Scottish Government FOI Index

21,792releases indexed

39,278attachments found

29.7avg calendar days

8,073partially withheld

2016-06-13oldest in sample

2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,073 unclear 7,195 not held 3,052 released 1,533 already published 668 cost limit 605 clarification 348 withheld 241 transferred 77

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4905 s.20 4252 s.34(1) 3567 s.39(2) 3455 s.30 2866 s.17(1) 2763 s.25(1) 2372 s.10(4) 1971 s.11(2) 1559 s.29(1) 1168 s.2 1152 s.3 903

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 1,275 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 961 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 919 releases · 31.1 avg days Learning Directorate 859 releases · 34.4 avg days Economic Development Directorate 725 releases · 40.0 avg days Constitution Directorate 685 releases · 36.1 avg days Population Health Directorate 645 releases · 28.7 avg days People Directorate 631 releases · 25.8 avg days

Clear

766 matching releases

Queries regarding draft responses to Freedom of Information requests: FOI release

1. Between 1 January 2025 and present date, on how many occasions, broken down by Scottish Government Minister/Cabinet Secretary, has a Scottish Government Minister or Cabinet Secretary, when presented with a draft response to a Freedom of Information Request, responded with any other decision than approving of that dr...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.3 s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-23
Reference: FOI/202500464096
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Ministerial salary increase timing and messaging records: FOI release

Access to records related to the timing and public messaging of the recent ministerial salary increase. Specifically: 1. **Internal Communications:** - Emails, meeting minutes, and memos between the Office of the First Minister and the Public Relations teams discussing how the timing of the announcement was chosen. - ...

FOI not held 70 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings spending s.2 s.25(1) s.17(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-21
Reference: FOI/202500462016
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Scottish Government request responses and use of free & frank advice exception: FOI release

In this request, when I refer to ‘free and frank advice exceptions’ I mean to refer to the application of a exemption from disclosure of requested information from a public body as an FOI or EIR request on the grounds that disclosure would inhibit the free and frank provision of advice, inhibit the free and frank excha...

FOI clarification 80 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings spending s.2A s.25(1) s.6(1) s.12 s.29(1) s.30 s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-17
Reference: FOI/202500461547
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Parliamentary Liaison Officers information: FOI release

1. A list of MSPs who have served as Parliamentary Liaison Officers from 8 May 2024 to date - including the dates they ceased holding this office, if this applies, and the Minister they worked with. 2. Any instances of Parliamentary Liaison Officers claiming expenses or allowances in order to carry out their duties fr...

FOI unclear 50 score 9 working days correspondence ministers

Published: 2025-07-17
Reference: FOI/202500464171
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Scottish Government Media Monitoring Unit annual outturn: FOI release

Please provide, from 2016-17 to present, the Scottish Government’s annual outturn on its Media Monitoring Unit. For years where you do not have outturn figures, please indicate this, and provide estimates and/or budgeted spend. If this unit has a budget for 2025-26, please provide this. Please break down these outturn ...

FOI unclear 80 score 27 working days over deadline correspondence ministers contracts spending s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-17
Reference: FOI/202500460129
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Minister for Public Health and Women's Health's diary engagements: FOI release

1. A copy of the diary for the Minister for Public Health and Women's Health, Jenni Minto MSP, for Monday 28th April 2025, including but not limited to all meetings, engagements and any other commitments. 2. How much time Ms Minto spent at 'Holyrood Dog of the Year 2025' on Monday 28th April 2025, including travel tim...

FOI unclear 55 score 6 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.2 s.17(1)

Published: 2025-07-17
Reference: FOI/202500463649
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Supplementary question information regarding Portfolio Question sessions: FOI Review

Original request 202500455929 Pertaining to work done, communications made, and documentation produced and sent between 1 March 2024 and present, for all Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic and Finance and Local Government Portfolio Questions sessions between 1 January and present date, please p...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-16
Reference: FOI/202500460415 Review of 202500455929
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Correspondence regarding Elon Musk and President Carter: FOI release

The full email chain in Doc 007 of this released Scottish Government FOI, with the subject line RE: Note Verbale: Correspondence between the Scottish Government and Elon Musk: FOI release (14 February 2025) Microsoft Word - Annex - Redacted - Final - For release https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.32(1) s.34(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2025-07-16
Reference: FOI/202500461668
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

First Minister's agenda and communications from Monday 3rd March 2025: FOI release

Please provide all information held by the Scottish Government relating to the activities and communications of the First Minister on Monday 3 March 2025 (0:00AM to 24:00PM). This should include but not necessarily be limited to: 1. Copies of all written materials provided to and/or by the First Minister (FM) 2. Copie...

FOI not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.4 s.6 s.39(1) s.17(1) s.12 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-15
Reference: FOI/202500459057
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Deputy First Minister’s diary for Monday 3rd March 2025: FOI release

Please provide all information held by the Scottish Government relating to the activities and communications of the Deputy First Minister on Monday 3 March 2025 (0:00AM to 24:00PM). This should include but not necessarily be limited to: 1. Copies of all written materials provided to and/or by the Deputy First Minister...

FOI not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.4 s.17(1) s.12 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-14
Reference: FOI/202500459051
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Scottish Government Education and Skills portfolio employee breakdown: FOI release

In your letter, you requested the following information: Part 1: This FOI is from November 2023. Scottish Government staffing numbers: FOI release - gov.scot . Can I re-ask the four questions within this please to establish the most up to date information? Senior Civil Service Pay - updated from March 2023 or most re...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.27(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-10
Reference: FOI/202500461154
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Education, Public sector

Meeting requests for Minister for Equalities: FOI release

A full list of meetings held by Kaukab Stewart between April 15 and May 15 2025,and a list of meeting requests Whether they were accepted and rejected and the reasons for these, from the same time period?

FOI released 95 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings 4 attachments

Published: 2025-07-10
Reference: FOI/202500466454
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Diary entries for the Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise on 26 March 2025: FOI release

You asked for Natalie Innes-Don’s diary for 26 March 2025. Additionally, please confirm whether any changes were made to the diary entries throughout the day, and if so, provide details of these changes.

FOI released 95 score 19 working days correspondence ministers 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-09
Reference: FOI/202500459470
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Children and families, Public sector

Constitutional role of Scottish Government in the operation of the Lord Lieutenants in Scotland: FOI release

The Scotland Act 1998 does not cover the operation of Lord-Lieutenants. They are directly responsible to the Monarch. Therefore, without a constitutional role why is the Scottish Government involved at all in the activities of the Lord-Lieutenants?

FOI unclear 50 score 14 working days correspondence ministers

Published: 2025-07-07
Reference: FOI/202500459160
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Correspondence between First Minister and Nicola Sturgeon MSP: FOI release

Any correspondence (including emails, letters, phone calls, handwritten notes, WhatsApp messages or any other documents) between the office of the First Minister and the office of Nicola Sturgeon MSP. Information should include but not be limited to a detailed timeline (with dates) of any contact between these individu...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 16 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-06-26
Reference: FOI/202500456833
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

First Minister travel costs for Orkney and London trips: FOI release

Could you supply full costs of travel for John Swinney's trips to Orkney and London in February, and full costs of travel and method for any civil servants/spads who travelled with him?

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending

Published: 2025-06-24
Reference: FOI/202500455966
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

Honours and Awards process in Scotland: FOI Review

Original request 202500455400 I recently contacted the cabinet office asking about who and how awards and honours were determined in Scotland. They informed me the entire process in managed by the Honours and Protocol unit in the Scottish Government and that they simple rubber stamp the recommendations from Scottish G...

FOI already published 80 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-06-18
Reference: FOI/202500457091 Review of 202500455400
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Ministerial Code Former Advisor correspondence: FOI release

Copies of all the correspondence between Helen Webster & James Hamilton including any correspondence from Helen Webster that references James Hamilton in them.

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

Published: 2025-06-18
Reference: FOI/202500456798
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Scottish Government and Ministerial Code Former Advisor communications: FOI release

Any and all communications between the Scottish Government (officials, SPADs, ministers, everyone) and Mr James Hamilton, the then advisor on the ministerial code from April 1st 2021 to December 31st 2023.’

FOI already published 80 score 33 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.38(1) s.25(1) s.26 s.30 s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-06-16
Reference: FOI/202500452188
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Correspondence regarding Former First Minister memoirs: FOI release

You requested the following information: 1. Any information held on advice provided to Nicola Sturgeon about the Radcliffe Rules around political memoirs. 2. Whether Nicola Sturgeon has submitted a manuscript of her memoir, Frankly, to the Permanent Secretary for approval under those rules. 3. A copy of any part of ...

FOI withheld 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 s.3 s.33(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-06-09
Reference: FOI/202500458988
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Correspondence relating to memoirs of Former First Minister: FOI release

All email correspondence between Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish Government since 28 March 2023, including but not limited to the Permanent Secretary, relating to her memoir. For example, this should include all correspondence containing the phrase “memoir”, “book”, “Frankly” and “Pan Macmillan”.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 13 working days correspondence ministers s.33(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-06-09
Reference: FOI/202500464174
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Communications in regards to FOI responses to 202500447375 and 202500452341: FOI release

"All internal Government communications (emails, texts, etc everything) by anyone within the Scottish Government (civil servants, SPADs, ministers etcs) in regards to FOI original's response 202500447375 and the subsequent review response 202500452341".

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2025-05-12
Reference: FOI/202500455247
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Information related to WhatsApp messages: FOI Appeal

Request 202100255908 For the entire month of March, 2021 (inclusive), any WhatsApp or text messages sent or received by any cabinet secretary of the time on government business. Request 202100255912 For the month of August 2021, any WhatsApp messages or text messages sent or received by any government minister on go...

FOI unclear 80 score 32 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.28(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-05-02
Reference: FOI Appeal of 202100255908 / 202100255912
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Free tickets for shows at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium: FOI release

Please provide me with a list of Scottish Government Ministers who received complimentary or free tickets for shows at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium from the start of 2024 to date. Please list events by date, including the name of the event, the number of free/complimentary tickets, as well as names and titles ...

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers

Published: 2025-04-22
Reference: FOI/202500454100
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Complimentary tickets for shows at the OVO Hydro in 2024: FOI release

Please provide me with a list of Scottish Government Ministers who received complimentary or free tickets for shows at the OVO Hydro in 2024. Please list events by date, including the name of the event, the number of free/complimentary tickets, as well as names of those who received them.

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers

Published: 2025-04-22
Reference: FOI/202500454101
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector