Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

21,099releases indexed
37,554attachments found
29.7avg calendar days
7,804partially withheld
2017-11-17oldest in sample
2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 7,804 unclear 6,977 not held 2,955 released 1,470 already published 656 cost limit 586 clarification 342 withheld 235 transferred 74

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4772 s.20 4130 s.34(1) 3567 s.39(2) 3342 s.30 2791 s.17(1) 2667 s.25(1) 2327 s.10(4) 1920 s.11(2) 1518 s.29(1) 1135 s.2 1129 s.3 891

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 1,211 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 933 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 895 releases · 31.1 avg days Learning Directorate 821 releases · 34.4 avg days Economic Development Directorate 684 releases · 40.0 avg days Constitution Directorate 652 releases · 36.1 avg days Population Health Directorate 637 releases · 28.7 avg days People Directorate 611 releases · 25.8 avg days
Clear
277 matching releases

NHS National Treatment Centre correspondence: FOI release

[PART 1] Any correspondence (including emails, letters, phone calls, handwritten notes, WhatsApp messages or any other documents) between the office of the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and the office of the First Minister regarding NHS national treatment centres . Information should include but not be l...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.29(1) s.38(1) s.30 4 attachments
Published
2025-08-13
Reference
FOI/202500473943
Directorate
Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, Public sector

Former Independent Adviser to the Scottish Government communications: FOI Review

Original request 202500458906 In regards to the FOI below, in regards to the 2nd question: "[23/03/2021, 23:08:13] James Hamilton: Hi [Redacted] There is some irony in the fact that the official redactors left far more information in the text than there was in my anonymised versions!" 1) What form of communication i...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.21(4) s.38(1) s.26 s.30 s.36(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-07-29
Reference
FOI/202500464600 Review of 202500458906
Directorate
Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic
Public sector

New hybrid working plan correspondence: FOI release

I saw on reddit that there are a lot of grumpy workers because of 40%! Can I FOI all emails from the senior people about this, intranet and all those sort of things as well, any comments, emails, statements, whatsapps, decision making and all that from the past 3 months.

FOI cost limit 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence spending whatsapp s.38(1) s.17(1) s.12 2 attachments
Published
2025-07-28
Reference
FOI/202500465293
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Civic Gathering correspondence, attendees and costs: FOI release

Your request 202500463138 asked for a full list of attendees of the Civic Gathering of 23rd April 2025 and any cost associated with the summit. Your request 202500463132 asked for: 1. Any correspondence (including emails, letters, phone calls, handwritten notes, WhatsApp messages or any other documents) between the o...

FOI withheld 55 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.27(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30
Published
2025-07-22
Reference
FOI/202500463138
Directorate
Strategy Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Meetings attended by the First Minister at Tartan Week: FOI release

I understand that First Minister John Swinney attended New York City Tartan Week on behalf of the Scottish Government. Please provide me with: 1. A list of meetings attended by the First Minster, along with all other attendees of these meetings. 2. A list of any other meetings attended by Scottish Government official...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.2 s.3 s.38(1) s.33(1) s.28(1) s.30 6 attachments
Published
2025-07-21
Reference
FOI/202500461357
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, International, Public sector

Council tax relief funding information: FOI Review

Original request 202500453366 Information regarding council tax relief funding for the 2025 - 2026 financial year: 1. Allocation Breakdown: A detailed breakdown of the exact amount allocated by the Scottish Government to each of Scotland's 32 local authorities for council tax relief. 2. Supporting Documentation: Cop...

FOI clarification 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.4 s.25(1) s.38(1) s.30 s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-07-07
Reference
FOI/202500458076 Review of 202500453366
Directorate
Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

TV programme "River City" correspondence: FOI release

Any internal or external correspondence, including any attachments, WhatsApp messages, text messages, instant messaging, memos, OneNotes, minutes, agendas, appendixes or other correspondence and information relating to the TV programme River City. With information being limited to anything held since the start of 2025.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence meetings whatsapp s.33(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-07-07
Reference
FOI/202500458660
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Correspondence regarding visit by the son of the President of the United States: FOI release

Any internal or external correspondence, including any attachments, WhatsApp messages, text messages, instant messaging, memos, OneNotes, minutes, agendas, appendixes or other correspondence, relating to a visit by Eric Trump in March 2025.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2025-06-30
Reference
FOI/202500457197
Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Correspondence between First Minister and Nicola Sturgeon MSP: FOI release

Any correspondence (including emails, letters, phone calls, handwritten notes, WhatsApp messages or any other documents) between the office of the First Minister and the office of Nicola Sturgeon MSP. Information should include but not be limited to a detailed timeline (with dates) of any contact between these individu...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 16 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-06-26
Reference
FOI/202500456833
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence relating to meetings with representatives of Israeli embassy and the Israeli government: FOI Appeal

Any correspondence since January 2024 relating to meetings with representatives of the Israeli embassy in the UK or meetings with other representatives of the Israeli government.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 219 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.32(1) s.30 s.29(1) s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.3(2) 4 attachments
Published
2025-06-24
Reference
FOI/202400432808 - Appeal
Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Correspondence with the Independent Advisers on the Scottish Ministerial Code: FOI release

All items of information in all correspondence between the First Minister, or his officials, and the Independent Advisers on the Scottish Ministerial Code, or their support, since 20 January 2025. This should include correspondence in both directions and correspondence addressed to or sent by single or multiple Advise...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 28 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.25(1) 4 attachments
Published
2025-06-10
Reference
FOI/202500454253
Directorate
Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Footnote 5.2 of the 2024 Ministerial Code queries: FOI Review

Original request 202400445734 1) Who was the author/who suggested to the FM to include footnote 5.2 "Information provided to the Independent Advisers for the purposes of their functions is provided in confidence."? within the 2024 ministerial code? 2) Any and all communications (minutes, whatsapps, emails, anything) ...

FOI not held 70 score 42 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.36(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-05-08
Reference
FOI/202500449679 Review of 202400445734
Directorate
Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence regarding Professor of Global Public Health: FOI release

Could you supply all documentation held by the Scottish Government, including correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from meetings, briefings, analysis, etc, which is from/to/mention Devi Sridhar, from the past three months?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings whatsapp s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2025-04-23
Reference
FOI/202500449177
Directorate
Population Health Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public sector

Former First Minister's trip to Qatar: FOI release

1. I am looking for the number of staffers, anyone from Scotgov or anyone or tasked by Scotgov to accompany and attend with the FM or in support of, or in any capacity whatsoever, that went to Qatar with Humza Yousaf and his wife Nadia El Nakla on February 12, 2024? 2. Did Mr Yousaf and his wife pay for the trip or wa...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 64 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings spending whatsapp s.39(1) s.32(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-04-08
Reference
FOI/202400401024
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Legal advice given to the Scottish Government/ministers in reference to The Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Commissioner: FOI release

Within the legal advice published by the Scottish Government on the 26th of October 2024, in response to FOI 202400394394, on page 69 the following passage exists: "Thus REDACTED, request that Mr Hamilton be permitted to engage independent legal advice and charge the costs to the Scottish Government was set out in an ...

FOI cost limit 70 score 36 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.30 s.38(1) s.12 s.17(1) 4 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400438168
Directorate
Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Documents and legal advise relating to decision notice (193/2024): FOI release

In relation to decision notice (193/2024), you asked for: 1) In regards to the legal advice that was released. When were the last edits made to the documents that were released? 2) Any communications (whatsapps, emails, texts anything) by ministers, spads, civil servants discussing when to release the legal advice, w...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers whatsapp s.38 s.26 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400445520
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

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

Information regarding the Ministerial Statement: Legal Advice Relating to Scottish Information Commissioner Decision: FOI Review

Original request 202400445432 1) All briefing notes provided to ministers (e.g. John Swinney, Jamie Hepburn) in preparation of the statement to the Scottish Parliament on the 29th of October: Ministerial Statement: Legal Advice Relating to Scottish Information Commissioner Decision by civil servants, SPADs and anyone ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 2 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings whatsapp s.21(4) s.25 s.38(1) s.36(1) s.30 6 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202500452157 Review of 202400445432
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Former Minister for Public Health, Women's Health and Sport WhatsApp messages during the COVID-19 pandemic: FOI Review

Original request (202400395588) I wish to make a Freedom of Information Request for MSP Maree Todds WhatsApp messages from her ministeral role during the COVID-19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 61 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.37(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.36 s.38(1) s.36(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400405863 Review of 202400395588
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, 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

Director General Scottish Exchequer WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

“Alyson Stafford Director-General Scottish Exchequer What's App messages during the Covid 19 pandemic.”

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.28(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400427872
Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector