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

477 matching releases

Operation Branchform queries: FOI release

When the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice & Home Affairs was informed of Peter Murrell’s attendance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 20 March 2025. Please provide the specific time and the correspondence informing them of this fact. All correspondence between the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Gov...

FOI withheld 80 score 72 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.26 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2025-08-05
Reference: FOI/202500458640
Directorate: Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

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

Scottish Government spend on legal costs: FOI Review

Original request 202500456930 The total Scottish Government spend on legal costs, including advice and counsel, for any cumulative cost of legal fees over £50k in the last three years, with a breakdown per court case and per costs.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.30 s.2 s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-22
Reference: FOI/202500462249 Review of 202500456930
Directorate: Legal Services (Solicitor to the Scottish Government)
Topic: Public sector

Business Improvement Districts Policy Changes (BIDs): FOI release

Access to any documents, correspondence, reports, or ministerial briefings from 2017-2019 related to the changes in the role of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in Scotland, specifically the transition to ‘Improvement Districts’. This includes (but is not limited to): Internal communications between Scottish Gov...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 25 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings contracts spending s.38(1) s.36(1) s.30 s.1 s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-21
Reference: FOI/202500456342
Directorate: Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Directorate
Topic: Building, planning and design, Public sector

Documentation and correspondence on Visitor Levy: FOI release

FIRST All documents relating to the question and view taken by the Scottish Government as to whether the Visitor Levy as proposed to be raised and collected by Local Councils, under the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 is taxable income in the hands of the business subject to the levy, (namely the “accommodation provi...

FOI not held 70 score 32 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings contracts spending s.36(1) s.3(2) s.25(1) s.38(1) s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-09
Reference: FOI/202500456480
Directorate: Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Cumulative costs of Scottish Government legal fees from 2020: FOI release

1. In the last five financial years (inclusive of 2024/25), please provide the details of which matters counsel or legal advice was sought for any cumulative cost of legal fees of more than £50,000. 2. This should include live and closed matters, with "matters" taken to be a general description of the action, not the ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence spending s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-08
Reference: FOI/202500458549
Directorate: Legal Services (Solicitor to the Scottish Government)
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Documentation about sending surplus NHS equipment to Ukraine: FOI release

All documentation held by the Scottish Government, including correspondence sent/received and internally, briefings, analysis, minutes/notes from meetings, about sending surplus NHS equipment to Ukraine, between September 1 2024 and December 1 2024.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 33 working days over deadline correspondence briefings meetings s.38(1) s.30 s.32(1) s.29(1) s.28(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-06-26
Reference: FOI/202500451642
Directorate: Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector

Safe Access Zones Team information and correspondence: FOI release

Information in relation to your previous FOI request 202500452918 concerning items from the Safe Access Zones Team shared erdm files and subsequent e-mail and correspondence.

FOI already published 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.29 s.17(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2025-06-26
Reference: FOI/202500457138
Directorate: Population Health Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector

Scottish Government spend on legal costs: FOI release

The total Scottish Government spend on legal costs, including advice and counsel, for any cumulative cost of legal fees over £50k in the last three years, with a breakdown per court case and per costs.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-06-26
Reference: FOI/202500456930
Directorate: Legal Services (Solicitor to the Scottish Government)
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

National Care Service Bill documentation: FOI release

All documentation held by the Scottish Government, including correspondence sent and received, minutes/notes from meetings, internal correspondence, briefings and analysis regarding the decision to axe part one of the National Care Service bill, between December 15 2024 and January 23 2025.

FOI already published 80 score 26 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.30 s.36(1) s.29(1) s.38(1) s.36 2 attachments

Published: 2025-06-18
Reference: FOI/202500455144
Directorate: Social Care and National Care Service Development
Topic: Health and social care, 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

Decision making process for 2017 misoprostol approval: FOI release

Please provide any information you have about the decision-making process that led to the 2017 approval for misoprostol to be taken at home for the termination of pregnancy (https://www.publications.scot.nhs.uk/files/cmo-2017-14.pdf).

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.36(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-05-13
Reference: FOI/202500455437
Directorate: Population Health Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, 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

Materials and communications related to funding made available to local authorities: FOI release

All materials relating to, regarding, discussing or referring to the £186.5m made available to local authorities, announced in a joint statement from COSLA and the Scottish Government on December 10. All communications between the Scottish Government, government officials, or officers and individual local authorities r...

FOI clarification 80 score 40 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-04-10
Reference: FOI/202500449645
Directorate: Learning Directorate
Topic: Education, Public sector

Council tax correspondence: FOI release

1. Could you supply all correspondence and minutes/notes of meetings between the Scottish Government and councils about council tax in the last two months? 2. Could you supply all documentation held by the Scottish Government about the cost of holding the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2026, including correspondence...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.38(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.36(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-04-09
Reference: FOI/202500453158
Directorate: Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, 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

Queries regarding access to secretariat members email accounts: FOI Review

Original request 202400444352 In the court of session ruling from case XA10/23, the court ruling states: "In this connection it is notable that in their written submissions the Ministers accept that they (or their officials) could gain access to the information. They acknowledge that some of the email accounts of sec...

FOI withheld 80 score 10 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.21(4) s.38(1) s.36(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202500449874 Review of 202400444352
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

Information regarding the decision not to give the Scottish Information Commissioner legal advice: FOI release

1) Any and all communications, meetings, minutes, records discussing/referencing the decision not to give the Scottish Information Commissioner the legal advice requested from FOI 202300390057 during his investigation that resulted in decision notice 193/2024. 2) Who within the Scottish Government made the decision no...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202500448762
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support 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

Information pertaining to Scottish Information Commissioner decision 004/2023: FOI release

In relation to the legal advice released by the Scottish Government in October 2024 in relation SIC decision notice 004/2023 and the court case XA10/23. The following passages exist: "It shows that Ministers failed to convey accurately the true position when making submissions to the Commissioner" and "Scottish Minist...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.3 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202500452221
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: 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

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