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

326 matching releases

Average response times for an FOI request: FOI release

1) The mean, median and maximum response times for an FOI to the Scottish Government over the last 12 months. 2) The number and percentage of FOIs that were referred to Special Advisers for each month of the last five years. 3) The mean, median and maximum response times for all FOIs referred to Special Advisers over t...

FOI/EIR not held 70 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 s.3 s.20 s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2023-05-25
Reference: FOI/202300352495
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

George Adam's (SNP) meeting: FOI release

1) All internal and external correspondence within and sent or received by the Scottish Government including attached documents, meeting handouts, memos, briefings to ministers, attendee lists, location of meeting, notes, minutes, or OneNote memos, linked to the following meeting: 1a) George Adam's meeting with Daren F...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.30 s.29(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2023-02-15
Reference: FOI/202200331316
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Correspondence on Sustainable Growth Commission report informing contents of Building a New Scotland publication: FOI release

Please provide all Scottish Government (including Ministers, Civil Servants, and Special Advisers) correspondence and documents discussing how the SNP’s Sustainable Growth Commission report (published in 2018) would inform the contents of Building a New Scotland - A stronger economy with independence – published by the...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.29(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2023-02-07
Reference: FOI/202200333877
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

FOIs submitted regarding Finance and Economy: FOI release

1. The number of FOIs submitted to the Scottish Government regarding Finance and Economy from 19 May 2021 to present. 2. The number of those FOIs cleared by Kate Forbes before release/publication. 3. The number of those FOIs cleared by John Swinney (as Kate Forbes on maternity leave) before release/publication. 4. The ...

FOI unclear 50 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers

Published: 2023-01-31
Reference: FOI/202200335611
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

FOIs submitted regarding Justice and Veterans: FOI release

1.The number of FOIs submitted to the Scottish Government regarding Justice and Veterans from 19 May 2021 to present. 2. The number of those FOIs cleared by Keith Brown before release/publication. 3. The number of those FOIs that have not yet received a response.

FOI unclear 50 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers

Published: 2023-01-31
Reference: FOI/202200335609
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

FOIs submitted regarding Rural Affairs and Islands: FOI release

1. The number of FOIs submitted to the Scottish Government regarding Rural Affairs and Islands from 19 May 2021 to present. 2. The number of those FOIs cleared by Mairi Gougeon before release/publication. 3. The number of those FOIs that have not yet received a response.

FOI unclear 50 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers

Published: 2023-01-30
Reference: FOI/202200335635
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

FOIs submitted to the Scottish Government regarding Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture: FOI release

1. The number of FOIs submitted to the Scottish Government regarding Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture from 19 May 2021 to present. 2. The number of those FOIs cleared by Angus Robertson before release/publication. 3. The number of those FOIs that have not yet received a response.

FOI unclear 50 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers

Published: 2023-01-30
Reference: FOI/202200335631
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

FOIs submitted regarding Net Zero, Energy and Transport: FOI release

1. The number of FOIs submitted to the Scottish Government regarding Net Zero, Energy and Transport from 19 May 2021 to present. 2. The number of those FOIs cleared by Michael Matheson before release/publication. 3. The number of those FOIs that have not yet received a response.

FOI unclear 50 score 3 working days correspondence ministers

Published: 2023-01-30
Reference: FOI/202200335627
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

FOIs submitted regarding Education and Skills: FOI release

1. The number of FOIs submitted to the Scottish Government regarding Education and Skills from 19 May 2021 to present. 2. The number of those FOIs cleared by Shirley-Anne Somerville before release/publication. 3. The number of those FOIs that have not yet received a response.

FOI unclear 50 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers

Published: 2023-01-30
Reference: FOI/202200335626
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

FOIs submitted regarding Health and Social Care: FOI release

1. The number of FOIs submitted to the Scottish Government regarding Health and Social Care from 19 May 2021 to present. 2. The number of those FOIs cleared by Humza Yousaf before release/publication. 3. The number of those FOIs that have not yet received a response.

FOI unclear 50 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers

Published: 2023-01-30
Reference: FOI/202200335621
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

FOIs submitted regarding Social Justice, Housing and Local Government: FOI release

1. The number of FOIs submitted to the Scottish Government regarding Social Justice, Housing and Local Government from 19 May 2021 to present. 2. The number of those FOIs cleared by Shona Robison before release/publication. 3. The number of those FOIs that have not yet received a response.

FOI unclear 50 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers

Published: 2023-01-30
Reference: FOI/202200335620
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Proposed Independence Prospectus: FOI release

Information on the number of civil servants currently working to develop the proposed Independence Prospectus, for their remit, and timetable for publication.

FOI partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.17(1) s.3 s.30

Published: 2023-01-18
Reference: FOI/202200321527
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Mayor of Greater Manchester correspondence between specific dates - FoI release

"copies of all emails, letters, text and any other communication between the Scottish Government (including the First Minister, her office and all government officials) and Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, his team and that local authority. The time frame would be from the first such communication in 2022...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2022-12-28
Reference: FOI/202200317025
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Office of Mayor of Greater Manchester correspondence - FoI Release

"Electronic copies of all communication from within the Scottish Government between ministers, special advisors, civil servants, government officials – including the First Minister’s email account, her office, and her chief of staff Colin McAllister - regarding meeting Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, and...

FOI partially withheld 85 score 71 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp 2 attachments

Published: 2022-12-28
Reference: FOI/202200320940
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

Social media independence spend: FOI release

1. How much money has the Scottish Government spent on creating social media videos about independence? A breakdown of these figures. 2. How many videos has the Scottish Government created about independence in 2021 and 2022 and a list of these videos? 3. Who created the videos and how many people were involved in crea...

FOI unclear 55 score correspondence ministers spending s.2 s.1 s.17(1)

Published: 2022-11-30
Reference: FOI/202200327588
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Correspondence with Mayor of Greater Manchester and local authority: FOI release

Copies of all emails, letters, text and any other communication between the Scottish Government (including the First Minister, her office and all government officials) and Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, his team and that local authority. The time frame would be from the first such communication in 2022 ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.38(1) 6 attachments

Published: 2022-11-03
Reference: FOI/202200317066
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Visit of Michelle O'Neill to Bute House and meeting with First Minister: FOI release

On May 20 this year, Michelle O'Neill MLA visited the First Minister at Bute House. https://www.gov.scot/news/first-minister-meets-michelle-oneill-mla/ Please supply all items of information generated by the First Minister, her officials and special advisers in relation to the arranging of this meeting, its conduct and...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2022-10-19
Reference: FOI/202200312323
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

The number of Cabinet meetings attended by Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater since their appointment as Ministers to the Scottish Government: FOI release

1. The number of Cabinet meetings attended by Patrick Harvie since his appointment as a Minister of the Scottish Government. Please provide the dates and reasons for his attendance. 2. The number of Cabinet meetings attended by Lorna Slater since her appointment as a Minister of the Scottish Government. Please provide...

FOI unclear 50 score 5 working days correspondence ministers meetings

Published: 2022-10-03
Reference: FOI/202200316256
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Preparation of independence prospectus papers: FOI release

I would like to request the following information please in relation to the Independence in the Modern wide world white paper along with any other documents produced to coincide with it. I understand 1 Senior official and 19 others worked on the project. Can you provide the following please. 1) The total accumulative a...

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.17(1) s.6

Published: 2022-09-27
Reference: FOI/202200311764
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

MSP and Ministerial salary entitlements: FOI release

"The annual figure that N Sturgeon has drawn as her salary from 2008/09 till April 2022. ie has the full salary for her roll been taken and taxed or has she only been paid her 2008/09 salary each year. Also a breakdown of what public Ministers that have "made available £250k" from their pay packet, was it taxed before ...

FOI unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence ministers spending

Published: 2022-09-27
Reference: FOI/202200312722
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Money and tax, Public sector

The ten comparator countries in building a New Scotland: FOI release

On the 14th June 2022 the Scottish Government published the first in a series of papers called ‘Building a New Scotland’. The paper ‘Independence in the Modern World. Wealthier, Happier, Fairer: Why not Scotland?’ is described as setting out ‘a detailed analysis of the UKs performance across a range of economic and soc...

FOI not held 45 score 20 working days correspondence ministers contracts spending s.4 s.5 s.9 s.10 s.11 s.12 s.17(1)

Published: 2022-09-05
Reference: FOI/202200311070
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: 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

Correspondence with Lord Advocate regarding the Supreme Court: FOI release

1) Any correspondence, including meetings, notes, memos, agendas, ministerial briefings and minutes, between the Scottish Government and the office of the Lord Advocate on the topic of the Lord Advocate's reference to the Supreme Court between January 1, 2022 and June 28, 2022. This should include any emails, letters, ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.2 s.36(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2022-08-22
Reference: FOI/202200312193
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Prospectus for Independence: FOI release

In September 2021, the First Minister announced that Scottish Government civil servants would start work on a detailed prospectus for independence (as reported here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-58478187). On 21st May this year, the First Minister stated: 'we will shortly begin publishing an...

FOI withheld 55 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers contracts spending s.29(1)

Published: 2022-08-10
Reference: FOI/202200302125
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector