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
633 matching releases

A breakdown of the Scottish Government's use of temporary staff: FOI Release

1. A refresh to current data of a spreadsheet entitled “Temporary Workers 2012-2019”, which summarised numbers of Fixed Term Appointments (FTAs) and Temporary Agency Workers from 2012 to 2019. 2. The number of temporary workers supplied by each agency, broken down by year from 2012 to 2019.

FOI already published 75 score 13 working days correspondence contracts 2 attachments
Published
2019-10-23
Reference
FOI/19/02241
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Head of Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) complaints received: FOI release

AS FURTHER FOI QUERY IS THERE PERHAPS A RECORD OF HOW MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING A HEAD (WHETHER PERMANENT OR INTERIM) OF NICS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN FORMALLY RECEIVED BY THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT WITH A RECORD BEING KEPT OF SUCH RECEIPT? IN THE EVENT THAT THERE ARE ANY AT ALL, EVEN JUST ONE, ON A MINOR MATTER OF LITTLE IMPOR...

FOI unclear 50 score 6 working days correspondence
Published
2019-10-18
Reference
FOI/19/02275
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Senior Officials Travel between Edinburgh and London: FOI release

1) Summary details of costs, frequency and methods of travel for the Scottish Government’s Permanent Secretary and Directors-General between Edinburgh and London since 1 January 2018. 2) Drafts, revisions and final copies of any internal policies, guidelines or advice relating to methods of travel to London for senior ...

FOI unclear 75 score 17 working days correspondence spending 6 attachments
Published
2019-10-17
Reference
FOI/19/02145
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Fairness at Work process characteristics breakdown: FOI release

Your request followed an earlier request about the Scottish Government’s Fairness at Work process (FOI/19/01911). In your request, you asked for information about ‘the age, gender, disability, grade, qualification held length of service of both the complainant(s) and the respondent(s) and of course the outcome’.

FOI partially withheld 65 score 18 working days correspondence s.38(1) s.20 s.34(1)
Published
2019-10-10
Reference
FOI/19/02137
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

SG lost or broken electrical equipment and overpayments: FOI release

You asked for the following information: How much has been overpaid (Overpayments made to staff who had left Scottish Government employment where it was decided that it would not be cost effective to continue recovery action) in financial years 2017-18 and 2018-19 to date and how many cases did this involve/ I would l...

FOI not held 45 score 18 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)
Published
2019-10-03
Reference
FOI/19/02147
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Drug testing carried out within Scottish Government: FOI release

1. The number of drug tests carried out on Scottish Government employees each year since 2014. 2. Details of all drug tests which have been failed by Scottish Government employees since 2014. Please include the date of the test, the reason for the testing, the substance discovered during testing, the employee’s departm...

FOI unclear 50 score 13 working days correspondence
Published
2019-09-27
Reference
FOI/19/02087
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Alcohol testing carried out within Scottish Government: FOI release

1. The number of alcohol tests carried out on Scottish Government employees each year since 2014. 2. Details of all alcohol tests which have been failed by Scottish Government employees since 2014. Please include the date of the test, the reason for the testing, the employee’s department, and any relevant punishment gi...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 13 working days correspondence s.38(1) s.20 s.34(1)
Published
2019-09-27
Reference
FOI/19/02086
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Scottish Government pay and grading scales and legally qualified roles: FOI release

You asked for: 1. To obtain the Scottish Government pay and grading scales for years 2018-19 and 2019-20; and 2. Job description including competencies, pay grades and titles for all legally qualified roles.

FOI not held 65 score 14 working days correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2019-09-26
Reference
FOI/19/02083
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Fairness At Work complaints and decisions statistics: FOI release

1. What statistics are available for fainess at work complaints. For example does the Scottish Government record the nature of the complaints, the grades of staff etc. 2. How many decision letters have been issued without any mention that the applicant has the right of an appeal, especially those which were unsuccessfu...

FOI cost limit 45 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.12
Published
2019-09-12
Reference
FOI/19/01911
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Equality and rights, Public sector

Scottish Government and pay award: FOI release

You asked for ‘details of the recent pay award for Scottish Government employees and provide copies of all communications issued to staff regarding the pay award’.

FOI unclear 75 score 11 working days correspondence 2 attachments
Published
2019-09-10
Reference
FOI/19/02002
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Secondment vacancies in the Scottish Government: FOI release

1. How many secondment vacancies has the Scottish Government created/made available over the past three years 2019, 2018, 2017? 2. How many of these secondment opportunities were advertised publicly e.g. on the Scottish Government website, or other internet website? 3. How many of the above secondments (1) were fille...

FOI cost limit 40 score 11 working days correspondence ministers spending
Published
2019-09-03
Reference
FOI/19/01959
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Civil Service Code - "outside of work and in dealings with one another": FOI release

You asked for : I wonder if you would be able to clarify when the Code applies "outside of work, and in dealings with one another…” does that mean it applies outside of work, but while a person is carrying out their role as a civil servant? For example, if a civil servant were at home but “on-call” for work-related mat...

FOI unclear 75 score 9 working days correspondence ministers meetings contracts 2 attachments
Published
2019-08-16
Reference
FoI/19/01886
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Number of female; Cabinet Secretaries, Ministers and Special Advisers: FOI release

You made the following request for information: For verification of the number of women Cabinet Secretaries, Ministers and Special Advisers as provided in your table.

FOI unclear 50 score 11 working days correspondence ministers special advisers
Published
2019-07-22
Reference
FOI/19/01693
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Vacancy withdrawn to external candidates after appointing internal candidate: FOI release

You asked for information on the appointment to the post of Head of Children and Young Person's Improvement Collaborative: - who decided, and what was the justification for, withdrawal of the post for external applicants? - what was the interview process for the internal applicant who was appointed: how many other ca...

FOI unclear 50 score 36 working days over deadline correspondence spending
Published
2019-05-28
Reference
FOI/19/01176
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Graduate Development Programme 2016/2017 cycle: FOI release

The total number of applications to the Scottish Government Graduate Development Programme 2016/17 cycle, and the total number of successful appointments made to the Scottish Government Graduate Development Programme 2016/17 cycle. Data on the socio-economic background of the applicants for that campaign.

FOI unclear 55 score 14 working days correspondence s.17(1)
Published
2019-05-13
Reference
FOI/19/01081
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Provision of Temporary and Interim Staff Services: FOI release

The Provision of Temporary and Interim Staff Services - Interim Professional - National [Ref: SP-13-022] & [Ref: SP-13-023] [a] to [e] for staff provided under the expired Framework Agreement (April 2015) [a] Framework Public Bodies Contracts Manager’s or Hiring Manager’s name; [b] Job Role; [c] Start Date; [d] En...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 14 working days correspondence contracts s.38(1) s.34(1) 4 attachments
Published
2019-05-07
Reference
FOI/19/01036 FOI/19/01037
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Appointment of the Chair of the State Hospital, correspondence: FOI release

You asked for the following information: All correspondence, memos or notes including meetings and phone calls relating to the appointment of Kenny MacAskill as Chair of the State Hospital whether from by or to officials, special advisers and Ministers; All notes or diary entries for meetings between officials, specia...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers meetings s.29(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 s.36(1) 4 attachments
Published
2019-04-09
Reference
FOI/19/00649
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Scottish Government tier 2 and 5 sponsorship visas - non EU employees: FOI release

Information regarding whether or not the Scottish Government does tier 2 / tier 5 sponsorship visas for non EU employees. If so what does this cost the Scottish Government yearly and how many and what sort of jobs are filled.

FOI unclear 50 score 17 working days correspondence spending
Published
2019-03-25
Reference
FOI/19/00532
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Total cost of Excess Fares Allowance: FOI release

You asked for the following questions to be answered for each year separately from 2019 back to 2009. The number of individuals in receipt of Excess Fares Allowance (EFA)? Total cost to Scottish Government of EFA for that year? Number of cases for each year where an employee has paid money back to Scottish Government ...

FOI not held 45 score 13 working days correspondence spending s.12
Published
2019-03-18
Reference
FOI/19/00575
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Disciplinary cases and a breakdown of outcomes of these cases: FOI release

The number of disciplinary cases involving Scottish Government employees 'blacking up' and, a breakdown of outcomes of these cases, e.g. formal warning, dismissal.

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence
Published
2019-03-14
Reference
FOI/19/00481
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic

Correspondence regarding the response to FOI request 18/02676: FOI release

Any correspondence (emails, letters, phone calls, handwritten notes or any other documents) between the lead official on FOI request 18/02676 and/or Scottish Government ministers and/or the SG FOI Unit and/or special advisers regarding the response to that FOI request. Information should include: a detailed timeline (...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.14(2) s.17(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 8 attachments
Published
2019-02-18
Reference
FOI/19/00302
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Scottish NHS Board Chairs by gender or self-identified as LGBT: FOI release

Details on the numbers of Board Chairs of Scottish NHS Boards by gender, those who had identified themselves as LGBT, along with whether they had previously held a position on the Board to which they were appointed as Chair. You also asked for information on the recent Chair vacancies and appointments made to the Board...

FOI withheld 55 score 19 working days correspondence s.38 s.38(1) s.34(1)
Published
2019-02-06
Reference
FOI/19/00025
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Equality and rights, Public sector

Sexual Misconduct/harrassment complaints in SG from 20.11.13 to 20.11.18: FOI release

FOI/19/00041, FOI/19/00047, FOI/19/00049, FOI/19/00051, FOI/19/00073, FOI/19/00089 and FOI/19/00126 - all requests submitted at the same time by the same applicant to various areas of Scottish Government and it's agencies. A centralised response was provided to: The total number of complaints of sexual misconduct or h...

FOI not held 45 score 16 working days correspondence s.4
Published
2019-02-06
Reference
FOI/19/00041
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector