Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

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
326 matching releases

Number of FOIs submitted to SG requesting FM correspondence: FOI review

"How many FOIs have been submitted to the Scottish Government in 2019 requesting Nicola Sturgeon's emails or correspondence as a whole i.e. including letters, phone calls, other types of communication? As an example, this could be done by searching for "Nicola Sturgeon" and "emails" within the Scottish Government's FOI...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.60
Published
2019-10-28
Reference
FOI/201900004176
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

FOI requests during 2018 and organisations: FOI release

You asked for "I would like to establish the volume of FOI Requests during 2018 and the source company, individual (if public record) or organisation of each request. Could this be provided in an Excel format? Related to this, I would like the Scottish Government to advise of the estimated cost of the resources to han...

FOI not held 70 score 14 working days correspondence ministers spending s.38(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2019-10-08
Reference
FOI/201900004261
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Documents provided to ministers on topic of second independence referendum: FOI appeal

Details of any briefings by civil servants or documents provided to ministers in 2017 or 2018 on the topic of a second independence referendum.

FOI released 95 score 215 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings 2 attachments
Published
2019-09-25
Reference
FOI/18/02260 Appeal
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Scottish Information Commissioner decision 121/2019 and FoI/18/02260 correspondence: FOI release

You asked for “Any correspondence (emails, typed or handwritten notes, letters, phone calls, minutes of meetings, documents or otherwise) since August 2018 on the topic of FoI/18/02260 and/or the Scottish Information Commissioner decision 121/2019 between any of the following people: Scottish Government Ministers, spec...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.47(1) 6 attachments
Published
2019-09-20
Reference
FOI/201900003579
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Number of FOIs submitted to SG requesting FM correspondence: FOI release

You asked for: How many FOIs have been submitted to the Scottish Government in 2019 requesting Nicola Sturgeon's emails or correspondence as a whole i.e. including letters, phone calls, other types of communication? As an example, this could be done by searching for "Nicola Sturgeon" and "emails" within the Scottish G...

FOI unclear 50 score 15 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2019-09-17
Reference
FOI/201900003415
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

"Prerogative Powers" bestowed upon Scottish Ministers: FOI release

You asked the Scottish Government to confirm: What "Prerogative Powers" are bestowed upon Scottish Ministers? What "Prerogative Powers" have been used by Scottish Ministers in the previous ten fiscal periods? The exact date when the last "Prerogative Powers" were used by Scottish Ministers, and in what context was it ...

FOI transferred 75 score 10 working days correspondence ministers spending 2 attachments
Published
2019-07-16
Reference
FOI/19/01567
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence with Scottish Parliament - potential breach of Scottish Ministerial Code: FOI release

You asked for: Written correspondence to the Scottish Executive/Scottish Government/First Minister from Members of the Scottish Parliament reporting concern of a potential breach of Section 3 of the Scottish Ministerial Code, relating to ‘Ministers and the Scottish Parliament’ from, 1999 – present; and Written corre...

FOI released 100 score 12 working days correspondence ministers s.3 2 attachments
Published
2019-07-09
Reference
FOI/19/01560
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Material relating to FOI Appeal on request FOI/201900000117: FOI release

You asked for; all correspondence, information contained in discussions and all material supplied by Scottish Government to the Scottish Information Commissioner in relation to his relating to request “Independent Scrutiny of Inter Agency Decision Ref 092/2019.

FOI already published 80 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.25(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.47(1) 2 attachments
Published
2019-07-04
Reference
FOI/201900001987
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Ministers in acting ministerial posts in June 2019: FOI release

You asked the Scottish Government to confirm: How many Ministers are in Acting Minister Posts in June 2019? How many Ministers in Acting Posts were made permanent in those posts? How many Ministers remits have been extended in the past two years? How many Ministers remits have been changed in the last two years?

FOI unclear 55 score 5 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1)
Published
2019-07-04
Reference
FOI/19/01541
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Ministers and Special Advisers roles responding to FOI requests: FOI review

Please provide the following: (A) any and all procedures, guidance, emails that set out the current role of Ministers and Special Advisers in responding to FOI requests and requests for internal review. (B) a risk assessment that sets out the data protection compliance considerations associated with (A).

FOI not held 70 score 7 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.1(1) s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2019-04-09
Reference
FOI/19/00669 Review
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Meetings or communications regarding currency: FOI release

1. Any correspondence (letters, emails, minutes, call logs or otherwise) to/from Derek Mackay, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance that contain the terms: ‘new currency’; ‘Scottish pound’; ‘euro’; ‘currency union’, over a period from September 2018 to present. 2. Any correspondence (letters, emails, minutes, call logs o...

FOI cost limit 70 score 14 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.12 s.38(1) s.30 s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2019-04-05
Reference
FOI/19/00752
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Economy, Money and tax, Public sector

First Minister’s correspondence regarding Sustainable Growth Commission: FOI release

Any correspondence received or sent by the First Minister regarding the SNP’s ‘Sustainable Growth Commission’ since May 2018.

FOI already published 80 score 15 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2019-04-05
Reference
FOI/19/00753
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Economy, Public sector

Ministers and Special Advisers roles responding to FOI requests: FOI release

Please provide the following: (A) any and all procedures, guidance, emails that set out the current role of Ministers and Special Advisers in responding to FOI requests and requests for internal review. (B) a risk assessment that sets out the data protection compliance considerations associated with (A).

FOI unclear 80 score 12 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.25(1) s.8(1) s.1(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2019-03-27
Reference
FOI/19/00669
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Briefings/documents provided to ministers on a second independence referendum: FOI release

Details of any briefings by civil servants or documents provided to SG ministers on the topic of a second independence referendum from 21 September 2018 to 23 January 2019.

FOI unclear 55 score 18 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.30
Published
2019-02-19
Reference
FOI/19/00285
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Clearance of requests by Ministers or special advisers: FOI release

1. Regarding all of my FOISA requests tabled to the SG since October 1st 2017, please provide all examples of clearance by Ministers/Ministerial offices, including emails and the content of attachments in emails. 2. Regarding all of my FOISA requests tabled to the SG since October 1st 2017, please provide all emails (...

FOI partially withheld 90 score correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2018-08-01
Reference
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Various information regarding Minister designate: FOI release

Any internal guidance or advice held by the SG, including any guidance issued to staff, regarding the powers and limitations of a 'minister designate', as opposed to a full minister, and how civil servants should respond to requests for information, advice, etc. from a minister designate. A full list of every 'ministe...

FOI partially withheld 90 score correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.36(1) 4 attachments
Published
2018-07-20
Reference
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector