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

1,275 matching releases

Bute House energy supplier: EIR release

The name of the supplier who supplies gas to Bute House. For example, Scottish Power, Total Energies Gas & Power, etc. The name of the supplier who supplies electricity to Bute House. For example, Scottish Power, Total Energies Gas & Power, etc.

FOI/EIR unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence contracts

Published: 2025-10-14
Reference: EIR/202500473139
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Energy, Public sector

New ministerial offices within Scottish Government estate: FOI release

Since 1 May 2021, the cost of creating new Ministerial offices within the Scottish Government. Note that I am referring to the physical space of an office that is used by a Minister. Costs could include but not be limited to purchasing new furniture, purchasing signage, taking out walls, relocating previous users of th...

FOI unclear 55 score 17 working days correspondence ministers spending s.17(1)

Published: 2025-10-14
Reference: FOI/202500473946
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Information pertaining to catering, staffing and menus for official events: FOI Review

Original Request - 202500462429 1. How many official events (state dinners, lunches, cocktail receptions) have been held at Bute House since the 1st of April 2024? Please provide a brief description of each event as well as notable guests. 2. How much money has been spent on catering, staffing, and organising these ...

FOI not held 70 score 19 working days correspondence ministers spending s.2 s.21(4) s.25(1) s.27(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-10-13
Reference: FOI/202500471460 - Review of 202500462429
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Government's process of logging correspondence: FOI release

Explain the logging process for citizen, public body and private enterprise concerns across government departments, inclusive of different party leadership. (For example, whether data analytics are applied to identify themes in citizen concerns, and how this is communicated to ministers and parliamentary scrutiny panel...

FOI not held 40 score 10 working days correspondence ministers

Published: 2025-10-13
Reference: FOI/202500474411
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Correspondence between Scottish Ministers and the Herald newspaper: FOI release

Copies of correspondence since 1 January 2025 between Scottish Ministers and The Herald newspaper, excluding requests for comment on stories for publication.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.38 4 attachments

Published: 2025-10-13
Reference: FOI/202500472311
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

Freedom of Information (FOI) statistics: FOI release

1) The total number of FOI responses issued by the Scottish Government. 2) The number of FOI responses that were referred to a Special Adviser for review or comment prior to release. 3) The number of FOI responses that were referred for Ministerial approval or sign-off prior to release. 4) If recorded, the number of...

FOI/EIR clarification 55 score 14 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.20 s.12

Published: 2025-09-25
Reference: FOI/202500471350
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Information regarding the resignation of former Minister for Housing and former Minister for Climate Action: FOI release

1) The official resignation dates from ministerial office of Paul McLennan and Alasdair Allan. 2) The dates on which these resignations were communicated to the First Minister or Permanent Secretary. 3) Any correspondence (including emails, memos, or briefings) discussing the timing of their resignations. 4) Any doc...

FOI not held 45 score 15 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.4 s.3 s.25(1) s.17

Published: 2025-09-25
Reference: FOI/202500471470
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Communications related to Scottish Information Commissioner decision notice: FOI release

"For thoroughness, and to eliminate any need for any investigation of the Authority under section 65 of FOISA, the Authority was invited to assist the Commissioner by requesting a voluntary affidavit from the named Special Adviser. It was requested that this clarify the named Special Adviser’s role in the redaction pro...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings whatsapp s.65 s.30 s.36(1) s.29(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-25
Reference: FOI/202500470557
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Ministerial engagements attended by relation or friend: FOI release

Please provide a list of all ministerial engagements, meetings or visits in 2025 to date where a minister has been accompanied by a spouse/partner, other family member or friend. In each case, please confirm: The relation of the guest to the minister. Whether the friend or family member travel using the ministerial c...

FOI unclear 50 score 15 working days correspondence ministers meetings

Published: 2025-09-25
Reference: FOI/202500472116
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Government Ministers interactions with Large Language Models (LLM): FOI release

Can I request the following information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002: Any recorded transcripts, logs, outputs, or other documentation of interactions between Scottish Government Ministers and ChatGPT or any other large language model (LLM) from January 1, 2025, to June 18, 2025. This includes ...

FOI unclear 80 score 18 working days correspondence ministers s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-25
Reference: FOI/202500471617
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Costs of Scottish Government's media room: FOI release

Full breakdown of costs for the Scottish Government's media room from the last five years, broken down per year.

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings contracts s.17(1)

Published: 2025-09-25
Reference: FOI/202500471222
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Forwarded e-mails from ministerial e-mail addresses to personal email addresses: FOI release

Number of times government ministers have forwarded e-mails or documents from their ministerial e-mail addresses to their personal e-mail addresses in calendar years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 to date? Please provide the data broken down by the name, and role of the government minister for each year. If the same...

FOI unclear 50 score 13 working days correspondence ministers

Published: 2025-09-23
Reference: FOI/202500468575
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Engagements held in Bute House: FOI release

Any and all engagements hosted in Bute House between 5th to 9th May 2025. The First Ministers diary of engagements for the week of 5th to 9th May 2025. Any and all communication from or to the First Minister for the week of 5th to 9th May 2025. A list of attendees, visitors or other persons signed into Bute House for t...

FOI cost limit 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings spending s.12 s.38(1) s.34(1) 6 attachments

Published: 2025-09-23
Reference: FOI/202500466941
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Scottish Government spend on prepaid mobile phones: FOI release

How much money has the Scottish Government spent on prepaid mobile phones for the First Minister's department and the corporate department in the last five years, with a breakdown per year?

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers contracts spending

Published: 2025-09-23
Reference: FOI/202500467698
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Campaign 'Let's Do Net Zero' costs: FOI release

I am requesting information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Please could you provide me with the costs incurred for the Scottish Government's 'Let's Do Net Zero' campaign, since the launch of the campaign. This would include, but is not limited to, public relations/communications advice by extern...

FOI unclear 50 score 17 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2025-09-23
Reference: FOI/202500468571
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Scottish Government exercising Section 50 (5) of the FOISA act: FOI release

1) Since January 1st 2002, how many times has the Scottish Government not handed over information to the Scottish Information Commissioner for investigations due to exercising section 50(5) of the FOISA act? 2) Can you please cite the SIC decision number and FOI reference number concerning these?

FOI already published 55 score 16 working days correspondence briefings s.50(5) s.14(2) s.14 s.17(1) s.25(1)

Published: 2025-09-23
Reference: FOI/202500468778
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Cabinet meeting attendance by the Lord Advocate: FOI release

You asked how many Cabinet meetings has Dorothy Bain attended in the last six months, and how many Cabinet meetings have been held in that timeframe?

FOI released 70 score 9 working days correspondence meetings

Published: 2025-09-23
Reference: FOI/202500470459
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Scottish Government internal writing style guide: FOI release

A copy of the Scottish Government’s internal style guide for use by civil servants. If every directorate has their own, or if there are different style guides for different uses e.g. policy and communications, then please share a copy of each. To clarify, by style guide I am referring to a document that gives a set of...

FOI cost limit 70 score 18 working days correspondence spending s.12 4 attachments

Published: 2025-09-23
Reference: FOI/202500468759
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

List of Scottish Government Ministers and responsibilities: FOI release

Accountable to the Scottish Government economy, please can you the appointment letter of anyone overall in charge of the economy from 2019 to 2020 and from 2023 to 2024 education Please can you the appointment letter of anyone overall in charge of education from 2019 to 2020 and from 2023 to 2024 health Please can yo...

FOI already published 80 score 3 working days correspondence ministers s.25 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-23
Reference: FOI/202500472703
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Citizen Jury on the delivery of public services: FOI release

Information relating to a citizen jury on the delivery of public services that took place in Scotland in 2011. In particular, information relating to: 1) The number of citizens who were invited to participate, and the share of citizens who accepted the initial invitation. 2) Any information on the socio-demographic b...

FOI not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence meetings s.4 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-22
Reference: FOI/202500466262
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Scottish Government interview requests regarding Supreme Court's ruling on defining a woman: FOI release

A full list of interview requests made to the Scottish Government to discuss the Supreme Court's ruling on defining a woman and whether they were accepted or rejected and the reasons for this. Between April 15 2025 and the date of your request.

FOI released 95 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-22
Reference: FOI/202500466173
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Correspondence regarding former First Minister's Memoir: FOI release

Regarding Nicola Sturgeon’s memoir ‘Frankly’ that is to be published: Any internal Scottish Government correspondence between 1 January 2023 and present discussing Nicola Sturgeon’s memoir, including any involvement by civil servants, special advisers, or ministers. All communications between the First Minister’s priv...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.30 s.33(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-18
Reference: FOI/202500465697
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Pay rise for Scottish Government ministers: FOI release

1. All correspondence between the First Minister, the First Minister’s staff, and the Scottish Parliament relating to the recent pay rise for Scottish Government ministers. 2. Confirmation of whether the First Minister has received a pay rise as part of this change. If so, please provide details of the amount and effe...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 14 working days correspondence ministers s.2 s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-17
Reference: FOI/202500465280
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Diary engagements: FOI release

Can you provide a copy of the ministerial diary for Jenny Gilruth on April 24, 2025? Can you provide a copy of any amendments made in regards to this document? Can you provide a list of ministerial engagements scheduled for Ms Gilruth on that date? Can you also provide any emails related to Ms Gilruth's diary schedulin...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.29(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-17
Reference: FOI/202500463953
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Ministerial engagements: FOI release

Could you provide Jenny Gilruth's ministerial diary for Thursday April 24, including any drafts of it from the last three months?

FOI released 100 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-17
Reference: FOI/202500464265
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills