Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

22,640releases indexed
40,478attachments found
29.5avg calendar days
8,386partially withheld
2016-06-13oldest in sample
2026-09-02newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,386 unclear 7,405 not held 3,239 released 1,581 already published 700 cost limit 627 clarification 372 withheld 249 transferred 81

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 5149 s.20 4430 s.34(1) 3727 s.39(2) 3593 s.30 2994 s.17(1) 2922 s.25(1) 2520 s.10(4) 2060 s.11(2) 1619 s.29(1) 1223 s.2 1222 s.3 958

Timeline

2026-09 1 2026-08 299 2026-07 476 2026-06 1 2026-05 410 2026-04 312 2026-03 217 2026-02 589

Directorate Profiles

Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate 1,312 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 978 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 961 releases · 30.9 avg days Learning Directorate 871 releases · 34.3 avg days Economic Development Directorate 737 releases · 39.7 avg days Constitution Directorate 702 releases · 35.9 avg days Population Health Directorate 665 releases · 28.5 avg days People Directorate 657 releases · 25.6 avg days
Clear
205 matching releases

Cost of the Building a New Scotland series and the number of staff in the Constitutional Futures Division: FOI release

1) Since 2011, an annual breakdown of costs associated with the production of the White Paper on Independence or Independence Papers as part of the Building a New Scotland Series. 2) Over the same time period, an annual breakdown of the number of Civil Servants working in the Government's "Scottish Government’s Consti...

FOI unclear 55 score 18 working days correspondence ministers spending s.2 s.3 s.17(1)
Published
2024-10-04
Reference
FOI/202400425685
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Civil servants working to develop the proposed independence prospectus: FOI release

The number of civil servants currently working to develop the proposed independence prospectus. The pay grade of each staff member and the most up to date pay scales.

FOI unclear 50 score 3 working days correspondence
Published
2024-09-24
Reference
FOI/202400426994
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Foreign exchange and sterling reserves discussion/analysis: FOI release

In the third Building a New Scotland paper, one of the criteria identified for the introduction of the new Scottish pound is “that foreign exchange reserves and sterling reserves are sufficient”. Please provide any discussion or analysis conducted by the Constitutional Futures Division on the possible methods by which...

FOI unclear 75 score 18 working days correspondence 2 attachments
Published
2024-09-18
Reference
FOI/202400426078
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Continuing work on the Building a New Scotland series of independence papers: FOI release

In light of the result of the UK general election, held on 4th July 2024, what is the Scottish Government’s position on continuing to work on, and publish, the Building a New Scotland series of independence papers?

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2024-09-13
Reference
FOI/202400422596
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Recorded decisions for Jamie Hepburn MSP: FOI release

Further to 202400410545, would you please send comparable figures for Jamie Hepburn. For ease, you can send from 1 April 2023 - 31 April 2024, so 13 months. For reference, in FOI 202400410545 which you are referring to, you asked: “Would you please provide the number of decisions recorded on eRDM for the above minist...

FOI unclear 75 score 18 working days correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2024-09-05
Reference
FOI/202400421327
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Constitutional Futures Division staff statistics: FOI release

I am writing to you to request the following information. 1) The number of civil servants working as part of the Constitutional Futures Division, their grades (including Senior Civil Servant), and the salary costs for the 2023/24 financial year.

FOI unclear 50 score 5 working days correspondence spending
Published
2024-09-03
Reference
FOI/202400425682
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Number of staff co-ordinating the Building a New Scotland prospectus: FOI release

At 1 April 2024, how many FTE civil servants were in the Constitutional Futures Division, the business area of the Scottish Government responsible for coordination of the Building a New Scotland prospectus series, broken down by pay scales (A-C grade and SCS pay scale).

FOI unclear 50 score 10 working days correspondence
Published
2024-08-30
Reference
FOI/202400410572
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

The Annual Budget allocated to the Scottish Government Minister for independence: FOI release

The Annual Budget allocated to the Scottish Government Minister for independence. The number of civil servants that are accountable to the Scottish Government Minister for independence. A list of all meetings the Scottish Government Minister for independence has held to date with individuals and or organisations extern...

FOI unclear 55 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.17(1)
Published
2024-08-22
Reference
FOI/202300355396
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Independence of Scotland from the UK correspondence: FOI release

I write requesting the information under the Freedom of Information Scotland Act (“FOISA”): 1. All letters from the First Minister to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom which regards independence of Scotland from the UK. 2. The responses to the letters from the PM. To narrow down my request this should be from...

FOI unclear 50 score 12 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2024-07-10
Reference
FOI/202400411864
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Translations and consultations costs for the proposed Scots Languages Bill: FOI release

I am requesting the following information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and any other relevant pieces of legislation: What organisation(s) were used for any translations of the consultation for the proposed Scots Languages Bill. What organisation(s) were used for any translations of the "Buildin...

FOI unclear 55 score 19 working days correspondence contracts spending s.17(1) s.25(1)
Published
2024-04-30
Reference
FOI/202400406725
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Civil servants working to develop the proposed independence: FOI release

Can I please request the following information: The number of civil servants currently working to develop the proposed independence prospectus. The pay grade of each staff member.

FOI unclear 55 score 18 working days correspondence s.17(1)
Published
2024-04-23
Reference
FOI/202400406545
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

State Pension Payments: FOI release

Since 5th May 2011, has the Scottish Government ever sought legal advice on who would be legally responsible for paying the state pension in an independent Scotland? In other words: has advice been sought on the question of whether a continuing UK Government would have a legal obligation to pay the state pension to peo...

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence spending
Published
2024-04-08
Reference
FOI/202400403372
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Building a new Scotland, Public sector

Building a New Scotland prospectus papers fiscal sustainability: FOI release

“In the course of preparing the Building a New Scotland series of independence papers, has the Scottish Government considered the affordability of the state pension (in the context of fiscal sustainability) in an independent Scotland? I don’t expect you to send me that work. I just want to know if it exists”.

FOI unclear 50 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence
Published
2024-02-26
Reference
FOI/202300390041
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Prospectus for Independence meeting at Bute House: FoI release

On 30th May 2022, a meeting was held at Bute House which was described as “a focused policy discussion about fiscal policy to test in detail the propositions in this area which are to be addressed in the updated prospectus for independence.” Please provide a list of all persons who attended this meeting. For those who ...

FOI unclear 75 score 20 working days correspondence meetings 2 attachments
Published
2024-02-22
Reference
FOI/202300373210
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Cost of "Building a New Scotland" Project: FOI release

I would like to submit an FOI request with regards to the series of 9 papers published by the Scottish Government titled "Building a New Scotland". Specifically, I would like to know the following: 1. How much did the project (e.g. commission, research and publication of the 9 papers) cost in total, and how long did i...

FOI unclear 55 score 17 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.17(1)
Published
2024-02-19
Reference
FOI/202400391532
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Non-Scottish Government individual consulted for input for Request Building a New Scotland paper: FOI release

The names of any non-Scottish Government individual consulted for advice or input for the Scottish Government's 'Building a New Scotland - A stronger economy with independence' paper. This should include but not be limited to any non-staff individual involved in a Scottish Government economic advisory board, committee,...

FOI unclear 50 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings
Published
2024-01-30
Reference
202200325598
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Independence prospectus staffing structure: FOI release

The number of civil servants currently working to develop the proposed independence prospectus. The pay grade of each staff member.

FOI unclear 55 score 12 working days correspondence s.17(1)
Published
2023-12-17
Reference
202300358409
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Number of civil servants who worked on the 'A stronger economy with independence' paper: FOI release

The number of civil servants who worked on the A stronger economy with independence paper from the Scottish Government. The total number of printed copies of this paper were made in total. If you can’t give me the overall total number of printed copies of the paper, can I please have the number of printed copies of t...

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence spending s.17(1)
Published
2023-12-17
Reference
202300358659
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Scottish Government position on pensions in an independent Scotland: FOI release

On 5/10/2022 Mr Ivan McKee attended a Lang Cat live event as a Scottish Government Minister. https://twitter.com/langcatlocke/status/1577684949183987716?s=46&t=FyUQtXuk-0za7QChYxvs9A At this event the Minister agreed that the SNP position was that Scottish Government pensions after independence would be funded by UK ...

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2023-12-16
Reference
202200323769
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence with Philip Whyte of the Institute for Public Policy Research: FOI release

Any correspondence, meeting minutes, briefings or notes, between the Scottish Government and Philip Whyte of the Institute for Public Policy Research, relating to their input in the Scottish Government's 'Building a New Scotland - A stronger economy with independence' paper, as referenced in the FOI response reference ...

FOI unclear 75 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence briefings meetings 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-16
Reference
202200331364
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence with Ewan Hunter relating to their input in the Scottish Government's 'Building a New Scotland - A stronger economy with independence' paper: FOI release

Any correspondence, meeting minutes, briefings or notes, between the Scottish Government and Ewan Hunter of the The Hunter Foundation, relating to their input in the Scottish Government's 'Building a New Scotland - A stronger economy with independence' paper, as referenced in the FOI response reference 202200325598.

FOI unclear 75 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence briefings meetings 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-16
Reference
202200331371
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Building a new Scotland marketing video: FOI release

My FOI request concerns the video which was published on the @scotgov Twitter account on Friday 28 October 2022 at 5pm, here: twitter.com/scotgov/status/1586025147785527307 and it relates also to the Scottish Government department behind the creation of this video. The video references a written and video project call...

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence spending s.17(1)
Published
2023-12-16
Reference
202200328753
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Discussions of independence referendum and the Supreme Court in cabinet meetings: FOI release

On how many occasions in (i) The calendar year 2022 (ii) the financial year 2022 2023 has the Scottish Government Cabinet discussed another independence referendum at meetings of the Cabinet? On how many occasions did the Cabinet discuss the Supreme Court at meetings of the Cabinet?

FOI unclear 50 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence meetings
Published
2023-12-08
Reference
202200330040
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Currency meeting regarding updated prospectus for independence: FOI release

In May 2022, a meeting was scheduled to be held at Bute House which was described as “a focused policy discussion about currency to test in detail the propositions in this area which are to be addressed in the updated prospectus for independence.” The meeting was originally scheduled for 9th May 2022 but appears to ha...

FOI unclear 75 score 19 working days correspondence meetings 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-05
Reference
FOI/202300373215
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector