Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

21,864releases indexed
39,478attachments found
29.7avg calendar days
8,113partially withheld
2016-06-13oldest in sample
2026-06-12newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,113 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

2026-06 1 2026-05 410 2026-04 312 2026-03 217 2026-02 589 2026-01 479 2025-12 177 2025-11 263

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
2,272 matching releases

Free school meal allocations: FOI release

Copies of all correspondence relating to the data used to estimate free school meal allocations and allocate PEF spending. For clarity, I’m looking for all correspondence – email and letter – between ministers, officials and third parties that discusses the quality of the data, any concerns about its usefulness and any...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 25 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.38(1) s.30 s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-07-22
Reference
FOI/202200304200
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Communications regarding crown consent provisions in Scottish legislation discussions: FOI Review

1) Copies of any internal Scottish government memos, briefing papers or emails concerning the question of changing the handling of crown consent in legislation and/or the way the crown consent provisions are communicated to MSPs, including but not exclusively to and from the Scottish government ministers and their spec...

FOI already published 80 score 33 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.29(1) s.36(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.25(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-07-20
Reference
FOI/202200278004 Review of 202200270508
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Redesign of Urgent Care programme: FOI Review

1. Any ministerial briefings on the programme. 2. A copy of the Second RUC Staging Report, which this report notes was due end September 2021. If a final report is not ready, please provide any drafts or summaries. 3. Any other internal evaluations of the RUC programme that have not been published. This would include e...

FOI already published 80 score 74 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings s.3 s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.25(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-07-19
Reference
FOI/202100257472 Review of 202100250899
Directorate
Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, Public sector

Internal communications regarding SQA appeals: FOI release

All internal communications involving ministers, special advisers and/or learning directorate officials regarding or referring to the appeals system for 2021 SQA results. The time frame for this request is 1/3/2021 - 2/6/2021

FOI partially withheld 90 score 191 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-07-18
Reference
FOI/202100208812
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Legal considerations regarding Dalzell Steelworks: FOI release

“1. Please provide a copy of the information the Scottish Government holds on how disputes about state aid rules are resolved post-Brexit. Does the Scottish Government have any documentation which states that the Court of Session and Supreme Court now have responsibility for interpreting and ruling on any dispute relat...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 90 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.25(1) s.30 s.33(1) s.36 s.38(1) s.17(1) 4 attachments
Published
2022-07-14
Reference
FOI/202200272825
Directorate
Economic Development Directorate
Topic
Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

Communications with GFG Alliance regarding first annual guarantee fee review: FOI review

You expressed you were not satisfied with our reply to your original Freedom of Information (FoI) request which was allocated reference number 202100259480: "Please provide a copy of all communications between the Scottish Government and the GFG Alliance on the subject of the first annual guarantee fee review. I am awa...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 35 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.33(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2022-07-06
Reference
FOI/202200269916 Review of 202100259480
Directorate
Economic Development Directorate
Topic
Economy, Public sector

NHS Recovery plan: FOI review

All previous drafts and versions, in full, of the NHS Recovery Plan that are held by the Scottish government and all comments, emails, notes and other written information relating to these drafts.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 88 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.21(4) s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-07-06
Reference
FOI/202100251063
Directorate
Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, Public sector

Internal correspondence mentioning For Women Scotland work: FOI Review

Further to my letter of 14 January 2022, I have now completed my review of Any internal correspondence among civil servants within the Children and Families Directorate, Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate, senior civil servants, ministers and special advisers which includes the name of the charity "ForWom...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 68 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.38(1) s.34(1) s.36(1) s.30 4 attachments
Published
2022-06-30
Reference
FOI/202200272543 Review of 202100248103
Directorate
Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate
Topic
Equality and rights, Public sector

Children's health and wellbeing census 21/22: FOI Review

What age children are targeted by the census? A full copy of the census. A copy of the ministerial sign-off of the census. A copy of senior civil service sign-off of the census. A copy of the data privacy risk assessment for the census. All communications with the FM and DFM on the subject of the census. The precise pu...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 63 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings contracts s.38(1) s.38 s.29(1) s.36(1) s.30 s.33(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-06-29
Reference
FOI/202200270559 Review of 202100260600
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Children and families, Education, Public sector

Correspondence relating to carbon capture, utilisation and storage: FOI release

Any correspondence (including emails, attachments, typed or handwritten notes, letters, notes/records of phone calls, minutes of meetings, briefings or otherwise) between Ministers of the Scottish Government and members of the Scottish Green Party regarding carbon capture, utilisation and storage from 6 May 2021 to dat...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 31 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.29(1) s.30 s.33(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-06-22
Reference
FOI/202200298054
Directorate
Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Governance crisis across Lanarkshire region: FOI release

1. Given the current governance crisis across the Lanarkshire region, which is eliciting significant negative publicity; has been the subject of parliamentary questions; has been the subject of an Audit Scotland review; has been the subject of an SFC governance review, what consideration has the Scottish Government giv...

FOI not held 45 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.17(1) s.30 s.25(1)
Published
2022-06-22
Reference
FOI/202200299797
Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence regarding Conservative Party: FOI release

Internal correspondence between the press office and from the press office to special advisers and Scottish Ministers on the Conservative conference or the Conservatives generally during September or October 2021.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.38(1) s.30 4 attachments
Published
2022-05-23
Reference
FOI/202200291454
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Scottish National Investment Bank CEO resignation correspondence: FOI release

1. All correspondence between Scottish Government ministers, special advisers and civil servants relating to the resignation of Eilidh Mactaggart from the Scottish National Investment Bank between January 25 2022 and March 16 2022. 2. All correspondence between Scottish Government civil servants, special advisers and m...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 16 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-05-11
Reference
FOI/202200288213
Directorate
International Trade and Investment Directorate
Topic
Business, industry and innovation, Money and tax, Public sector

Scottish National Investment Bank investment statistics and correspondence: FOI release

1. How much money has the Scottish Government invested in the Scottish National Investment Bank since its founding in 2020, broken down by each payment. 2. How much money has been invested in Scottish firms, broken down by date and including name of business and how much money they received. 3. Any emails and correspon...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings spending s.25(1) s.17(1) s.30 s.33(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-05-11
Reference
FOI/202200285485
Directorate
International Trade and Investment Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Communications regarding lead teachers: FOI release

Copies of all communication involving the Scottish Government (ministers, advisers, learning directorate staff) regarding lead teachers (NB this includes attachments such as briefings, reports etc).

FOI already published 80 score 32 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings s.38(1) s.30 s.25 s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-04-20
Reference
FOI/202200269303
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Correspondence relating to ear thermometers: FOI release

“My request follows a previous FOI response (202100258087) on correspondence relating to ear thermometers previously included in Baby Boxes, and the decision to replace them last year. 1. In the e-mail, copied below, which was sent to the Minister for Children and Young People on February 15, 2021, the second sentence ...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings contracts spending s.38(1) s.30 s.17(1) 4 attachments
Published
2022-04-19
Reference
FOI/202200272862
Directorate
Children and Families Directorate
Topic
Children and families, Health and social care, Public sector

Correspondence regarding Victims, Criminal Justice and Fatal Accident Inquiries (Scotland) Bill: FOI release

1. Any analysis conducted by the Scottish Government of the Victims, Criminal Justice and Fatal Accident Inquiries (Scotland) Bill consultation. Please provide any analysis conducted after 14 December 2021 to the present date. 2. Any internal Scottish Government correspondence (including emails, attachments, typed or h...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings whatsapp s.29(1) s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-04-11
Reference
FOI/202200284394
Directorate
Justice Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Communications regarding reduction of teacher class contact time: FOI release

Any communication between ministers / Spads / officials regarding the reduction of teachers' class contact time. This includes (but is not necessarily limited to) documents/attachments containing any briefings, analysis, modelling etc.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 47 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.38(1) s.30 s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-04-11
Reference
FOI/202200275182
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

State pension and benefit payment responsibilities: FOI release

1. The source content and date of the secret cabinet briefing paper from John Swinney Finance Secretary (at the time) that was subsequently leaked. 2. Since 1 January 2012, any briefing papers, communications etc that clarified or otherwise that Scotland, if independent, would be responsible for the payment of pensions...

FOI not held 70 score 28 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings spending s.3 s.29(1) s.30 s.17(1) 4 attachments
Published
2022-04-07
Reference
FOI/202200281407
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Correspondence regarding class contact hours for Scottish teachers: FOI release

All correspondence (emails, typed or handwritten notes, letters, phone calls, WhatsApp, Signal or SMS messages, documents or otherwise) involving the Scottish Government (Ministers, Special Advisers and Civil Servants) regarding proposals to reduce the number of class contact hours for Scottish teachers from the maximu...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 36 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers whatsapp s.38(1) s.30 s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-04-07
Reference
FOI/202200286686
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector, Work and skills

Communications relating to hydro firms since January 2022: FOI release

Any communications, emails, messages or notes relating to or mentioning the below topics since January 2022: The article on hydro firms which features in The Sunday Times on 6 February 2022 Ardtornish Hydro You requested all relevant information including but not exclusively held in: email, internal messaging, teams ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.38(1) s.30 s.25(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-04-07
Reference
FOI/202200284309
Directorate
Topic
Business, industry and innovation, Energy, Environment and climate change, +1 more … Public sector

Appointment of Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow (FMPG) Chief Executive: FOI release

1. Was this recruitment conducted by an external recruiter, and if so, what were the costs involved in this? 2. How many candidates were considered for this position? 3. Please provide any ministerial briefings or emails to ministers relating to the departure of Mr Hair and the appointment of Mr Tydeman. 4. Please can ...

FOI not held 70 score 35 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings contracts spending s.17(1) s.30 4 attachments
Published
2022-04-05
Reference
FOI/202100265480
Directorate
Topic
Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

Engagements relating to non-domestic rates on small-scale hydro schemes: FOI release

all information held by the Scottish Government regarding a meeting held between Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth, as well as briefing in advance of his meeting, on 2nd September 2021 with the British Hydropower Association amongst others – a meeting relating to non-domestic ra...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 16 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.38(1) s.38 s.3 s.30 s.5 4 attachments
Published
2022-03-25
Reference
FOI/202200281537
Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Correspondence regarding the nationalisation of ScotRail between 2016 to 2022: FOI release

1. All meetings held by the Scottish Government on the nationalization of ScotRail between 2016 and 2022. 2. All correspondence conducted by the Scottish Government regarding the nationalization of ScotRail between 2016 and 2022. 3. All advice given to the Scottish Government regarding the nationalization of ScotRail b...

FOI clarification 80 score 30 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.27 s.30 s.33(1) s.38 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-03-24
Reference
FOI/202200270246
Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Transport

Independence referendum Section 30 order: FOI release

Since the independence referendum in 2014, the dates that the Scottish Government has formally requested a Section 30 order to allow them the power to hold an independence referendum on the subject of Scotland becoming an independent country.

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.30
Published
2022-03-23
Reference
FOI/202200280916
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector