Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

21,863releases indexed
39,476attachments found
29.7avg calendar days
8,112partially withheld
2016-06-13oldest in sample
2026-05-20newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,112 unclear 7,200 not held 3,069 released 1,537 already published 671 cost limit 607 clarification 349 withheld 241 transferred 77

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4931 s.20 4280 s.34(1) 3589 s.39(2) 3481 s.30 2878 s.17(1) 2774 s.25(1) 2381 s.10(4) 1987 s.11(2) 1571 s.29(1) 1175 s.2 1158 s.3 908

Timeline

2026-05 410 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 1,279 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 967 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 923 releases · 31.0 avg days Learning Directorate 861 releases · 34.4 avg days Economic Development Directorate 729 releases · 39.9 avg days Constitution Directorate 685 releases · 36.1 avg days Population Health Directorate 645 releases · 28.7 avg days People Directorate 633 releases · 25.8 avg days
Clear
685 matching releases

Human beings as patented GMOs: FOI release

How is it recorded on Scottish Government systems that a Human Being cannot be patented as a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) and that this is enshrined in Scots Law? As with the earlier Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 request (now at the Internal Review stage) on the Nuremberg Code, if the Scottish Gove...

FOI not held 45 score 9 working days correspondence s.17(1)
Published
2021-02-05
Reference
202000120465
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public Sector

James Hamilton investigation remit: FOI release

Does the remit of the Investigation being conducted by James Hamilton officially include whether there has been ANY breach of ANY part of the Ministerial Code by the First Minister - including section 1.3(c) - or is his brief restricted to the narrower aspects of the Code specified in the remit published by the Scottis...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.1
Published
2021-02-04
Reference
FOI/202000108998
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

The Scottish Government average response time to Freedom of Information requests: FOI release

Broken down per month for the past 3 years: The average time for the Scottish Government to respond to a freedom of information request. (This is the period of time from when the request was received until the response was issued from the Scottish Government)

FOI/EIR not held 45 score 20 working days correspondence s.20 s.17(1)
Published
2021-02-02
Reference
FOI/202000111670
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Longest response time to a Freedom of Information request: FOI release

Broken down by year for the past 10 years (I am happy to receive the information either by financial or calendar year): The single longest wait for a Scottish Government response to a freedom of information request. (This is the period of time from when the request was received until the response was issued from the Sc...

FOI/EIR not held 45 score 20 working days correspondence s.20 s.17(1)
Published
2021-02-02
Reference
FOI/202000111675
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Cabinet on the Referendums Bill and Programme for Government 2020: FOI release

From 27 July 2020 to present (2 September 2020 - the date of requests): Copies of any correspondence (emails, hand-written notes, briefing, Whatsapp messages, minutes of meetings, minutes of calls and/or otherwise) between civil servants, special advisors and/or any member of the Scottish Government cabinet on the refe...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 63 working days over deadline correspondence briefings meetings whatsapp s.29(1) s.30 s.36(1) 2 attachments
Published
2021-01-20
Reference
FOI/202000083702
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Programme for Government, Public sector

Correspondence types and case compliance in financial year ending March 2020: FOI release

How many correspondence cases did Scottish Government receive in the financial year ending March 2020 split across the various types (complaints, FOI, DPR, etc.)? Please also include any stats on compliance regarding timely responses where relevant. What volume of cases received from April - Sept 2020 were COVID19 spec...

FOI/EIR cost limit 45 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending s.81 s.76 s.20 s.10 s.25(1) s.12
Published
2021-01-20
Reference
FOI/202000106664
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence with Electoral Commission regarding the Referendums Bill: FOI release

Between 1 July 2020 to present: Copies of correspondence (emails, briefings, letters, hand-written notes, memos, minutes of meetings, minutes of calls and/or otherwise) between the Scottish Government and the Electoral Commission regarding the Referendums Bill.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence briefings meetings s.30 2 attachments
Published
2021-01-19
Reference
FOI/202000105330
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Civil servant redeployment during the COVID-19 pandemic: FOI release

You asked: The number of civil servants redeployed to work in the Constitution and Cabinet Directorate during the COVID-19 pandemic from other government departments. Broken down by month from April 2020 to present.

FOI unclear 50 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence
Published
2021-01-19
Reference
FOI/202000126288
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public safety and emergencies, Public sector

Referendums (Scotland) Bill team correspondence: FOI release

You asked for the following - From 1 June 2020 to present: Copies of any correspondence (emails, hand-written notes, briefings, minutes of calls, memos and/or otherwise) from the Referendums Scotland Bill Team that include reference to Scottish independence.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence briefings meetings s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2021-01-14
Reference
FOI/202000106515
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Referendums (Scotland) Bill Team meetings: FOI release

Can you provide a list of dates of: Any meetings (virtual, in person, over the phone and/or otherwise) between ScottishGovernment Special Advisors and any member and/or members of the Referendums Scotland Bill Team.

FOI unclear 55 score 18 working days correspondence meetings s.18
Published
2021-01-13
Reference
FOI/202000106111
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Meetings between Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, Europe and External Affairs and Referendums (Scotland) Bill Team: FOI release

Can you provide a list of dates of: Any meetings (virtual, in person, over the phone and/or otherwise) between the Cabinet Secretary Michael Russell and any member and/or members of the Referendums Scotland Bill Team.

FOI unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence ministers meetings
Published
2021-01-13
Reference
FOI/202000106102
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

The Scottish Government's monthly FOI performance statistics: FOI release

Are other public bodies included in the Scottish Government's monthly FOI performance statistics sent to the Scottish Information commissioner? If the answer is yes, could you please send me a list of all other public bodies included.

FOI unclear 50 score 1 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2021-01-12
Reference
FOI/202000114200
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

Civil servant redeployment to support COVID-19 response: FOI release

The number of civil servants redeployed from the Constitution and Cabinet Directorate during the COVID-19 pandemic to work in other government departments. Broken down by month from April 2020 to present.

FOI unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence
Published
2020-12-17
Reference
FOI/202000105326
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Referendums Scotland Bill Team - date of formation: FOI release

You asked for: a) The date on which the Referendums Scotland Bill Team was formed. b) The date on which the first civil servant started working as part of the Referendums Scotland Bill Team.

FOI unclear 50 score 16 working days correspondence
Published
2020-12-11
Reference
FOI/202000106096
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

James Hamilton QC investigation remit: FOI release

Does the remit of the Investigation being conducted by James Hamilton officially include whether there has been ANY breach of ANY part of the Ministerial Code by the First Minister - including section 1.3(c) - or is his brief restricted to the narrower aspects of the Code specified in the remit published by the Scottis...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.1
Published
2020-12-08
Reference
FOI/202000108998
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Covered cost of staff Christmas parties and other festive arrangements: FOI release

You asked for: The allocated budget for each Scottish Government department to cover the cost of their staff Christmas parties (in whatever form they might take) and other festive arrangements for 2020. Please could you provide the per-head Christmas budget for each department, as well as the total for each (i.e. A d...

FOI unclear 55 score 2 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)
Published
2020-12-04
Reference
FOI/202000110616
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

The Referendums Scotland Bill Team: FOI release

Details of the number of civil servants that are part of the Referendums Scotland Bill Team. Details of the remit of the Referendums Scotland Bill Team. (e.g. description of the main duties of the team, key roles of the team and/or otherwise)

FOI unclear 50 score 13 working days correspondence
Published
2020-11-30
Reference
FOI/202000102243
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Scottish Government staff engaged in updating the ‘Scotland’s Future’ publication: FOI release

Please could I request the following under the freedom of information legislation. For each of the following years 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020 to present: Details of the number of civil servants working on a paper to update/renew the Scottish Government’s paper ‘Scotland’s Future’.

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence
Published
2020-11-25
Reference
FOI/202000096466
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Correspondence concerning updating the ‘Scotland’s Future’ publication: FOI release

Copies of correspondence (emails, texts, whatsapp messages, written notes, minutes of calls, minutes of meetings and/or otherwise) between civil servants and/or Special Advisors and/or members of the Scottish Government Cabinet regarding the need to update the ‘Scotland’s Future’ paper originally published in November ...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.29(1) s.30
Published
2020-11-25
Reference
FOI/202000096481
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

FOI references of all recorded requests: FOI release

Under FOI please give me an excel (NOT as a pdf) list of all FOI requests you have had since it became law. for each FOI request, please list: date of request date of reply reference number/ID subject/title of the request [each request on the list should include the subject/title of the request please] status [whether...

FOI/EIR not held 70 score 16 working days correspondence ministers spending s.20 s.17(1) s.12 2 attachments
Published
2020-11-13
Reference
FOI/202000086590
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Copies of minutes for the Scottish Government Cabinet Meeting on 30 June 2020: FOI release

1. Copies of minutes for the Scottish Government Cabinet Meeting on 30 June 2020. 2. Any papers and/or briefings that were circulated to the Scottish Government Cabinet from civil servants, special advisors and/or otherwise in preparation for the Cabinet meeting on 30 June 2020. 3. Copies of correspondence from/to civi...

FOI already published 80 score 18 working days correspondence briefings meetings s.30 s.25(1) s.29(1) s.36(1) s.17(1) 6 attachments
Published
2020-11-12
Reference
FOI/202000090391
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector