid-19 Inquiry correspondence sent to the Former Deputy First Minister between 3 July – 16 July 2023: FOI release

A copy of correspondence (email, letter and informal messages) including references to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry sent to the Deputy First Minister or her office between 3 July – 16 July 2023 (inclusive). Please provide all copies of attachments sent alongside this correspondence.

FOI partially withheld 85 score 29 working days over deadline correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-29
Reference
FOI/202400394936
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

UK Covid-19 Inquiry correspondence sent to the Former Deputy First Minister between 1 Oct 2023 – 15 Oct 2023: FOI release

A copy of correspondence (email, letter and informal messages) including references to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry sent to the Deputy First Minister or her office between 1 October 2023 – 15 October 2023 (inclusive). Please provide all copies of attachments sent alongside this correspondence.

FOI partially withheld 85 score 29 working days over deadline correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-29
Reference
FOI/202400394938
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

UK Covid-19 Inquiry correspondence sent to the Former Deputy First Minister between 26 June 2023 – 2 July 2023: FOI release

A copy of correspondence (email, letter and informal messages) including references to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry sent to the Deputy First Minister or her office between 26 June 2023 – 2 July 2023 (inclusive). For each request please provide all copies of attachments sent alongside this correspondence.

FOI partially withheld 85 score 29 working days over deadline correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-29
Reference
FOI/202400394961
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Freedom of Information request response times: FOI release

The top 3 slowest FOI responses in each of the last 5 years, including the total length of time it took to respond to each FOI and a short description of the subject of the FOI.

FOI/EIR released 75 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.20
Published
2024-08-27
Reference
FOI/202400422728
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Data Roaming costs incurred by Former Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care of Scotland: FOI release

“Please provide details of all communication Scottish Government officials, special advisers and ministers had with Police Scotland about the data roaming costs incurred by Health Secretary Michael Matheson on a December 2022/January 2023 trip to Morocco, including discussions around police complaints, in the period fr...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings spending s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-15
Reference
FOI/202300385206
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care's trip to UAE: FOI release

1. All briefings, notes prepared for ministers, and correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government, including internally, about the UK Government proposing a ban on smoking for those who are 14 and younger, between October 1 and the date of this FOI. 2. Full cost of Neil Gray's trip to UAE between October...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings contracts s.12 s.27(1) s.33(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-15
Reference
FOI/202300385956
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Freedom of Information Unit resourcing and staffing numbers: FOI release

(1) The staffing of the central FOI team; (2) The number of civil servants across the Scottish Government responsible for dealing with FOIs? specialist teams or staff devoted to this work? Central records of specialists kept? How many civil servants in Scottish Government have 'FOI' or 'Freedom of Information' or 'EIR...

FOI not held 70 score 10 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.17(1) s.25(1) s.14(1) s.12(1) s.20 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-15
Reference
FOI/202300388436
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Freedom of Information policy proposals and reform: FOI release

1. How much money has been spent on the Scottish Government looking into FOI reform over the last five years, with a breakdown of each year and what the money has been spent on? 2. How many consultations has the government published about this topic and similar FOI reform over the last ten years, with a list of these?...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers briefings spending s.17(1) s.30 4 attachments
Published
2024-08-15
Reference
FOI/202300386939
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

UK Parliament’s Scottish Affairs Committee: FOI release

All correspondence (including emails, attachments, typed or handwritten notes, letters, notes/records of phone calls, minutes of meetings, briefings, WhatsApp messages or otherwise) relating to the Minister for Transport’s invitation to give evidence to the UK Parliament’s Scottish Affairs Committee on Monday 11 Septem...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 59 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.17(1) s.1 s.38 s.29(1) s.27(1) s.30 4 attachments
Published
2024-08-14
Reference
FOI/202300377285
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Correspondence regarding Scottish Golf Open and Ministerial communications: FOI release

1. All correspondence, including internal correspondence, between the Scottish Government and organisers of the Scottish Golf Open about ministerial appearances at the event between July 13 and 16. 2. All briefings for ministers prepared for the event in question one, plus all minutes from meetings held there and the ...

FOI cost limit 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.29(1) s.38(1) s.12 s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-14
Reference
FOI/202300381827
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Freedom of Information (FOI) training materials: FOI release

Documentation provided to Government employees for the purpose of training to deal with FOI requests.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 16 working days correspondence s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-12
Reference
FOI/202300374455
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Various meetings and correspondence relating to former First Ministers: FOI release

1. All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government to Back Off Scotland and all briefings written for ministers about the group between March 2023 and the date of this FOI. 2. Did Humza Yousaf issue an instruction to his cabinet to support Nicola Sturgeon in June after her arrest and all written minist...

FOI already published 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.29(1) s.30 s.17(1) s.38(1) 8 attachments
Published
2024-08-12
Reference
FOI/202300374275
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

BBC Question Time Programme: FOI release

Any emails sent from Scottish Government email addresses, between 27 March 2023 and 21 June 2024, containing references to the BBC Question Time programme.

FOI partially withheld 90 score correspondence ministers s.30 s.38 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-08
Reference
FOI/202400420003
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

Redactions in WhatsAPP/text message documents: FOI Review

Original request 202400404999 All of the "out of scope" redactions in the document at https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi[1]202100255908/ 2. The extent of the redacted material within the 106 page document by using black block within the released document over the redacted content.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 50 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.38(1) s.36(1) s.38(2A) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-07
Reference
FOI/202400410703 Review of 202400404999
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Travel and itineraries for funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II: FOI release

1. Did the Scottish Government pay for Nicola Sturgeon to head to London for the Queen's funeral and if so, how much did it cost, how did she get there and where did she stay? Breakdown of these costs. 2. Did the Scottish Government pay for Lorna Slater to head to London for the Queen's funeral and if so, how much did...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 17 working days correspondence ministers spending s.2 s.3
Published
2024-08-05
Reference
FOI/202200322855
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Salaries and number of ministers, special advisors and civil servants in 2003, 2013 and 2023: FOI release

For each of the years 2003, 2013 and 2023 can you provide please the following information: 1. The total number of Ministers in post at The Scottish Government/The Scottish Executive. 2. The total salaries for these Ministers for the year in question. 3. The total number of civil servants dedicated to the Private Of...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.4 s.25(1) s.17(1) s.27(1)
Published
2024-08-01
Reference
FOI/202400421758
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public Sector

Number of times Hydrogen and Heat Pumps have been discussed at Cabinet: FOI release

The number of times that hydrogen has been discussed at cabinet since 29 March 2023; The number of times that heat pumps and heat networks have been discussed at cabinet since 29 March 2023.

FOI unclear 50 score 4 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2024-07-30
Reference
FOI/202300359854
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show - Deputy First Minister's interview 19th November 2023: FOI release

All emails, correspondence, WhatsApp messages, text messages and notes in relation to the Deputy First Minister's interview appearance and subsequent cancellation for BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show episode of Sunday 19 November.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.38(1) 6 attachments
Published
2024-07-18
Reference
FOI/202300385699
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

Building a New Scotland Publications: FOI release

This is a follow up request to a previous FOI response. Your ref: 202300365543. Please can the same questions answered in the above referenced FOI response be answered again, and brought fully up to date. In other words, the answers should now include all eleven "Building a New Scotland" papers so far published, and d...

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence
Published
2024-07-10
Reference
FOI/202400403680
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Building a new Scotland, Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Former First Minister's interests correspondence: FOI release

Any internal or external correspondence, including any attachments, WhatsApp messages, text messages, instant messaging, memos, OneNotes, minutes, agendas, appendixes or other correspondence relating to Aamer Anwar being included as a "personal friend" in the First Minister's interests.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-07-04
Reference
FOI/202300390913
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence relating to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry sent to the Former First Minister between 26 June 2023 – 2 July 2023: FOI release

A copy of correspondence (email, letter and informal messages) including references to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry sent to the First Minister or his office between 26 June 2023 – 2 July 2023 (inclusive). For each request please provide all copies of attachments sent alongside this correspondence.

FOI partially withheld 85 score 29 working days over deadline correspondence ministers 4 attachments
Published
2024-06-18
Reference
FOI/202400394928
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

British Sign Language videos on the Scottish Government website: FOI release

How many videos are available in British Sign Language on the following websites: www.gov.scot/health‐and‐social‐care

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence
Published
2024-06-12
Reference
FOI/202400413941
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Equality and rights, Health and social care, Public sector