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

224 matching releases

Establishment of the Centre for Teaching Excellence: FOI Review

Original request 202300381669 A range of information relating to the recent announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills of a Centre for Teaching Excellence, including: consideration of the policy, decisionmaking, engagement/consultation, costings and role: and for communications related to these (bo...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.29(1) s.30 s.29 s.38 s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-10
Reference: FOI/202300389692 Review of 202300381669
Directorate: Education Reform Directorate
Topic: Education, Public sector

Domestic Abuse Leavers Fund- Scottish Women’s Aid: FOI Review

Original request (202300372279) a list of all meetings held with Scottish Women’s Aid on the topic of a leavers fund to support victims of domestic abuse to leave abusive relationships. all correspondence related to these meetings including the minutes of the meeting, any briefing notes provided to ministers related t...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-09
Reference: FOI 202300377738 Review of 202300372279
Directorate: Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Costs relating to John Swinney's trip to Germany: FOI release

A breakdown of costs relating to John Siwnney's [sic] trip to Germany in June 2024. A full list of SG staff in attendance and associated costs. Any correspondence held by the Government in relation to the trip. Notes of the meeting that took place between Mr Swinney and the Bavarian Minister of State for Europe and ...

FOI cost limit 45 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings spending s.39(1) s.12 s.32(1) s.38(1) s.34(1)

Published: 2024-09-05
Reference: FOI/202400419227
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Spring Budget communications campaign: FOI release

You recently engaged in a communications campaign, e.g. https://x.com/scotgov/status/1766116922909692407 The text reads: “The UK Spring Budget has failed to deliver the funding Scotland needs for public services. National Insurance cuts in the Spring Budget and Autumn Statement have cost £20 billion. This means Scotl...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 s.17 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-05
Reference: FOI/202400403341
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

HS2 remarks made by Chief Economist: FOI release

On 19th February 2024, the Scottish Daily Express published a story on inaccurate remarks about HS2 made by Scottish Government’s Chief Economist, Gary Gillespie, the Scotonomics Festival of Economics in 2023. That story can be found here: https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-government-adviser-fue...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.38 s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-05
Reference: FOI/202400402645
Directorate: Chief Economist Directorate
Topic: Economy, Public sector, Transport

Resignation of Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care: FOI release

All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government, including internal correspondence, minutes, notes and briefings held, about the resignation of Michael Matheson between January 15 2024 and the date of this FOI?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.30 s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-04
Reference: FOI/202400397967
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Programme for Government, Public sector

Special Advisers work in the general election campaign: FOI release

1. Can you confirm that any work carried out by Special Advisers in pursuit of the SNP’s general election campaign cannot be paid by the Scottish Government, and should be paid by the political party? 2. Please send any communications to Special Advisers or Ministers advising this re this election.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 16 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-03
Reference: FOI/202400415543
Directorate: Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Correspondence regarding the closure of Glasgow Caledonian University Advanced Higher Hub: FOI release

Any communications held by the government regarding the closure of the Advanced Higher Hub. Such communications may include - but are not limited to - proposals for the closure, discussions about the closure, agreement on/authorisation of the closure, confirmation of the closure, opinions on the closure etc This reque...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-03
Reference: FOI/202400395570
Directorate: Education Reform Directorate
Topic: Education, Public sector

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

Scottish Budget, Former First Minister's Cabinet reshuffle and trip to Qatar: FOI release

1. All correspondence between the Scottish Government and the Institute for Fiscal Studies about the budget, including internal correspondence, notes, briefings and minutes from any meetings, between December 1 2023 and the date of this FOI. 2. All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government, including...

FOI already published 80 score 44 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.25 s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.39(1) s.2(1) s.39 s.41 s.47 2 attachments

Published: 2024-08-30
Reference: FOI/202400399489
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Economy, Public sector

Non-crime hate incidents: FOI release

1) Any correspondence including memos, reports, agendas, notes, briefings, or meeting invites, between Police Scotland and senior Scottish Government officials, ministers, and special advisers on the topic of "non-crime hate incidents", since December 1, 2023, to date. 2) In the same time period, any correspondence in...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-08-30
Reference: FOI/202400407017
Directorate: Safer Communities Directorate
Topic: Communities and third sector, Public sector

Decision Notice 045/2024: FOI release

1) Can you provide me with a list of ministers who received the one-on-one sessions on record keeping as mentioned in the decision notice, and confirm if the First Minister was one of them? 2) Can you confirm when these took place, and who delivered them? 3) Can you confirm if Special Advisers were also trained on th...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-08-30
Reference: FOI/202400406748
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Correspondences around the Court of Session defeat for Gender Reforms: FOI release

Any correspondence between special advisers, senior civil servants within either the constitution or legal directorate, and ministers within the Scottish Government and SNP party officials around the court of session defeat for gender reforms. This should cover between September 1 2023 and December 31 2023.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.35 s.25(1) s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-08-30
Reference: FOI/202400407156
Directorate: Justice Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

All correspondence between special advisers, civil servants involved in preparing the original response to the FOI 202300372279: FOI release

All correspondence between special advisers, civil servants, officials and anyone involved in preparing the original response to the FOI request ref: 202300372279.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2024-08-15
Reference: FOI/202300383140
Directorate: Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic: Housing, Public sector

Data Roaming costs incurred by Former Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care of Scotland: FOI release

“Please provide details of all communication Scottish Government officials, special advisers and ministers had with Police Scotland about the data roaming costs incurred by Health Secretary Michael Matheson on a December 2022/January 2023 trip to Morocco, including discussions around police complaints, in the period fr...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings spending s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-08-15
Reference: FOI/202300385206
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: 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

Information on offshore wind potential statistic: EIR release

This is a follow up request to a previous FOI response, ref: 202300356373. Please can the same questions answered in the above referenced FOI response be answered again, and brought fully up to date. In other words, answered for the period 12th May 2023 - date. In addition to answering the same questions as the previ...

FOI/EIR not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.11(2) s.34(1) s.10 2 attachments

Published: 2024-08-14
Reference: EIR/202300380216
Directorate: Chief Economist Directorate
Topic: Economy, Energy, Public sector

Youth Music Initiative, Education, Young People and Children Committee and Creative Scotland funding: FOI release

1. All briefings and correspondence, including internal correspondence and between Ministers and outside bodies, about Youth Music Initiative (YMI), between Jan 1 2023 and the date of this FOI (13 October 2023). 2. All correspondence between Patrick Harvie and his office/Special Advisers and Lee Craigie between Jan 1 ...

FOI cost limit 70 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings spending s.38(1) s.34(1) s.29(1) s.12 8 attachments

Published: 2024-08-13
Reference: FOI/202300380858
Directorate
Topic: Arts, culture and sport, Education, Public sector

UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) funding: FOI release

You asked for all correspondence between the First Minister and his special advisers and Scottish Government communications staff about the issue of UNRWA funding in January 2024.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.38(1) s.30 s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-07-09
Reference: FOI/202400395825
Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

Scottish Government spend on photography and stationery: FOI release

1. How much has the Scottish government spent on photography so far this year up to the date ofthis Foi? And a breakdown of what the money was spent on. Could you also supply the photography bill for 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 and the breakdown of what the money was spent on? 2 . How much money has the Scottish Govern...

FOI cost limit 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers contracts spending s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.5 s.12 2 attachments

Published: 2024-05-20
Reference: FOI/202300373362
Directorate: Scottish Procurement and Property Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Stage 1 deadline for the Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill: FOI release

Under FOISA, I am looking for internal communications dated since 1 December 2023, including messages and briefings notes to managers and Ministers, or between officials, including to or from the Minister for Parliamentary Business, relating to the timetabling of the deadline of stage 1 of the Scottish Employment Injur...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 15 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.30 s.38(1) s.27 s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-05-20
Reference: FOI/202400395435
Directorate: Social Security Directorate
Topic: Equality and rights, Public sector

Stone of Destiny: FOI release

“Q) This month (Jan), Scottish Cabinet papers from 2008 disclosed that Alex Salmond was given a fragment of the Stone of Destiny / Stone of Scone by Prof Sir Neil MacCormick in 2008. Minutes dated Sept 16, 2008, said: "The First Minister said that he had met with Professor Sir Neil MacCormick who had presented him wit...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-05-10
Reference: FOI/202400391875
Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Email correspondence between Scottish government ministers or special advisers and Sir Brian Souter: FOI release

(1) Email correspondence between Scottish government ministers or special advisers and Sir Brian Souter, or anyone on his behalf, since June 2023. (2) The minutes of any meetings between Scottish government ministers or special advisers and Sir Brian Souter since June 2023.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-05-09
Reference: FOI/202300385453
Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Car Miles Reduction Strategy: EIR release

A copy of any documents or research setting out possible actions to fulfil the Scottish Government's commitment to a 20% reduction in car kilometres by 2030. A copy of emails between ministers and advisers over the past six months discussing the commitment to a 20% reduction in car kilometres by 2030.

FOI/EIR cost limit 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.11(2) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-03-14
Reference: FOI/202300379253
Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

Analysis on scrapping of the two-child cap: FOI release

I refer to FOI 202300379478 on the scrapping of the two-child cap. I would like to see any discussion or analysis relating to the drafts and final reply to this FOI.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 14 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-03-14
Reference: FOI/202300382618
Directorate: Social Security Directorate
Topic: Children and families, Public sector