Scottish Government FOI Index

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

Details of visit to Tartan Week in North America: FOI release

1. The cost of Angus Robertson MSP's visit to Tartan Week in the USA. 2. The purpose of his visit.

FOI unclear 50 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending

Published: 2022-05-17
Reference: FOI/202200293734
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Arts, culture and sport, International, Public sector

White privilege tests: FOI release

"Has the First Minister and the cabinet taken ‘white privilege tests’, as she said they would on the Trevor Phillips on Sunday politics show 12 September, 2021? https://news.sky.com/video/trevorphillips-on-sunday-the-highlights-from-todays-show-with-sajid-javid-nicola-sturgeon-jonathan-ashworthand-jack-straw-12406056 I...

FOI unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence ministers

Published: 2022-05-16
Reference: FOI/202200289067
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Equality and rights, Public sector

Syrian and Ukrainian Refugees: FOI release

"A few years ago you loudly said that you would take in some Syrian Refugees into your personal home. Did You? Also as Bute House has many facilities will you take Ukrainian Refugees there or at your personal house? Mr Harvie spends 90% of his time in Edinburgh hotels so his house is empty a lot of the time Mr Harvie w...

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending

Published: 2022-05-09
Reference: FOI/202200287856
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector, Ukraine

Television advertisement costs: FOI release

Details on the 'Drive Like Gran's in the car' advertising spend, including: How much did these adverts cost to produce? How much is the Scottish Government spending on these adverts being shown on the various TV channels, which are fairly regular?

FOI unclear 50 score 14 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2022-05-05
Reference: FOI/202200286390
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public safety and emergencies, Public sector, Scottish Budget

Spending for Bute House décor: FOI release

I would like to know details of any spending at Bute House on furnishings, carpets and flooring, from January 2018 to date. I would like the information broken down on a monthly basis with a brief summary of the items purchased.

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2022-05-05
Reference: FOI/202200284935
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Scottish Budget

Government spending on influencers in the last two years: FOI release

1. The amount spent by the Scottish Government on working with influencers in the last two years. Please break this down by year. 2. Please include details of the influencers (including name), how much they were paid and projects they were hired to work on. 3. The amount spent by the Scottish Government identifying inf...

FOI unclear 55 score 16 working days correspondence spending s.25(1)

Published: 2022-05-03
Reference: FOI/202200284746
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Scottish Budget

Cost of replacing the Scottish Government briefing backdrop: FOI release

The total cost of replacing the Scottish Government briefing backdrop following the realisation of it looking like the Russian navy flag.

FOI unclear 50 score 14 working days correspondence briefings spending

Published: 2022-05-03
Reference: FOI/202200285535
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Spend on external public relations (PR) and communications firms: FOI release

“The amount spent by the Scottish Government on using outside PR/communications firms in the last three years. Please break this down by year. Please include details of the firms used (including name), how much they were paid and projects they were hired to work on.”

FOI unclear 75 score 20 working days correspondence spending 2 attachments

Published: 2022-03-28
Reference: FOI/202200282462
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Breakdown of First Minister expenses and staffing costs: FOI release

The following information regarding Nicola Sturgeon’s expenses from The Scottish Government. 1. Please provide a full breakdown and details of office costs for years 2021-2022 and 2020-2021. This should include, staffing, postage and couriers, stationary and printing, shredding, software and applications, advertising a...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending s.3 s.17(1) s.25(1)

Published: 2022-03-16
Reference: FOI/202200278934
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Guidance on official communications: FOI release

Copies of any style guides or documents used to advise Scottish Government employees or ministers on how to write communications going out internally or to the public.

FOI unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2022-03-03
Reference: FOI/202100268306
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Breakdown of social media spend and influencer information: FOI release

1. How much money has the Scottish Government spent on social media influencers on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter in 2017-2021? 2. Breakdown of what the money was spent on in each scenario, I.e how much each post cost, what person was paid, what platform it was published on? 3. Who were the social media influencers th...

FOI not held 40 score 20 working days correspondence contracts spending

Published: 2022-03-02
Reference: FOI/202200275797
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Scottish Budget

Public Relations outsourcing and press office staff: FOI release

"I would appreciate responses to these requests to be broken down by year and cover the period between the 2015-16 financial year. 1) How many times has the Scottish Government engaged the services of an outside public relations or communications firm? I would appreciate if this could be broken down by year as well as ...

FOI clarification 55 score 26 working days over deadline correspondence contracts spending s.25(1) s.12

Published: 2022-03-01
Reference: FOI/202200273223
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Breakdown of marketing spend on Covid-19 public information campaigns: FOI release

“Costs to the Scottish taxpayer of the daily briefings and the information campaign alerting the public to the dangers of Covid.”

FOI unclear 50 score 16 working days correspondence briefings spending

Published: 2022-02-23
Reference: FOI/202200276186
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public sector

Scottish Government communication staff: FOI release

1. The number of communications staff. 2. A breakdown of these staff by job description and/or job title (e.g. number of press officers, heads of press office, directors of communications, social media staff, etc) and for each, their salary bands. 3. If available or applicable, please provide a breakdown of the above d...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence s.3

Published: 2022-02-16
Reference: FOI/202200269219
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Communications with Lorna Slater MSP regarding workload and duties during COP26: FOI release

Please provide any communications between minister Lorna Slater and officials in October/November where Ms Slater raises: The scope and nature of her workload/duties; The number of engagements she will have to undertake per day; Her preferences about any limits of numbers of engagements carried out during COP26;

FOI partially withheld 90 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2022-02-16
Reference: FOI/202100262420
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

First Minister overseas travel: FOI release

Was the first minister on holiday abroad anytime from December 1st 2021 to January 7th 2022. If so what were her travel plans?

FOI unclear 50 score 13 working days correspondence ministers

Published: 2022-02-15
Reference: FOI/202200271194
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

Scottish Government Press Office correspondence regarding UNCRC: FOI release

Copies of any correspondence (emails, texts, letters or otherwise) that took place within the Scottish Government Press Office, where the UK Supreme Court decision on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill was discussed.

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

Published: 2022-02-14
Reference: FOI/202100257532
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Children and families, Public sector

Creative agencies used by Scottish Government: FOI Review

1. Please list the creative services agencies used by the government during 2021. 2. A list of all appointments made under each agreement during 2021 - detailing the creative services agency used, campaign name, the lead artist / provider and agreed fee. The following questions relate solely to the creative service age...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence contracts s.3 s.25(1) s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2022-02-09
Reference: FOI/202100257826 Review of 202100248294
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Total cost of First Minister Christmas cards: FOI release

I would like to know using FOI act how much this Xmas card cost to design and print to the Scottish taxpayers.

FOI unclear 50 score 25 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending

Published: 2022-02-09
Reference: FOI/202100266101
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Media campaign fronted by Janey Godley: FOI Review

With reference to the recent media campaign fronted by Janey Godley (JG), I am seeking the following information: (1) Who initially proposed JG to front the campaign? (2) All internal communications proposing and discussing the proposal for JG to front the campaign. (3) All communications with the creative services age...

FOI not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence s.7 s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2022-02-09
Reference: FOI/202100257829 Review of 202100248293
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Prevalence and development of health campaigns which use acronyms: FOI release

Information relating to the prevalence and development of health campaigns that use acronyms such as FACTS and FAST with a specific focus on the following: 1. Why was an acronym chosen over a slogan for the FACTS campaign? 2. How much did the Scottish Government dedicate to FAST (Stroke campaign) or was it solely the W...

FOI unclear 50 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence

Published: 2022-02-07
Reference: FOI/202100265342
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public sector

Total spend on radio advertising in Grampian area: FOI release

The spend by all Departments of Scottish Government on radio advertising in the Grampian area regarding any topics that are directly or indirectly related to COVID-19 and variants between the dates of June 1st 2021 and December 14th 2021 inclusive, broken down by week number.

FOI unclear 50 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence spending

Published: 2022-02-04
Reference: FOI/202100264035
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Money and tax, Public sector

Letter sent to Scottish households on accessing Scottish Health system: FOI release

1. How many copies of this literature have been sent to households up until the date of the receipt of this request? 2. Do you plan to distribute any further copies of this literature to households, as of the receipt of this letter? 3. Please advise the total expenditure in sending this literature to the households tha...

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

Published: 2022-02-03
Reference: FOI/202100263405
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public sector

Communication and costs of work with Stripe Agency: FOI release

1. Copies of communications between the Scottish Government and the Agency called ‘Stripe’ in the last 12 months. 2. Details of the costs to the Scottish Government relating to the work carried out by Stripe for St Andrew’s Day. 3. Any other costs to the Scottish Government relating to Stripe in the last 12 months.

FOI cost limit 45 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence spending s.2 s.12

Published: 2022-02-01
Reference: FOI/202100259036
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Information regarding complaint made by Alex Salmond: FOI review

I previously sent an FOI regarding an allegation that the name of a complainer had been revealed to Mr Geoff Aberdein by a senior Scottish Government official. A complaint had been made about this by Mr Alex Salmond, and I asked a series of questions regarding this. It is only recently that I have been made aware throu...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 33 working days over deadline correspondence s.21(4) s.1 s.2 s.26 s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.17(1) s.6 4 attachments

Published: 2022-01-31
Reference: FOI/202100254262 review of 202100244471
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector