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
343 matching releases

Disposable vapes as an environmental as well as public health threat: EIR release

You asked for: Do the Scottish government recognise disposable vapes as an environmental as well as public health threat? Does the Scottish Government have/propose policy to mitigate the environmental threat of disposable vapes? Eg, nationwide recycling schemes, disposable vape amnesty boxes? Is this responsibility p...

FOI/EIR transferred 55 score 18 working days correspondence ministers s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4)
Published
2023-09-28
Reference
202300343640
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence with Circularity Scotland Ltd from April 2023: EIR release

Under Freedom of Information legislation I would be grateful to receive a copy of all correspondence between Circularity Scotland Ltd and the Scottish Government between 1st April 2023 and the present day.

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence s.20 s.39(2) 2 attachments
Published
2023-09-21
Reference
FOI/202300367423
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Correspondence between the Scottish Government and UK Government: EIR release

“A copy of any correspondence between the Scottish Government and UK Government about the deposit return scheme between 1 Jan 2021 and December 31 2021.” As the information you have requested is ‘environmental information’ for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are req...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 12 working days correspondence s.20 s.39(2) 4 attachments
Published
2023-09-08
Reference
202300363328
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence between Scottish Government and Circularity Scotland from March 2021: EIR release

Please provide all correspondence between the Circular Economy Minister and her special advisers/private office and the chief executive and chairman of Circularity Scotland from March 2021 to today’s date. Please also provide any briefing notes provided to the Circular Economy Minister for meetings with the chairman or...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 66 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.20 s.39(2) 2 attachments
Published
2023-08-25
Reference
FOI/202300347257
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Business, industry and innovation, Economy, Environment and climate change, +1 more … Public sector

Information pertaining to agriculture developments: EIR release

1. What progress has been made on developing a land reform bill? 2. What is the total Nature Restoration fund? 3. Has an Peatland restoration programme been established? 4. What work has been done to stimulate responsible private investment in the restoration of nature and enhancement of Scotland’s natural capital? 5. ...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 65 score 17 working days correspondence s.20 s.39(2) s.5
Published
2023-08-21
Reference
FOI/202300367465
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Farming and rural, Public sector

Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) - Risk Registers: EIR release

Any risk register that the Scottish Government has produced relating to its Deposit Return Scheme. If such a register is held, please provide each register as it stood on the following dates.: 14 May 2020, 1 December 2021, 1 January 2022, 1 June 2022, 1 February 2023, 1 March 2023, 1 April 2023, 1 May 2023 and the pres...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence s.20 s.39(2) 4 attachments
Published
2023-08-02
Reference
FOI/202300360738
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

RESAS funding settlement 2023/24: EIR release

Correspondence between RESAS and senior officers of the James Hutton Institute, BioSS and Centres of Expertise, regarding cuts to 2023/24 funding (including the Strategic Research Programme, Underpinning Capacity and Centres of Expertise), from 1 April 2022 to 30 June 2023.

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 10 working days correspondence meetings s.20 s.39(2) s.11(2) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-08-01
Reference
FOI/202300364133
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence with UK Government relating to the Deposit Return Scheme: EIR release

Can you please provide all correspondence between the First Minister Humza Yousaf and Lorna Slater that relates to the deposit return scheme since March 28 this year. Can you also provide all correspondence between Mr Yousaf and the Westminster Government over the scheme since March 28. Can you also provide all corresp...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers s.20 s.39(2) 2 attachments
Published
2023-07-17
Reference
FOI/202300362222
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Deposit Return Scheme: EIR release

“Which Scottish Government departments have been involved in the creation of the policy for the Scottish Deposit Return Scheme What are the total legal costs associated with the DRS, accumulated since 2018? Please provide any background notes, email exchanges, and internal communication between the First Minister and t...

FOI/EIR not held 70 score 7 working days correspondence ministers spending s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) 2 attachments
Published
2023-07-04
Reference
FOI/202300357986
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Deposit Return Scheme - Meeting with Industry of 7 June 2023: EIR release

“I am looking to request details, under the Freedom of Information Act, of the meeting which took place on Wednesday, June 7 between Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater, First Minister Humza Yousaf and representatives of Scottish industry, as referred to in a press release issued today: The First Minister and Circul...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 15 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.20 s.39(2) 2 attachments
Published
2023-06-29
Reference
FOI/202300360585
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity Internal Market Act correspondence: EIR release

“Under Freedom of Information legislation I would be grateful for a copy of all correspondence received by the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity from her officials on the process and application for an Internal Market Act exemption between January 2023 and the present day.”

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.20 s.39(2) 2 attachments
Published
2023-06-22
Reference
FOI/202300358557
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Deposit Return Scheme applications and exemptions: EIR release

The number of requests for exemption from the requirement to operate a retail return point under the Deposit Return Scheme for each month since the 1st October 2022. The number of applications per month (i) where a proximity exemption was granted, and (ii) where an environmental health exemption was granted, since 1st ...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.20 s.39(2) 2 attachments
Published
2023-05-16
Reference
FOI/202300349939
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Deposit Return Scheme - Correspondence with Coca Cola: EIR release

Any communications involving the Scottish Government and The Coca Cola Company relating to the so-called bottle deposit return scheme.

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence s.20 s.39(2) 6 attachments
Published
2023-05-10
Reference
FOI/202300345717
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Deposit Return Scheme - Concerns for small producers: EIR release

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 Lorna Slater's meeting on DRS concerns with small producers.

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 31 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.20 s.39(2) 4 attachments
Published
2023-05-10
Reference
FOI/202300343220
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Emails received by Lorna Slater relating to Deposit Return Scheme: EIR release

Any emails that have been received by Scottish Government minister Lorna Slater MSP that mention the Deposit Return Scheme, due to go live on the 16 August 2023, between the 10 December 2022 and 10 February 2023. If this provides too many responses, please narrow the timeline from 10 January 2023 to 10 February 2023.

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 36 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.20 s.39(2) 4 attachments
Published
2023-05-10
Reference
FOI/202300342950
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Deposit Return Scheme – Correspondence received by Cabinet Secretary for Finance: EIR release

“Please provide all correspondence sent or received by Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, Kate Forbes (or her office), and mentioning Deposit Return Scheme or DRS, 1st January 2021 - date.”

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers s.20 s.39(2) 4 attachments
Published
2023-05-09
Reference
FOI/202300345221
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Media Requests regarding Deposit Return Scheme: EIR release

'Could you supply a list of how many requests have been made for government ministers to talk about the deposit return scheme since December 1 until the date of this FOI, including who was requested, when, what media outlet requested them, what your answer was, and what excuse was made if the request was rejected? Coul...

FOI/EIR not held 70 score 12 working days correspondence ministers s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) 2 attachments
Published
2023-05-09
Reference
FOI/202300344254
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Emails received by First Minister mentioning Deposit Return Scheme: EIR release

“Any emails that have been received by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon that mention the Deposit Return Scheme, due to go live on the 16 August 2023, between the 10 December 2022 and 10 February 2023. If this provides too many responses, please narrow the timeline from 10 January 2023 to 10 February 2023.”

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.20 s.39(2) 4 attachments
Published
2023-05-09
Reference
FOI/202300342951
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Deposit Return Scheme Exemption Statistics: EIR release

“Please can you supply the following, (broken down by month since applications via Zero Waste Scotland opened): 1. The number of deposit return scheme proximity exemption applications a) received, b) accepted or c)declined. 2. The number of deposit return scheme environmental health exemption applications a) received...

FOI/EIR not held 70 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) 2 attachments
Published
2023-05-09
Reference
FOI/202300343924
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Scottish Ministers' appointing Circularity Scotland Ltd as administrator of Deposit Return Scheme: EIR Review

Original request - 202200276068 1. The application to become administrator of the deposit return scheme submitted to Scottish ministers by Circularity Scotland Ltd, and any other supporting or additional information provided by Circularity Scotland Ltd to support that application, as specified in section 14 of the regu...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 101 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings contracts s.14 s.2 s.15 s.10(5) s.20 s.10(1) s.10(2) s.10 s.11(2) s.34(1) s.2(1) s.39(2) 2 attachments
Published
2023-04-20
Reference
FOI/202200298347 Review of 202200276068
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Flood Risk Management Working Group meeting minutes: EIR release

All minutes of meetings of COSLA and the Scottish Government's flood risk management working group since it was established last year.

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 63 working days over deadline correspondence meetings s.20 s.39(2) s.11(2) s.34(1) s.10(4) 2 attachments
Published
2023-04-20
Reference
FOI/202300338730
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Applications for bathing water status at Almondell and Wardie Bay: EIR release

"Copies of any submissions made to the Scottish Government or its agencies in response to the recent applications for bathing water status at (1) Almondell (River Almond) and (2) Wardie Bay (Edinburgh)."

FOI/EIR partially withheld 65 score 17 working days correspondence briefings s.20 s.39(2) s.11(2) s.34(1)
Published
2023-04-13
Reference
FOI/202200325010
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Snowsports sector 2022: EIR release

Information relating to the collection of data and original references for the following report published on the 10th of February by the Scottish Government - Snowsports sector 2022 - economic, social, and cultural impact: research - https://www.gov.scot/publications/economic-socialcultural-impact-scotlands-snowsports-...

FOI/EIR not held 70 score 11 working days correspondence briefings s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.11(2) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-03-24
Reference
FOI/202300344938
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Sewage overflow incident at Loch Leven: EIR release

Please provide me with a copy of the information that the Minister for Environment and Land Reform received from SEPA in regards to an sewage overflow incident at Loch Leven on 8th September which the Minister referred to during the Sewage and Scotland’s Water Member’s Business Debate on 26th October 2022. Please inclu...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.20 s.39(2) s.11(2) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-03-24
Reference
foi/202200328169
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Deposit Return Scheme exemption requests: EIR release

The number of requests for exemption to operate a retail return point under the Deposit Return Scheme for each month since the exemption application process opened, the number of applications per month (i) where a proximity exemption was granted, and (ii) where an environmental health exemption was granted and the numb...

FOI/EIR not held 70 score 18 working days correspondence ministers s.20 s.39(2) 2 attachments
Published
2023-03-21
Reference
FOI/202200325817
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector