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

439 matching releases

Flights taken by Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie: FOI release

1. The total number of flights Lorna Slater has taken since becoming a Scottish Government Minister in 2021, please separate these out into domestic and international flights. 2. The total cost of these flights, please separate these out into domestic and international flights. 3. The total distance of these flights, p...

FOI unclear 55 score 13 working days correspondence ministers spending s.2 s.3 s.4

Published: 2022-12-15
Reference: FOI/202200323652
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Approved shooting clubs in Scotland: EIR release

1) How many approved shooting clubs are there in Scotland? 2) Can I have a list of the names of all approved Scottish clubs? 3) Of that list can you tell me which of these were granted approval in the last five years? (Can these be listed by year please) 4) How many applications for approval for Scottish clubs were rej...

FOI/EIR unclear 80 score 15 working days correspondence ministers spending s.20 s.15 s.2 2 attachments

Published: 2022-11-30
Reference: FOI/202200328272
Directorate: Safer Communities 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

Press officers and special advisors: FOI release

1. How many press officers and special advisers are currently (date of this FOI) employed by the Scottish Government? Breakdown of both categories. 2. How many of both categories were employed in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021? 3. How many special advisers does Nicola Sturgeon have? How many does each minister have? How much a...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.2 s.6 s.25(1) s.27(1)

Published: 2022-11-17
Reference: FOI/202200325260
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

School inspections over the last ten years: FOI release

The following information: In the academic year 2021-2022, how many schools (primary, secondary and special) were there in Scotland? By the end of the academic year 2021-2022, how many schools (primary, secondary, special) were not inspected in the last two years? By the end of the academic year 2021-2022, how many sc...

FOI unclear 55 score 15 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1) s.2 s.66

Published: 2022-10-26
Reference: FOi/202200316022
Directorate
Topic: Education, Public sector

Meetings regarding the Scottish Education Exchange programme: FOI release

1. Please provide details of what meetings (a) Scottish Government officials and (b) Scottish ministers specifically have held since May 2021 regarding the proposed Scottish Education Exchange programme. Please provide a copy of all the agendas, supporting papers and minutes of these meetings. 2. Please provide details...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 31 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings spending s.2 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2022-10-10
Reference: FOI/202200317468
Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Health Secretary visits: FOI release

(1) The minutes or official record of what was discussed by the Health Secretary and staff of both hospitals during the visits. 2) The outcome of the meetings and visits, what was agreed and what decisions would be acted upon. 3) Correspondence between the Scottish Government and each hospital that prepared and set up ...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.2 s.17(1) s.29(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2022-10-05
Reference: FOI/202200314663
Directorate: Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector

Health Board operation of Workforce Policies: FOI release

1. How does the Cabinet Secretary ensure that Health Boards operate the Workforce Policies in a fair manner as per the relevant governance standard? 2. If an employee is concerned that a health board is not applying the workforce governance standard and relevant policies fairly, to whom should this be reported within T...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings contracts s.25(1) s.2 s.3 s.4

Published: 2022-09-21
Reference: FOI/202200316244
Directorate: Health Workforce Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector

The removal of the unlawful definition of "woman" in the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act: FOI release

"Following the Inner House decision on For Women Scotland v LA and Scottish Ministers I note that the unlawful definition of "woman" has not yet been removed from Section 2 of the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2018/4/section/2 Could you please tell me what st...

FOI unclear 55 score 48 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.2

Published: 2022-09-06
Reference: FOI/202200304534
Directorate: Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate
Topic: Equality and rights, Public sector

Information on the recruitment process for the role of Chief Entrepreneur: FOI release

1. How did the Scottish Government decide on who to hire for their chief entrepreneur role? 2. Was there an interview process/job advert and if so, could you send it to me? 3. What is budgeted for the role over the next five years, with a breakdown of what the money will go towards/already spent it on? 4. Is there a...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.2

Published: 2022-08-30
Reference: FOI/202200310650
Directorate: Economic Development Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Non compliance of a Property Factor Enforcement Order (PFEO): FOI release

1. On how many occasions has the First Tier Tribunal referred property factors who have not complied with a PFEO to Scottish Ministers since the Property Factors Act 2011 was introduced? 2. On how many occasions have Scottish Ministers NOT taken further action against property factors referred to it for failure to com...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.23(2) s.2 s.24

Published: 2022-08-30
Reference: FOI/202200310915
Directorate: Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic: Housing, 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

Information on the recruitment of a Chief Entrepreneur to the Scottish Goverment: FOI release

In reference to the recently appointed role of Chief Entrepreneur to the Scottish Goverment, I would be grateful if you could clarify/provide information about the following: 1. Was this role advertised and if yes, when & where? 2. Do you have a shortlist of candidates who applied for this role and if yes, how many? ...

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers contracts s.2

Published: 2022-08-16
Reference: FOI/202200310268
Directorate: Economic Development Directorate
Topic: Public sector

The sale of the Dalzell steelworks: FOI release

1. What review has the Scottish Government conducted of other contracts in relation to (a) state aid rules and (b) assuming liabilities such as environmental remediation, following the results of its review of the facilitation of the sale of the Dalzell steelworks. Please provide a copy of any reviews or instructions t...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 45 working days over deadline correspondence ministers contracts spending s.2 s.38(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2022-08-04
Reference: FOI/202200272838
Directorate: Economic Development Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands' trip to Catalonia in April 2022: FOI release

You asked for the following: 1. The total cost of Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon’s trip to Catalonia on the week commencing 25 April 2022, including the cost of travel, accommodation, and all expenses. 2. The Cabinet Secretary’s method of travel to and from Catalonia on the week commencing 25 April 2022. 3. How the Sc...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending s.2

Published: 2022-06-07
Reference: FOI/202200297360
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Clarification of claims made in judicial review of definition of 'woman': FOI release

During the remedy hearing in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd against the Lord Advocate and the Scottish Ministers which took place on 22 March 2022, counsel for the Scottish Government made a number of claims: Since the commencement of the Gender Representation on Public Boards Act 2018, there have been 340 appoint...

FOI unclear 55 score 41 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.2 s.21

Published: 2022-05-23
Reference: FOI/202200289705
Directorate
Topic: Equality and rights, Public sector

Information regarding meetings between the Scottish Government UK Government Ministers: FOI release

1. (a) Dates of meetings in 2021 between the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government and the Department for Work and Pensions Ministers or Senior Officials and (b) Scottish Government minutes of these meetings. 2. (a) Dates of meetings in 2021 between the Minister for Social Justice and the D...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 18 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.2 s.25(1) s.28(1)

Published: 2022-05-23
Reference: FOI/ 202200296450
Directorate: Social Security Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Housing, Public sector

Sexual abuse in Scottish football: FOI release

1. In that request, I was informed that the Scottish Government had not made contact with the United States Department of Justice, The New Jersey Attorney General, or both. Since the previous request: 1.1 Has the Scottish Government made contact with either or both? 1.2 If no contact has been made, can it be explained...

FOI unclear 55 score 13 working days correspondence ministers s.1 s.2 s.3 s.17 s.5

Published: 2022-05-17
Reference: FOI/202200289175
Directorate: Population Health Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector

Tertiary education in North and South Lanarkshire: FOI release

1. What action has the Scottish Government taken to ensure that the Boards of both South Lanarkshire College and New College Lanarkshire are complying with the terms of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013? 2. What action has the Scottish Government taken t...

FOI unclear 55 score 16 working days correspondence ministers spending s.2 s.3 s.17(1)

Published: 2022-05-16
Reference: FOI/202200286357
Directorate
Topic: Education, Public sector

Services provided by Lochan Associates: FOI release

You asked can the Scottish Government confirm if; 1. Lochan Associates Limited are engaged by them to provide services? 2. What services are they providing for the Scottish Government? 3. What is the length of contract they have been awarded? 4. What is the value of the contract? 5. Did the Scottish Government approach...

FOI unclear 55 score 17 working days correspondence ministers contracts s.2

Published: 2022-05-16
Reference: FOI/202200289183
Directorate: Scottish Procurement and Property Directorate
Topic: Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

Appointment of Circularity Scotland Ltd as deposit return scheme administrator: EIR release

You asked for: - 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 regulations. 2. The...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 40 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.14 s.2 s.15 s.11(2) s.34(1) s.10(5) 2 attachments

Published: 2022-04-04
Reference: FOI/202200276068
Directorate: Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic: Environment and climate change, Farming and rural, Public sector

Ministerial vehicle use statistics: FOI release

1. The total number of ministerial vehicles used for official business by Scottish Government ministers. 2. The age of the total number of vehicles, broken down by year of manufacture. 3. Information relating to the number of cars which are compliant with the requirements set out in the Transport Scotland Low Emission ...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 10 working days correspondence ministers s.2 s.4 s.20

Published: 2022-03-17
Reference: FOI/202200283199
Directorate: Corporate Operations Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Information regarding grant awarded to Scottish Rugby Union: FOI review

Your initial FOI request asked for: 1. Was the whole of the grant that was offered paid over / drawn down, in accordance with Section 2 in the Offer? If so, on what date(s)? 2. Has the Statement of Compliance as described at Section 3.2 in the Offer been duly and timeously submitted, as required? 3. Have the terms of S...

FOI unclear 80 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.2 s.3 s.4 s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2022-03-02
Reference: FOI/202100268602 review of 202100258646
Directorate: Population Health Directorate
Topic: Arts, culture and sport, Money and tax, Public sector

Communications regarding Ramsar sites: EIR release

Please supply and publish on www.gov.scot the following information: 1. Any final submission for approval (by Ministers or otherwise), since and including 9 September 2021 and pursuant to the Briefing Document (as per items a and d above), relating to planning policy protection for Ramsar sites and/or features. 2. Docu...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 32 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.2 s.4 s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.11(2) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2022-03-01
Reference: FOI/202100266916
Directorate: Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic: Environment and climate change, Public sector

COVID 19 cases linked to nightclubs, football matches & questions on vaccine passports: FOI release

1. When including nightclubs as a location which would benefit from vaccine passports – please detail the number of cases which were forecasted to originate as a result of nightclubs? Please provide this for a specific time period – 12 months. 2. Scottish nightclubs were closed during the pandemic, reopening on 9 Augus...

FOI not held 45 score 106 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings contracts spending s.2 s.16 s.17 s.18 s.25(1) s.17(1) s.3 s.24 s.20

Published: 2022-02-22
Reference: FOI/202100240334
Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector