Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

22,922releases indexed
40,952attachments found
29.5avg calendar days
8,507partially withheld
2016-06-13oldest in sample
2026-11-04newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,507 unclear 7,460 not held 3,292 released 1,599 already published 716 cost limit 637 clarification 377 withheld 251 transferred 83

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 5225 s.20 4485 s.34(1) 3789 s.39(2) 3640 s.30 3038 s.17(1) 2981 s.25(1) 2557 s.10(4) 2089 s.11(2) 1639 s.29(1) 1249 s.2 1245 s.3 980

Timeline

2026-11 48 2026-10 227 2026-09 8 2026-08 299 2026-07 476 2026-06 1 2026-05 410 2026-04 312

Directorate Profiles

Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate 1,336 releases · 27.8 avg days Marine Directorate 991 releases · 29.7 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 972 releases · 31.1 avg days Learning Directorate 871 releases · 34.3 avg days Economic Development Directorate 741 releases · 39.6 avg days Constitution Directorate 710 releases · 35.8 avg days Population Health Directorate 678 releases · 28.6 avg days People Directorate 667 releases · 25.5 avg days
Clear
2,704 matching releases

Communications relating to the arrest of Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon: FOI release

All internal correspondence/communication regarding the arrest of Nicola Sturgeon. This should include (but not be limited to) emails, documents, WhatsApp messages, letters and call logs. All external correspondence/communication regarding the arrest of Nicola Sturgeon. This should include (but not be limited to) email...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-08-01
Reference
FOI/202300361223
Directorate
Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic
Public sector

RESAS funding settlement 2023/24: EIR release

Correspondence between RESAS and senior officers of the James Hutton Institute, BioSS and Centres of Expertise, regarding cuts to 2023/24 funding (including the Strategic Research Programme, Underpinning Capacity and Centres of Expertise), from 1 April 2022 to 30 June 2023.

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 10 working days correspondence meetings s.20 s.39(2) s.11(2) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-08-01
Reference
FOI/202300364133
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Termination payments to Senior Civil Servants: FOI release

The monetary value of any pay offs, termination payments, exit payments or any payments which could be referred to as a “golden goodbye” paid to senior civil servants employed by the Scottish Government who have left their employment over the last 12 months. I would like this information broken down by each employee wh...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers contracts spending s.1 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.2
Published
2023-07-19
Reference
FOI/202300362544
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

First Minister engagement with Spanish Officials: FOI release

A list of meetings between First Minister Humza Yousaf and Spanish officials or politicians since his appointment as First Minister, and for all minutes and notes taken regarding the topics of Catalonia or Scottish independence if they were discussed.

FOI partially withheld 65 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.32(1) s.38(1) s.34(1)
Published
2023-06-26
Reference
FOI/202300358651
Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Correspondence between John Stevenson and Shirley-Anne Somerville: FOI Review

Original request - 202300345249 A copy of the correspondence between Mr John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle and the Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville between November 2022 and Feb 2023.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 15 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.38 s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-06-08
Reference
FOI/202300349141 Review of 202300345249
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Safety of swimming in the vicinity of open-cage salmon farms: EIR Review

Original request - 202300345498 Any information held by the Chief Medical Officer concerning the safety of humans swimming in the vicinity of an open-cage salmon farm, well-boat or other aquaculture installation that is releasing azamethiphos, deltamethrin, cypermethrin, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite or any o...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence s.20 s.39(2) s.17 s.11(2) s.34(1) 4 attachments
Published
2023-06-08
Reference
FOI/202300347357 Review of 202300345498
Directorate
Chief Medical Officer Directorate
Topic
Marine and fisheries, Public sector

Correspondence relating to Transgender Prisoners: FOI Review

“Can you please provide ALL communications, including emails, between any member of the Scottish Government and any member of the Scottish Prison Service, in relation to any or all transgender prisoners, between 10-Jan-2023 and 02-Feb-2023.”

FOI partially withheld 90 score 59 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.21(4) s.38(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.25(1) s.36(1) s.34(1) 6 attachments
Published
2023-06-05
Reference
FOI/202300353625 Review of 202300341318
Directorate
Justice Directorate
Topic
Equality and rights, Law and order, Public sector

Correspondence relating to the A9 Dualling Programme: EIR release

Any correspondence (Emails and WhatsApp messages) between John Swinney MSP and Jenny Gilruth MSP about the A9 dualling between 1 December 2023 and 22 February 2023. Any correspondence (Emails, WhatsApp messages, meeting notes) between Jenny Gilruth MSP and Transport Scotland about the A9 dualling between 1 December 202...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 38 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings contracts s.20 s.39(2) s.6(1) s.11(2) s.34(1) s.10(5) s.10(4) 2 attachments
Published
2023-05-23
Reference
FOI/202300344674
Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Transport

Edinburgh Zoo Pandas return to China: EIR release

Any communications, including attached documents, meeting handouts, memos, briefings to ministers, notes, minutes, or OneNote memos, related to the pandas at Edinburgh Zoo and plans to return them to China since the start of 2023.

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.11(2) s.34(1) s.10(5) 2 attachments
Published
2023-05-17
Reference
FOI/202300351147
Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture answer to Offshore Wind Resources question: FOI release

Please provide all Scottish Government correspondence (including Civil Servants, Special Advisers, and Press Officers) and briefing materials, relating to Angus Robertson’s response to Liam Kerr’s urgent question, asked in the Scottish Parliament on 28th February 2023.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 40 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2023-05-11
Reference
FOI/202300345563
Directorate
Offshore Wind Directorate
Topic
Energy, Environment and climate change, Public sector

Correspondence and Briefing relating to Transgender Prisoners: FOI release

All government correspondence (including emails, whatsapps, text) between officials, civil servants, ministers, special advisers, outside sources that mention Isla Bryson or Adam Graham over the last three months.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 63 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings whatsapp s.38(1) s.29(1) s.25(1) s.30 s.36(1) s.34(1) 4 attachments
Published
2023-05-09
Reference
FOI/202300342026
Directorate
Justice Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) communications regarding national qualifications in 2021: FOI release

Any internal Scottish Government communications (including emails, text or Whatsapp messages, phone calls or otherwise) concerning SQA national qualifications in 2021. I would like this information between 17 May 2021 and 29 May 2021. Any communications (including emails, text or Whatsapp messages, phone calls or othe...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 337 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings whatsapp s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-05-04
Reference
FOI/202100209749
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Ministerial Briefing relating to Transgender Prisoners: FOI release

Any ministerial briefing circulated to any minister referencing 'Isla Bryson' between January 23 and to date.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 70 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings s.38(1) s.25(1) s.35(1) s.30 s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-05-04
Reference
FOI/202300340304
Directorate
Justice Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Correspondence between Scottish Government and Scottish Prison Services relating to Transgender Prisoners: FOI release

All correspondence between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Prison Service in January 2023 relating to transgender prisoners. This could include but not limited to emails, briefing notes, text messages, WhatsApp messages and meeting minutes.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 67 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings whatsapp s.38(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.36(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-05-04
Reference
FOI/202300340666
Directorate
Justice Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Correspondence and Briefing held by Scottish Government relating to Transgender Prisoners: FOI release

“Please provide me with all correspondence, briefing notes, minutes and other information held by the Scottish Government regarding Isla Bryson, formerly Adam Graham, who has been convicted of two rapes. Please include exchanges with other agencies regarding this person's imprisonment. Specifically, can you provide al...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 68 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.38(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.25(1) s.35(1) s.36(1) s.34(1) 8 attachments
Published
2023-05-04
Reference
FOI/202300340450
Directorate
Justice Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Minimum All-Tenure Housing Land Requirement (MATHLR) for National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4): EIR release

A copy of all communication between Scottish Government and East Ayrshire Council between 22/02/2021 and 02/11/2021 which led to a proposed MATHLR for East Ayrshire of 4050. This communication may include, but is not restricted to; letters, emails, reports, calculations, attachments, spreadsheets. East Ayrshire Counci...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence s.6(1) s.11(2) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-05-03
Reference
FOI/202200317301
Directorate
Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic
Housing, Public sector

Ministerial Preferences for Out of Hours Working: FOI Review

Original request - 202300341181 "Please supply the content of all documentation regarding the preferences of all current Scottish Government ministers for working on or being contacted on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, and during anti-social hours, including preferences regarding a disinclination to work or be c...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-05-02
Reference
FOI/202300349479 Review of 202300341181
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills meetings with external stakeholders: FOI release

All internal and external correspondence within and sent or received by the Scottish Government including attached documents, meeting handouts, memos, briefings to ministers, attendee lists, location of meeting, notes, minutes, or OneNote memos, linked to the following meetings: Shirley-Anne Somerville's meeting with ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 49 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2023-04-20
Reference
FOI/202300338466
Directorate
Lifelong Learning and Skills Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Scottish Ministers' appointing Circularity Scotland Ltd as administrator of Deposit Return Scheme: EIR Review

Original request - 202200276068 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 regu...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 101 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings contracts s.14 s.2 s.15 s.10(5) s.20 s.10(1) s.10(2) s.10 s.11(2) s.34(1) s.2(1) s.39(2) 2 attachments
Published
2023-04-20
Reference
FOI/202200298347 Review of 202200276068
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Flood Risk Management Working Group meeting minutes: EIR release

All minutes of meetings of COSLA and the Scottish Government's flood risk management working group since it was established last year.

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 63 working days over deadline correspondence meetings s.20 s.39(2) s.11(2) s.34(1) s.10(4) 2 attachments
Published
2023-04-20
Reference
FOI/202300338730
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

FFP3 mask testing: FOI release

Background: I refer to this document dated 26 March 2020 : Keeping healthcare workers safe - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) which relates to 1.5 million FFP respirators being brought back into use and issued to healthcare workers despite having passed their expiry date. You refer to the “stringent independent tests” which had...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-04-19
Reference
FOI/202300347467
Directorate
Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public sector

Loch Duart processing plant Aquadat entry: EIR release

Information referenced on p16 of 'Case Information' re. Loch Duart's Dingwall processing plant published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate via: https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/transparency-data/2022/03/fishhealth-inspectorate-case-information-2022/documents/apri...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 4 working days correspondence s.20 s.39(2) s.11(2) s.34(1) 4 attachments
Published
2023-04-17
Reference
FOI/202200328780
Directorate
Marine Directorate
Topic
Marine and fisheries, Public sector

Applications for bathing water status at Almondell and Wardie Bay: EIR release

"Copies of any submissions made to the Scottish Government or its agencies in response to the recent applications for bathing water status at (1) Almondell (River Almond) and (2) Wardie Bay (Edinburgh)."

FOI/EIR partially withheld 65 score 17 working days correspondence briefings s.20 s.39(2) s.11(2) s.34(1)
Published
2023-04-13
Reference
FOI/202200325010
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Scotland’s share of Europe’s potential offshore wind resource: EIR Review

Original request - 202200325962 All internal Scottish Government discussion (including between Ministers, Civil Servants, and Special Advisers) relating to the question of Scotland’s share of Europe’s potential offshore wind resource, restricting the search to dates between 6th May 2021 and 20th October 2022. You also ...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 12 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.20 s.11(2) s.34(1) s.10(4) 2 attachments
Published
2023-04-12
Reference
FOI/202300336651 Review of 202200325962
Directorate
Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic
Energy, Environment and climate change, Public sector

Correspondence regarding Scottish Aggregates Levy proposal: FOI release

All correspondence between the Scottish Government and the UK Government regarding the Scottish Aggregates Levy proposal and the current UK wide Aggregates Levy. Please provide any letters, emails, phone calls, What’s App messages, etc that are related from May 2021 until the present time.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 16 working days correspondence s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-04-03
Reference
FOI/202300344965
Directorate
Tax Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector