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

First Minister's trip to Qatar: FOI release

1. Were any costs incurred to the taxpayer by the First Minister's recent trip to Qatar and if so what were these costs? 2. Did the First Minister have any meetings as First Minister while he was on the trip? 3. What arrangements were in place during the First Minister's trip for him to stay in touch with Government ...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings spending s.39(1)
Published
2024-04-09
Reference
FOI/202400402828
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Advertising spend by the Scottish Government: FOI release

1. You asked for advertising spend by the Scottish Government broken down by media outlet for each of the last three financial years. Please include both print and broadcast outlets. 2. Details of all payments made to Newsquest in the same time period, broken down by year.

FOI not held 45 score 16 working days correspondence contracts spending s.2
Published
2024-04-08
Reference
FOI/202400391972
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Building a New Scotland series website downloads: FOI release

In March, the SG published its eleventh paper as part of the ‘Building a New Scotland’ series. Please provide the number of downloads for each paper on the SG website.

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence
Published
2024-04-08
Reference
FOI/202400402847
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Building a new Scotland, Public sector

Number of FOIs submitted regarding Education and Skills: FOI release

The number of FOIs submitted to the Scottish Government regarding Education and Skills from 1 to 30 November 2023. By Education, I am referring to any subject that may fall under the remit of the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, the Minister for higher and further education and the Minister for children, you...

FOI/EIR unclear 55 score 8 working days correspondence ministers s.20
Published
2024-04-03
Reference
FOI/202400392433
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Scottish Government staff associated with Ministers: FOI release

"The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles, not names of individuals) for all of the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers, including both civil service and political staff, and (ii) the wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish Government...

FOI unclear 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.25(1) 4 attachments
Published
2024-03-28
Reference
FOI/202400392767
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Government and Executive Agency policy regarding social media posts: FOI release

Does the Scottish Government and related agencies have a policy of removing comments from social media? If so, what is this policy? Regardless if a policy exists or not, what criteria does the Scottish Government and related agencies use to remove comments from social media posts?

FOI not held 45 score 20 working days correspondence s.5 s.8 s.17(1)
Published
2024-03-27
Reference
FOI/202400394165
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

Scottish Government Working Groups: FOI release

1. The number of Scottish Government Working Groups currently. 2. The total amount spent by the Scottish Government on Working Groups for the years 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24. 3. The budgets for each working group in the years given above. 4. How those working groups spent their money (salaries, expenses, office s...

FOI unclear 75 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence spending 2 attachments
Published
2024-03-26
Reference
FOI/202300390761
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

NHS funding social media message correspondence: FOI release

This request concerns the following tweet/post on Twitter/X: https://x.com/scotgov/status/1736370730051195272?s=46&t=y9v1mXDn2DQJqjCpgZcKXg Please answer the following questions. In answers where the person or persons concerned cannot be named, please state their positions. 1. Who composed the post/tweet? And who pr...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.1 s.2 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2024-03-25
Reference
FOI/202300390033
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, Public sector

Social Media Monitoring Tools across departments: FOI release

1. A list of each social media listening/social media monitoring tool the Scottish Government pays for across all departments or directorates. Please include the annual fee/cost of each. 2. The document for each social media monitoring tool which states the terms, topics, issues, names or subjects that each social med...

FOI unclear 80 score 20 working days correspondence contracts spending s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-03-20
Reference
FOI/202400392556
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Information pertaining to WhatsApp messages: FOI Appeal

Request 1: I am writing to you to request the following information. For the month of August 2021, any WhatsApp messages or text messages sent or received by any government minister on government business. Request 2: I am writing to you to request the following information. For the entire month of March, 2021 (inc...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 88 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.17 s.26 s.28(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.19 s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-03-15
Reference
FOI Appeal of 202100255908 / 202100255912
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care communications during December 2022 - January 2023: FOI release

Any and all communications (including WhatsApps +private emails about government business) from Michael Matheson during December 2022 and January 2023. Any documents relating to the decision to pay for Michael Matheson's iPad bill from the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. Any documents relating to the decision-ma...

FOI not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending whatsapp s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-03-07
Reference
FOI/202300384476
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Bute House Interview on 8 November 2023: FOI release

1. On the 8th November 2023, the ‘Middle East Eye’ released an interview with Ms Nadia el-Nakla, the wife of the First Minister Humza Yousaf, as part of their ‘Real Talk Interview’ series. The location for this interview (30 minutes long and available online) was Bute House. Please provide information on whether staff ...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.7
Published
2024-03-04
Reference
FOI/202400393606
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Climate emergency clothing and accessories: FOI release

1. The number of climate emergency scarves, masks, and any other relevant clothing and accessories bought, produced or commissioned by the Scottish Government in the last five years, divided by the calendar year of acquisition and the type of clothing or accessory acquired. 2. The cost of these materials.

FOI unclear 55 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.20
Published
2024-03-04
Reference
FOI/202300389887
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Freedom of Information request statistics: FOI release

1. How many requests for information made under FOISA has the Scottish Government received between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023? 2. Of those requests, how many received a full response within the 20 working day limit as set out in FOISA? 3. Of those requests, how many were either fully or partially refused by ...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.29 s.17(1)
Published
2024-03-04
Reference
FOI/202400392833
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Equality and rights, Public sector

First Minister's COP 28 travel: FOI release

1) What class of flight the first minister has booked to take him to and from COP28. 2) The cost of travel for the first minister to and from COP28. 3) If any of the first minister’s flights were chartered or private aircraft.

FOI partially withheld 65 score 14 working days correspondence ministers spending s.2 s.25(1)
Published
2024-02-28
Reference
FOI/202300387839
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Cost of legal actions incurred regarding investigation into Former First Minister: FOI release

Can I request the total cost of all the Scottish Government legal action regarding the FOI request to see evidence submitted by SG to James Hamilton’s investigation into Nicola Sturgeon? Can you give a breakdown of how this cost was incurred?

FOI unclear 50 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending
Published
2024-02-28
Reference
FOI/202300388343
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Use of Bute House for interviews by the First Ministers wife: FOI release

Can you confirm what the rules are in regards to the first ministers wife, who is not a member of the government, using the taxpayer funded bute house address to film media interviews with the BBC today? Can you also share the rules on the first minister taking his family to government work events (children and wife) w...

FOI unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-02-27
Reference
FOI/202300380502
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

SG corporate and ministerial branding: FOI release

What is the current Identity/Branding Guidelines used by the Scottish Government, and when is it dated? What is the logo of the First Minister of Scotland's office, and if any, what Identity/Branding Guidelines are currently, or have previously been in use? How much the Scottish Government spent in the year 2022-23 on ...

FOI unclear 75 score 19 working days correspondence ministers spending 4 attachments
Published
2024-02-27
Reference
202300365546
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

First Minister amount of correspondence regarding official record to MSPs: FOI release

"Please provide the number of times when as First Minister Humza Yousaf has written to individual MSPs to advise that he will correct the Official Record".

FOI unclear 50 score 36 working days over deadline correspondence ministers
Published
2024-02-27
Reference
FOI/202400391476
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Scottish Government officials authorised to post on X/Twitter account: FOI release

A list of those persons authorised to tweet from the @scotgov X/Twitter account. If there is a person (or persons) who must approve any tweet from the account, please identify who those persons are.

FOI partially withheld 65 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.34(1)
Published
2024-02-26
Reference
FOI/202300390046
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Education and Skills Freedom of Information statistics: FOI release

In your email, you requested the following information: 1. The number of FOIs submitted to the Scottish Government regarding Education and Skills from 1 to 31 December 2023. By Education, I am referring to any subject that may fall under the remit of the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, the Minister for hig...

FOI/EIR unclear 55 score 8 working days correspondence ministers s.20
Published
2024-02-23
Reference
FOI/202400392468
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

First Minister’s Christmas Media Reception: FOI release

Regarding the First Minister’s Christmas Media Reception, held at Bute House last night 14/12/23: A number of civil servants could be overheard discussing being "asked to go and buy booze at the last minute". Was alcohol or "booze" always going to be served at the Christmas Media Reception? If not, when was it decid...

FOI not held 45 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers contracts spending s.17(1) s.7 s.10 s.4 s.27(1) s.17
Published
2024-02-23
Reference
FOI/202300389912
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Jason Leitch WhatsApp messages: FOI release

Correspondence on the topic of how to respond to a media enquiry from The Times newspaper about Jason Leitch deleting his WhatsApp messages each day and any resulting follow-up enquiry by other journalists or publications. This should include, but not be limited to, discussions between civil servants, special advisers,...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers whatsapp s.30 s.38 s.36 2 attachments
Published
2024-02-20
Reference
FOI/202400394859
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

National Clinical Director WhatsApp messages: FOI release

All internal communications, including emails and informal electronic communications, which relate to the gathering of information in relation to this denial, the formulation of the denial and the signing off of the denial ("It is not correct to suggest that the National Clinical Director deleted every WhatsApp message...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence whatsapp s.30 s.38 s.36 2 attachments
Published
2024-02-20
Reference
FOI/202400394753
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise trip to Norway: FOI release

Ivan McKee flew to Norway on 9 June 2022 and returned 10 June 2022: 1. On 9 June 2022, from what airport in Scotland did he fly from? And what airport in Norway did he fly to? 2. On 10 June 2022, from what airport in Norway did he fly from? And what airport in Scotland did he fly to?

FOI unclear 50 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers
Published
2024-02-19
Reference
FOI/202300388565
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector, Transport