Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

22,640releases indexed
40,478attachments found
29.5avg calendar days
8,386partially withheld
2016-06-13oldest in sample
2026-09-02newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,386 unclear 7,405 not held 3,239 released 1,581 already published 700 cost limit 627 clarification 372 withheld 249 transferred 81

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 5149 s.20 4430 s.34(1) 3727 s.39(2) 3593 s.30 2994 s.17(1) 2922 s.25(1) 2520 s.10(4) 2060 s.11(2) 1619 s.29(1) 1223 s.2 1222 s.3 958

Timeline

2026-09 1 2026-08 299 2026-07 476 2026-06 1 2026-05 410 2026-04 312 2026-03 217 2026-02 589

Directorate Profiles

Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate 1,312 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 978 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 961 releases · 30.9 avg days Learning Directorate 871 releases · 34.3 avg days Economic Development Directorate 737 releases · 39.7 avg days Constitution Directorate 702 releases · 35.9 avg days Population Health Directorate 665 releases · 28.5 avg days People Directorate 657 releases · 25.6 avg days
Clear
2,520 matching releases

Honours and Awards process in Scotland: FOI release

I recently contacted the cabinet office asking about who and how awards and honours were determined in Scotland. They informed me the entire process in managed by the Honours and Protocol unit in the Scottish Government and that they simple rubber stamp the recommendations from Scottish Govt. Therefore, can you please...

FOI already published 55 score 10 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1)
Published
2025-03-27
Reference
FOI/202500455400
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Communications exchanged with various individuals and organisations: FOI release

Any communications exchanged over the last year with representatives from the following organisations and individuals: Sandy Easdale James Easdale McGill's Brian Souter Ann Gloag Stagecoach Group Megabus Philomena Clark Arnold Clark

FOI cost limit 70 score 18 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.12 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-26
Reference
FOI/202500451851
Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Transport

Documentation regarding the Cass report: FOI release

Could you supply all documentation held by the Scottish Government about Dr Hilary Cass's report on gender identity in your people including correspondence sent and received, briefings, minutes/notes from meetings, analysis, from the last three months? Your request has been interpreted as relating to briefings, minute...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence briefings meetings s.25(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.2A 4 attachments
Published
2025-03-26
Reference
FOI/202500452272
Directorate
Population Health Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, Public sector

CBI Scotland correspondence: FOI release

All correspondence sent and received, briefings, notes/minutes from meetings, between the Scottish Government and CBI Scotland, from the last three months.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-26
Reference
FOI/202500452273
Directorate
Business and Better Regulation Directorate
Topic
Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

Correspondence and documentation that include the phrase "return on capital": FOI release

For the period 1st August 2024 - date, please provide all correspondence and documentation including the phrase "return on capital". Please restrict the search to correspondence and documentation involving the following three directorates of the Scottish Government: Energy and Climate Change, Marine and Offshore Wind.

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers contracts s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.29(1) s.33(1) s.27(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-26
Reference
FOI/202500451993
Directorate
Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic
Energy, Environment and climate change, Public sector

International Development Fund cost: FOI release

Details on how much is spent in overseas aid, what the aid is used for, and how much the aid costs for 2015-2019 and 2020-2015, detailing each year, country and what the aid was for. You also separately asked for confirmation as to where this international aid budget comes from, whether it is U.K. or Scottish based.

FOI already published 80 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) 6 attachments
Published
2025-03-26
Reference
FOI/202500451794
Directorate
Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic
International, Money and tax, Public sector

Briefing Pack prepared for Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee: FOI release

The briefing pack that was prepared for Fiona Hyslop for her appearance before the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 21 February 2025.

FOI partially withheld 65 score 17 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.25 s.25(1) s.29 s.29(1) s.30
Published
2025-03-26
Reference
FOI/202500452761
Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Transport

ScotRail peak fares correspondence: FOI release

1. Could you supply all correspondence sent and received about peak fares returning, as well as minutes/or notes from meetings held about this, between September 1 2024 and December 1 2024? 2. In terms of the peak fares removal could you provide how well the scheme performed against its intended outcomes? 2a. The ide...

FOI cost limit 45 score 20 working days correspondence meetings spending s.12 s.25(1)
Published
2025-03-26
Reference
FOI/202500452068
Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Transport

James Hamilton QC's secretariat communications: FOI Review

Original request 202400443489 1 - Why did James Hynd leave or "stepped away" (As Mr Hamilton put it) from his position as Mr Hamilton's secretariat? 2 - All communications (emails, text messages, whatsapps, everything) and minutes between and within the Scottish Government (Ministers, civil servants, SPADS, including...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 15 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings whatsapp s.21(4) s.25(1) s.38(1) s.36(1) 4 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202500448736 Review of 202400443489
Directorate
Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Legal advice in response to Scottish Information Commissioner’s decision 193/2024: FOI release

In regards to FOI 202400445520, the following passage exists within the information released: "For information at this stage, I am attaching a copy of all the legal advice that we will release in response to the Scottish Information Commissioner’s recent decision 193/2024. There are 25 separate documents (named A-Y), ...

FOI already published 80 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1) s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202500448605
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Criteria for responding to FOI requests: FOI release

1) It is a requirement that SPADs and/or the FM's chief of staff clear FOI responses from civil servants in the FOI unit? 2) How many FOIs were received by the Scottish Government in 2024, and how many of these were cleared by SPADs and/or FM's chief of staff before release? 3) What is the purpose of the following em...

FOI/EIR cost limit 45 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.20 s.3 s.12 s.25(1) s.5
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202500447375
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Email and chain referred to in material released under previous request: FOI release

1) In the below documents the following passage exists: "(as per your email of December 8th 2023)" I specifically request this email and its email chain too” in relation to Mr James Hamilton.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202500452195
Directorate
Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Former Minister for Mental Health's WhatsApp messages during the Covid 19 pandemic: FOI Review

Original request 202400426487 MSP Claire Haughey What's App messages from her ministerial position during the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400430870 Review of 202400426487
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Judicial Appointments Board member WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

The WhatsApp messages of "Paul Cacketter" during the Covid-19 pandemic, which for practical purposes we have interpreted as the period from 21 January 2020, the date on which the WHO published its ‘Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Situation Report’, to 30 April 2022, the date on which remaining Covid-19 restrictions were ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence whatsapp s.20 s.25(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400436415
Directorate
Health and Social Care Finance Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Former Director General Health and Social Care WhatsApp messages during the Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

The WhatsApp messages of Elinor Mitchell during the Covid-19 pandemic, which for practical purposes we have interpreted as the period from 21 January 2020, the date on which the WHO published its ‘Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Situation Report’, to 30 April 2022, the date on which remaining Covid-19 restrictions were l...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence whatsapp s.20 s.25(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400436344
Directorate
Health and Social Care Finance Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Former Director General of Economy WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

I wish to make a Freedom of Information Request for Liz Ditchburn's Covid 19 WhatsApp messages.

FOI already published 80 score 20 working days correspondence whatsapp s.25 s.30 s.38(1) s.25(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400436411
Directorate
Covid Inquiries Response Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public sector

Deputy Director of Deposit Return Scheme WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

David McPhee's WhatsApp messages from the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence whatsapp s.25(1) s.29 s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400436401
Directorate
Business and Better Regulation Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public sector

Former Chief Social Policy Adviser WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

Carol Tannuhill’s WhatsApp messages from during the Covid 19 pandemic. (This request has been interpreted as relating to Carol Tannahill’s WhatApps messages, rather than Carol Tannuhill’s).

FOI already published 80 score 35 working days over deadline correspondence whatsapp s.25 s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400439462
Directorate
Tackling Child Poverty and Social Justice Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Former Director General for Education and Justice WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

I wish to make a Freedom of Information Request for the following individuals WhatsApp messages from the Covid 19 pandemic. Paul Johnston.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence whatsapp s.25(1) 10 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400439469
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Health and Wellbeing Census sexual experience questions: FOI release

Information on the source of the Health and Wellbeing Census sexual experience question and response options.

FOI not held 45 score 16 working days correspondence meetings contracts s.25(1) s.17(1)
Published
2025-03-21
Reference
FOI/202500452605
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

First Minister phone call with Taoiseach documentation: FOI release

All documentation held surrounding John Swinney's phone call with Micheal Martin, the Taoiseach, on February 4, including email correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from the call and briefings relating to it.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.30 s.29(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-21
Reference
FOI/202500452337
Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector