Scottish Government FOI Index

20,099releases indexed

34,518attachments found

29.7avg calendar days

7,442partially withheld

2018-05-18oldest in sample

2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 7,442 unclear 6,659 not held 2,826 released 1,362 already published 638 cost limit 559 clarification 325 withheld 217 transferred 71

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4613 s.20 3922 s.34(1) 3567 s.39(2) 3150 s.30 2676 s.17(1) 2544 s.25(1) 2218 s.10(4) 1834 s.11(2) 1467 s.2 1076 s.29(1) 1075 s.3 845

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 1,136 releases · 27.9 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 876 releases · 31.1 avg days Marine Directorate 856 releases · 29.6 avg days Learning Directorate 783 releases · 34.4 avg days Economic Development Directorate 637 releases · 40.0 avg days Population Health Directorate 623 releases · 28.7 avg days Constitution Directorate 611 releases · 36.1 avg days People Directorate 581 releases · 25.8 avg days

Clear

44 matching releases

Freedom of Information guidance, monitoring the social media profiles of journalists and sex offender name changing: FOI release

1. Could you supply the full internal guidance/guidebook for dealing with FOIs which the Scottish Government abide by, including whether Special Advisers are given first look at them, and what details they are provided with? 2. Could you supply details about whether the Scottish Government monitor the social media pro...

FOI withheld 80 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.38(1) s.34(1) s.2 s.25(1) s.17(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.36(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-02
Reference: FOI/202400408156
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Law and order, Public sector

Freedom of Information (FoI) requests for consideration by Special Advisers: FOI release

1) Since the start of 2024, please provide a list of the FOI's which have been subject to consideration by the FoI.SpAdsPO@gov.scot email address and/or Special Adviser emails. 2) Any correspondence between FoI.SpAdsPO@gov.scot and the FOI Unit since January 1, 2024. 3) Any correspondence between FoI.SpAdsPO@gov.scot...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 s.17(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-08-30
Reference: FOI/202400406282
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Meetings with North East Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (NECCUS), Scottish and Southern Energy plc (SSE) and Equinor: EIR release

Any documentation relevant to the following meetings. I request copies of who attended the meetings, what topics were discussed, any briefings provided to attendees, who said what, and any agreed actions. 1 ) On 07/12/2022 via video conference, a meeting between SSE and Michael Matheson MSP (Cabinet Secretary for Net...

FOI/EIR not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.1 s.2 s.10 s.11 s.20 s.39(2) s.6(1) s.10(4) s.5(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-08-30
Reference: EIR/202400407153
Directorate: Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic: Energy, Public sector

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and Equinor meetings with the Scottish Government: EIR release

Please provide me with any documentation relevant to the following meetings between the Scottish Government and SSE, Equinor in 2022 and 2023. I request copies of attendance, topics discussed and any agreed actions. 1) 15/03/2022 Video conference with SSE, Michael Matheson MSP (Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero Energy an...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings s.1 s.2 s.6 s.7 s.11 s.12 s.13 s.14 s.15 s.17 s.18 s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.5 s.9 s.16 2 attachments

Published: 2024-08-29
Reference: EIR/202400396587
Directorate: Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic: Energy, Public sector

Gender Reform Recognition Bill: FOI release

1. Full costs of the court case about the Gender Reform Recognition Bill, including expenses claims, and a full breakdown of these costs. 2. How many civil servants worked on the court case and what were their roles? 3. Correspondence between the Scottish Government, including internal correspondence, and Scottish Tr...

FOI not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings spending s.2 s.35 s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.25(1) s.37(1) s.28(1) s.5 s.30 s.36(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-08-15
Reference: FOI/202300385351
Directorate: Justice Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Government phones issued to Ministers: FOI release

How many ministers and officials in the Scottish Government have a government issued mobile phone? Please also list all Scottish Government ministers, and officials senior enough to be named, who have a government issued mobile phone. Did the former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, or any members of her private office,...

FOI released 100 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 2 attachments

Published: 2023-12-06
Reference: FOI/202300382811
Directorate: Digital Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Correspondence regarding Scotland offshore wind potential: EIR release

FOI request: In November 2022 the Scottish Government announced that it would be updating the discredited statistic that Scotland has 25% of Europe’s offshore wind potential. Please provide: 1. All internal Scottish Government correspondence (8th November 2022 - date) related to the updating of the statistic, includi...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 s.20 s.39(2) s.4 s.10(4) 4 attachments

Published: 2023-06-15
Reference: FOI/202300356373
Directorate: Chief Economist Directorate
Topic: Economy, Energy, Public sector

Average response times for an FOI request: FOI release

1) The mean, median and maximum response times for an FOI to the Scottish Government over the last 12 months. 2) The number and percentage of FOIs that were referred to Special Advisers for each month of the last five years. 3) The mean, median and maximum response times for all FOIs referred to Special Advisers over t...

FOI/EIR not held 70 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 s.3 s.20 s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2023-05-25
Reference: FOI/202300352495
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Meta data request regarding FOI 202200299795: FOI release

The following information under FOISA as it relates to FOI request 202200299795. 1) Any and all correspondence within the Scottish Government, in particular including special advisers, relating to the above request. For clarity, the correspondence should include - but not be limited to - emails, WhatsApp messages and p...

FOI not held 70 score 85 working days over deadline correspondence special advisers meetings whatsapp s.2 s.17 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2023-03-28
Reference: FOI/202200330635
Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

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

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

Discussion held relating to deaths in care homes: FOI release

1. Any correspondence between special advisers or officials in the community health and social care directorate and the Care Inspectorate on the topic of the publication of Covid-19 deaths in care homes broken down by individual care home between September 29, 2020 to date, about the publication of statistics relating ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 29 working days over deadline correspondence special advisers meetings s.2 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2021-07-08
Reference: FOI/202100207409
Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Covid-19 briefings relating to restrictions: FOI release

1. Minutes from any formal four nations discussions with Michael Gove and other representatives from UK, Welsh Governments and Northern Ireland executive between October 1 and January 15 on the topic of Covid-19 and four nations alignment on restrictions/measures. 2. Notes taken by Scottish Government staff or minister...

FOI not held 70 score 80 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.2 s.3 s.1 s.17(1) s.28(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.3(2) 2 attachments

Published: 2021-06-15
Reference: FOI/202100164644 review of 202100140372
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Four nation discussions of COVID-19 and alignment of restrictions: FOI release

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.2 s.3 s.28(1) s.29(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2021-03-04
Reference: FOI/20210014372
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Briefings on food products: FOI release

1) Any Scottish Government correspondence from May 2018 to present, either internal or external, concerning the use of British branding on Scottish food and drink products (including but not limited to union jacks and the words ‘British’ and ‘UK’). External correspondence may include that with food or drink producers o...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.2 s.33(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2020-10-14
Reference: FOI/202000088253
Directorate: International Trade and Investment Directorate
Topic: Business, industry and innovation, Economy, International, +1 more … Public sector

Correspondence relating to the former First Minister investigation and communications concerning the Permanent Secretary: FOI release

You asked for: 1. Further to the existing replies to my earlier requests please list the Scottish Government meetings with external legal advisers relating to the investigation concerning Alex Salmond in July and August 2018 and the civil servants, government ministers, special advisers and any others at these meeting...

FOI withheld 55 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers meetings contracts s.2 s.30 s.38(1)

Published: 2019-11-27
Reference: FOI/19/02429
Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Data relating to the handling of FOI/18/02237 and associated questions: FOI release

1. Please provide all the data the Scottish Government has relating to the handling of FOI/18/02237, including all internal correspondence, phone calls, handwritten notes or other such documentation). Please also include all data relating to the involvement of ministers and special advisers. 2. Using the same paramete...

FOI already published 80 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 s.4 s.25(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2019-03-05
Reference: FOI/19/00293
Directorate: Learning Directorate
Topic: Education, Public sector

Clearance of requests by Ministers or special advisers: FOI release

1. Regarding all of my FOISA requests tabled to the SG since October 1st 2017, please provide all examples of clearance by Ministers/Ministerial offices, including emails and the content of attachments in emails. 2. Regarding all of my FOISA requests tabled to the SG since October 1st 2017, please provide all emails (...

FOI partially withheld 90 score correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2018-08-01
Reference
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Clearance of the requestor's requests submitted since 01/08/2017: FOI release

1. Regarding all of my FOISA requests tabled to the SG since August 1st 2017, please provide all examples of clearance by Ministers/Ministerial offices, including emails andthe content of attachments in emails. 2. Regarding all of my FOISA requests tabled to the SG since August 1st 2017, please provide all emails (and...

FOI partially withheld 90 score correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2018-07-17
Reference
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector