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
297 matching releases

Learning Investment Programme Fund (LEIP): EIR release

East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC) was recently awarded £80m from the LEIP. I have concerns about the information submitted by East Dunbartonshire Council on their recent LEIP funding application. Can you please provide me with a copy of EDC's LEIP application?

FOI/EIR partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.20 s.39(2) s.11(2) s.34(1)
Published
2024-08-29
Reference
EIR/202400395870
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Teacher number communications between the Scottish Government and councils: FOI release

When the teacher census was published in December it showed that 17 councils had failed to maintain or increase teacher numbers. Jenny Gilruth told the Scottish parliament’s education committee in January there had been “a significant fall in teacher numbers in four or five authorities” and that the government had “ask...

FOI cost limit 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending s.12 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-29
Reference
FOI/202400398822
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Dalry Secondary School and proposals to mothball schools in Dumfries and Galloway: FOI release

Any communication from or to the Scottish Government (specifically: Ministers, SpAds, Press Officers, or staff from any education-related department) regarding or relating to Dalry Secondary School and/or proposals to mothball schools in Dumfries and Galloway. The time frame for the request is 01/08/2023 – 26/02/2024.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-29
Reference
FOI/202400401387
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Decision not to fund The Head Teacher Leadership Academy (Columba 1400): FOI release

All information showing: - The decision not to fund The Head Teacher Leadership Academy commonly known to Head Teachers as “Columba 1400”. - The reason or reasons given for the decision and by whom the decision was taken. Electronic copy of information is sufficient.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.29(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-08-15
Reference
FOI/202300383005
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Scoring of Dundee’s bid for LEIP Phase 3 funding and correspondence: FOI release

a) The Scottish Government’s assessment and scoring of Dundee’s bid for LEIP Phase 3 funding? b) I also request all correspondence between ministers, officials and the council relating to that application.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 10 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) 4 attachments
Published
2024-08-15
Reference
FOI/202300387677
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Local Authority awareness of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC): EIR release

1. On Friday 1st September, in response to reports about the number of schools in Scotland that are affected by the presence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), the Cabinet Secretary for Education told BBC Scotland that “The total number of schools in Scotland affected is 35, so a relatively small number ...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.20 s.39(2) s.11(2) s.34(1) s.10(4) 4 attachments
Published
2024-08-12
Reference
EIR/202300374568
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Ministerial decisions made by Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills: FOI release

“Further to 202400410545, would you please send comparable figures for Jenny Gilruth. For ease, you can send from 1 April 2023 - 31 April 2024, so 13 months.” For reference, in FOI 202400410545 which you referred to above: “Would you please provide the number of decisions recorded on eRDM for the above minister, per ...

FOI unclear 50 score 17 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2024-07-30
Reference
FOI/202400421339
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Health and Wellbeing Census Ethics Peer Review Group: FOI release

1. Detail of the Health and Wellbeing Census Ethics Peer Review Group. 2. Information about the process undertaken by the Ethics Peer Review Group. 3. Information on the collection of the Scottish Candidate Number. 4. Information on consent in the HBSC and HWB Census. 5. Reasons for the collection of the SCN rather...

FOI clarification 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers contracts s.5 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-05-20
Reference
FOI/202400391660
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Consultation on minimum number of learning hours: FOI release

How much money has been spent on the Scottish Government looking into the minimum number of learning hours over the last five years, with a breakdown of each year and what the money has been spent on? How many consultations has the government published about this topic and similar policies on the minimum number of lear...

FOI not held 70 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings contracts spending s.25 s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.36 s.36(1) 4 attachments
Published
2024-05-14
Reference
FOI/202300387204
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Amount of time lost by school pupils during Covid-19 lockdowns: FOI release

Can you please supply the following information relating to the time lost by pupils in both primary and secondary schools across the Scottish local authorities during the Covid lockdowns. Dates schools were closed and pupils were working from home from March 2020 till the final lockdown was lifted. These figures broken...

FOI not held 65 score 16 working days correspondence ministers 4 attachments
Published
2024-05-14
Reference
FOI/202300388038
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Letter to local authorities on teacher numbers: FOI release

Jenny Gilruth said she has written to local authorities regarding a fall in teacher numbers and a warning ringfenced funding for this may be recouped. Please send me this letter. Please also send me any responses received from local authorities between now and 11 January 2024 when this FOI is due for.

FOI not held 70 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.15 s.17(1) s.1(4) 2 attachments
Published
2024-03-21
Reference
FOI/202300389149
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Correspondence regarding Ardrossan Campus project: EIR release

Copies of all emails, letters and meeting notes between SFT and the Scottish Government (Ministers and Civil Servants) regarding the Ardrossan Campus project since 1st January 2019. As the information you have requested is ‘environmental information’ for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulat...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.20 s.39 s.11(2) s.34(1) 4 attachments
Published
2024-02-16
Reference
202200323297
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence between John Stevenson and Shirley-Anne Somerville: FOI review

You asked for a review of the Scottish Government response (dated 22 March 2023, reference 202300345249) to your Freedom of Information Request (dated 28 February 2023).

FOI partially withheld 90 score 15 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.38 s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-02-13
Reference
FOI/202300349141 Review of 202300345249
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Public sector

VAT to independent school fees: FOI release

I am requesting information regarding the Scottish Government's assessment of the potential impact of a Labour Government's policy to add VAT to independent school fees. Please find the attached request in full.

FOI unclear 55 score 11 working days correspondence ministers s.2
Published
2024-01-31
Reference
FOI/202300388042
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Independent review into the Closure of The New School Buterstone (the Report): FOI release

As regards the independent review into the closure of the New School Butterstone ("the Report"), published July 2020: All individuals, organisations (including media), and third parties sent either a hard copy of the report or a link to the on-line copy The number of occasions on which the Government’s web page contai...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-01-29
Reference
202200324814
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Meetings between Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills and Secretary for Education: FOI release

1. The number of meetings the cabinet secretary for education and skills (Scotland) has had with the secretary of state for education (England) since taking up the post. 2. The number of meetings that have been requested between cabinet secretary and the secretary of state over this period. 3. The number of meetings th...

FOI unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence ministers meetings
Published
2024-01-26
Reference
FOI/202300386045
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Closure of the New School, Butterstone: FOI release

Attached is a redacted memo [dated 2 November 2018] which now needs to be unredacted. I am making a formal request that this information which is in the public interest (as deemed necessary by the Scottish Government) should now be released.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 14 working days correspondence ministers s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-01-11
Reference
202300366583
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Additional funds to ensure more teachers are given permanent positions: FOI release

Firstly, given that you say that the SG have supplied additional funds to ensure more teachers are given permanent positions, can you let me know how many new positions have been created and the numbers of teachers by local authority who are on these “supply lists”. For example, albeit anecdotally, I understand that ov...

FOI not held 45 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers contracts s.17(1)
Published
2024-01-09
Reference
202200321032
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Items of information regarding Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville: FOI Release

All items of information held in relation to the briefing prepared for Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville for her meeting/video conference with the ICEA on 27 October 2022, and all notes and records of this meeting. The meeting is listed in the Scottish Government's ministerial engagements https://www.gov.sco...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.38(1) s.27(1) 6 attachments
Published
2024-01-08
Reference
202300339784
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Public Sector

Teacher Strikes discussed in Scottish Government Cabinet meeting by ministers : FOI release

Can you confirm when the prospect of teachers strikes was first discussed in a Scottish Government Cabinet meeting by ministers? Can you confirm every cabinet meeting where teacher strikes was discussed in a Scottish Government Cabinet meeting by ministers since the may 2021? 21 March 2023 14 March 2023 7 March 2023 ...

FOI unclear 50 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings
Published
2024-01-03
Reference
202300352412
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence relating to the discussion of violence among pupils in Scotland's schools: FOI release

Copies of all correspondence sent to or from Scottish Government Ministers and/or Cabinet Secretaries in 2022 and 2023 to date in which there is discussion of violence among pupils in Scotland's schools. To confirm, we interpreted this request as all correspondence sent from members of the public to Scottish Governmen...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 43 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-01-03
Reference
202300347342
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Summary of the Cabinet Secretary’s diary commitments relating to the teacher strikes: FOI release

On Tuesday 7th February 2023 the Cabinet Secretary for Education said in Parliament: “Every single day and every single week, we will continue to endeavour to ensure that the dispute is brought to an end” https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/meeting-of-...

FOI released 95 score 33 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-22
Reference
202300342292
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Secondary school teacher recruitment and vacancies: FOI release

Information on teacher recruitment and vacancies in Scottish secondary schools together with any unpublished minutes from the Teacher Workforce Planning Advisory Group and information on future meeting dates.

FOI not held 70 score 18 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.29(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-14
Reference
FOI/202300375416
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Correspondence with the Scottish Qualifications Authority between the 24th May 2021-3rd June 2021: FOI release

All correspondence between the Scottish Government (including Ministers, officials and special advisors), with the Scottish Qualifications Authority between the 24th May 2021 - 3rd June 2021.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 228 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.30 s.38 s.25 s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-11
Reference
202100208945
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Records of all calls and/or meetings between John Swinney and SQA: FOI release

Records of all calls and/or meetings (including video calls) between John Swinney (including his staff or any special advisers) and Fiona Robertson of the SQA. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, dates, times, attendees, personal notes, minutes The time frame for this request is 01/01/2020 - 31/8/2020 Rec...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 260 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-11
Reference
202100211591
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Public sector