Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

17,099releases indexed
27,856attachments found
30.0avg calendar days
6,297partially withheld
2020-01-10oldest in sample
2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 6,297 unclear 5,710 not held 2,434 released 1,096 already published 565 cost limit 491 clarification 264 withheld 186 transferred 56

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 3926 s.20 3344 s.34(1) 3080 s.39(2) 2635 s.30 2273 s.17(1) 2227 s.25(1) 1918 s.10(4) 1572 s.11(2) 1292 s.2 942 s.29(1) 927 s.3 712

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 1,007 releases · 28.2 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 813 releases · 30.8 avg days Marine Directorate 678 releases · 28.5 avg days Learning Directorate 617 releases · 35.4 avg days Population Health Directorate 557 releases · 29.0 avg days Constitution Directorate 532 releases · 36.5 avg days Economic Development Directorate 516 releases · 40.0 avg days Local Government and Housing Directorate 513 releases · 29.3 avg days
Clear
17 matching releases

Communications regarding publication of updated independence prospectus papers: FOI Appeal

Original request - 202200309607 1) In an essay for The National, the First Minister states "we will shortly begin publishing an updated prospectus on the opportunities that independence can offer Scotland". Please provide the publication timetable for this prospectus.

FOI released 100 score 608 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.29(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2024-11-18
Reference
FOI/202200309607 Appeal of 202200301428
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Money spent on third-party or legal costs connected to independence: FOI release

Since 2011, the amount of money spent by the Scottish Government on third-party or legal costs connected to in any way (advisory, consultancy or legal advice or other) to any question of policy around independence. This should include but not be limited to - consultancy connected to the Building a New Scotland papers, ...

FOI released 75 score 19 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.17(1)
Published
2024-10-04
Reference
FOI/202400425678
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Supreme Court decision on the independence referendum: FOI release

Has there been any change in the policy in relation to the allocation of resources and support to Ministers for the purposes of developing the case for Scottish independence in light of the decision in last week’s Supreme Court case? If so, what is that change? If not, please set out the legal and policy basis upon whi...

FOI released 100 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.30 s.5 s.7 s.51 s.1 s.14 s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-16
Reference
202200332779
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Budget for a Independence Referendum: FOI release

How much the budget is for the Independence Referendum? By how much it was reduced alongside other department budget cuts?

FOI released 75 score 37 working days over deadline correspondence spending s.25(1)
Published
2023-11-10
Reference
202200329363
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence, notes of any phone calls and minutes of any meetings on Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: FOI release

All correspondence, notes of any phone calls and minutes of any meetings between the Minister for Parliamentary Business, George Adam MSP, and Boundaries Scotland relating to the Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries.

FOI released 95 score 19 working days correspondence ministers meetings 2 attachments
Published
2023-10-19
Reference
202300356653
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

£20 million budget for independence: FOI release

1. How many free school dinners for poor families would the £20 m buy 2. How many food banks would the robbed sum provide for 3. How many domestic fuel costs would that buy for low income families in Scotland 4. What was the cost of the Government chauffeur car service for you and your 38 Ministers in the last 12 month...

FOI released 75 score 37 working days over deadline correspondence ministers contracts spending s.17(1) s.25(1) s.39(1)
Published
2022-11-30
Reference
FOI/202200322780
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Civil servants working on the proposed referendum on October: FOI release

How many civil servants and at what cost to the Scottish government will the proposed referendum on 19th October?

FOI released 100 score 6 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-10-05
Reference
FOI/202200315576
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

All correspondence regarding the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill: FOI release

The following information: “1) All correspondence (including meetings, emails, text/WhatsApp messages and phone calls) between any of the First Minister (and her office), the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (and his office) and the Lord Advocate (and her office) regarding the Scott...

FOI released 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings spending
Published
2022-08-29
Reference
FOI/202200308439
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Slowest FOI responses: FOI release

The top 3 slowest FOI responses 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 100 score 19 working days correspondence s.20 2 attachments
Published
2022-07-18
Reference
FOI/202200306901
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Scottish Government stance on economic research: FOI release

whether during the last 7 months since 1 March 2020 the Scottish Government has carried out polling on issues about the economy and/or Scotland’s finances. You also asked if such polling research was conducted to provide the following details: Which Minister in Government sanctioned such polling and were their Special...

FOI released 95 score 99 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers spending 2 attachments
Published
2021-04-21
Reference
FOI/202000103788
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Economy, Public sector

James Hamilton QC independent investigation: FOI release

1 - An Independent Investigation currently being led by James Hamilton QC is investigating possible breaches of the ministerial code by the First Minister. If he concludes that the FM did not knowingly mislead parliament as well as did not break other parts of the MC then I presume that the First Minister would not res...

FOI released 75 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.1 s.25(1)
Published
2021-03-18
Reference
FOI/20210016129
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Scottish Government Freedom of Information response time statistics: FOI release

"Broken down monthly for the past 3 years: The number of freedom of information requests that were not responded to by the Scottish Government within 20 working days."

FOI/EIR released 100 score 7 working days correspondence s.20 2 attachments
Published
2021-01-12
Reference
FOI/202000111702
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

The Scottish Government process of publishing FOI responses: FOI release

In order to clarify the strange apparent invisibility of several documents to the search engine - all of which, by a remarkable coincidence, relate to allegations of misconduct by the former First Minister Alex Salmond - please provide me with the search tags which have been attached to each of these 16 documents: (lis...

FOI released 95 score 5 working days correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2020-10-26
Reference
FOI/202000101090
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

St Andrews House flags: FOI release

The equivalent documents to "DAYS FOR HOISTING FLAGS ON BUILDINGS OF THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT 2019" for each year from 2014? Also, please could you supply information on any requests made for flags to fly originating from outside Scottish government since January 2015, except ones to do with royal births, birthdays or m...

FOI released 100 score 10 working days correspondence s.25(1) 2 attachments
Published
2020-07-02
Reference
FOI/202000044551
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

St Andrews House flags and lights: FOI release

“a list of all the dates between 1 January 2019 and 17 May 2020 on which St Andrew’s House has had (1) a special flag flown or (2) been specially lit up to mark an event, and what the event or cause being marked was in each case?”

FOI released 95 score 16 working days correspondence 2 attachments
Published
2020-06-12
Reference
FOI/202000037386
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

May 2020 Bank Holiday date change: FOI release

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I wish to request information relating to the change in the May Bank Holiday from 4 May to 8 May 2020. 1. I specifically want to know when the first discussions started, who instigated these discussions and who from Westminster were involved in these discussions? 2. What work was c...

FOI released 95 score 17 working days correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2020-03-20
Reference
FOI/202000017459
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

The Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2013 and other publications: FOI release

You asked for the following: The Scottish Government publication "Scotland's Right to Choose", The First Minister's Section 30 request to the United Kingdom Government and The “Section 30” legislation and guidance on its application and subsequent process to be followed for Scottish Referendums.

FOI released 100 score 27 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.30 2 attachments
Published
2020-01-29
Reference
FOI/202000010912
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector