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
702 matching releases

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

Briefing materials on independence referendum: FOI release

The most up to date briefing material that is provided to ministers on the topic of Scottish independence/second independence referendum. If possible, can you also please provide the dates and instances where this briefing material was used for in the last 6 months. For example, XXX MSP was given the briefing materia...

FOI cost limit 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.12 2 attachments
Published
2024-03-28
Reference
FOI/202400392770
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Meeting between the Prince of Wales and the First Minister: EIR release

You asked a number of questions relating to a meeting which took place between the Prince of Wales and the First Minister, the Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon MSP, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on 23 June 2015. As the information you have requested is ‘environmental information’ for the purposes of the Environmental Informati...

FOI/EIR not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.20 s.39(2) s.6(1) s.11(2) s.34(1) s.10(4) 4 attachments
Published
2024-03-19
Reference
202200301450
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
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

Funeral For Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II: FOI release

You asked several questions in relation to The Queen’s funeral: 1. All correspondence between JP Marks, Douglas Ross, Nicola Sturgeon and other Scottish Government officials regarding invites to the Queen’s funeral in September. 2. All correspondence between Scottish Government officials and the Lord Chamberlain’s of...

FOI partially withheld 85 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2024-02-20
Reference
202200321743
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
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

Request for Referendum costs: FOI release

In your email, you requested the following information: Given that the Lord Advocate had at the outset expressed her misgivings that the action would succeed, whose decision was it to proceed? How much did (a) the preparation of the case, and (b) its presentation at the Supreme Court, cost? Will all this expenditure r...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 8 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.27 s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-02-15
Reference
202200331890
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence with CEO of Business for Scotland and Believe in Scotland: FOI release

Please provide copies of all email correspondence between the Scottish Government (including Ministers, Civil servants, and Special Advisers) and Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp, CEO of Business for Scotland and Believe in Scotland, 1st May 2021 - date.

FOI cost limit 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.38(1) s.34(1) s.12 4 attachments
Published
2024-02-01
Reference
FOI/202300373212
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Business, industry and innovation, 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

Referendum Budget: FOI review

A breakdown of how that £20 million was calculated - including all documents which shows how the figure was calculated and all details of how the money would be predicted to be spent. In other words, all documents which show the rationale of the final figure. All correspondence between relevant Scottish Government work...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 16 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.29(1) s.17
Published
2024-01-26
Reference
FOI/202200310643 Review of 202200303499
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Analysis of Building a New Scotland: a stronger economy paper: FOI release

In the independence paper "building a new Scotland: a stronger economy it is suggested that custom checks will happen on the border in the event of independence and rejoining the EU, with Jamie Hepburn also saying this on May 21. Could you supply any analysis done on this about how much potential job losses this could ...

FOI cost limit 70 score 20 working days correspondence meetings spending s.17(1) s.27(1) s.38(1) s.30 s.29(1) s.12 2 attachments
Published
2024-01-24
Reference
Analysis of Building a New Scotland: a stronger economy paper: FOI release
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Independence money legal advice: FOI review

Has the Scottish Government taken legal advice about whether they can spend any more money on independence following the Supreme Court judgment? If so, can you supply that legal advice or when it will be announced? If not, why have you not sought legal advice on this matter? Has the Scottish government been threatened ...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.36(1)
Published
2024-01-24
Reference
202200333048
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Referendum Plans: FOI review

Does the Scottish Government have a planning date in 2023 on which it intends that a referendum will be held? If there is a planning date, what is that date? (Please note: I am asking for a specific date, not a deadline; but if at this stage this has only been planned as a month rather than a specific day, please let m...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 42 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.29(1) s.25(1) s.30
Published
2024-01-23
Reference
FOI/202200309934 Review of 202200302128
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence regarding transparency of Scotland’s Governing Party: FOI review

All correspondence (including emails, letters, meetings, instant messages and phone calls) between Scottish Ministers, Scottish Government officials and SNP officials (employed by the party) regarding the debate held in the Scottish Parliament on 3 May 2023 on Transparency of Scotland’s Governing Party. This correspond...

FOI cost limit 70 score 15 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.12 s.38(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2024-01-23
Reference
FOI/202300359727 Review of 202300354998
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Migration to Scotland after independence paper: FOI release

Information regarding the Migration to Scotland after independence paper. Can I please request the following information? 1. How many civil servants worked on the paper? 2. How much money was spent on the paper? Can this be broken down into staffing costs, alongside printing and other costs etc. 3. Was any advice fr...

FOI not held 45 score 19 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)
Published
2024-01-22
Reference
FOI/202300383680
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Total amount paid to hold a second referendum: FOI release

I write to request how much (in the following categories) since Oct 2014 have the Scottish government paid to hold a second referendum in Scotland? Question 1 2015-16 the total amount in man hours for their legal team? 2016-17 the total amount in man hours for their legal team? 2017-18 the total amount in man hours f...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 9 working days correspondence spending s.17(1) s.25(1) s.27 s.27(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-01-15
Reference
202200333373
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Public money spent on the cases for and against a second independence referendum: FOI release

Since the 2019 General Election: How much public money has the Scottish Government spent promoting IndyRef 2? How much public money has the UK Government spent countering the case for IndyRef 2?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 16 working days correspondence spending s.27(1) s.17(1) s.25(1) s.27 2 attachments
Published
2024-01-12
Reference
202200331337
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

David Eiser and Mairi Spowage of the Fraser of Allander Institute: FOI release

Any correspondence, meeting minutes, briefings or notes, between the Scottish Government and David Eiser and Mairi Spowage of the Fraser of Allander Institute, 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 r...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence briefings meetings s.38(1) s.34(1) s.29(1) s.20 2 attachments
Published
2024-01-12
Reference
202200331351
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Total costs to the Scottish Government of the recent referendum ruling in the UK Supreme Court: FOI release

Can you please send me a breakdown of the total costs to the Scottish Government of the recent referendum ruling in the UK Supreme Court. I would like this to be as inclusive as possible. I am interested in knowing all costs including but not restricted to: a calculation of the cost of all Scottish Government office...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence contracts spending s.25(1) s.17(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-01-12
Reference
202200331617
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Costing for the referral made to Supreme Court and internal predication: FOI release

The total Scottish Government (including civil service) costings for the referral, and case due to be made at the Supreme Court this October on the legality of holding another independence referendum. This should also encompass legal advice costings. If there is any internal prediction as to how much the Lord Advocates...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.27 s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-01-12
Reference
202200316878
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector