Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

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
343 matching releases

All correspondence regarding the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill: FOI release

The following information: “1) All correspondence (including meetings, emails, text/WhatsApp messages and phone calls) between any of the First Minister (and her office), the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (and his office) and the Lord Advocate (and her office) regarding the Scott...

FOI released 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings spending
Published
2022-08-29
Reference
FOI/202200308439
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Funding for Community Perinatal Mental Health Services: FOI release

Please provide electronic copies of reports or other documents discussing the level of funding for specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health Services allocated to (a) NHS Orkney and (b) NHS Shetland under the Perinatal and Mental Health Programme Board for financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22.

FOI released 100 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2022-08-25
Reference
FOI/202200311690
Directorate
Mental Health Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, Public sector

Correspondence regarding the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children: FOI release

Any communication between the Scottish Government (Ministers, Special Advisers, Learning Directorate staff, Education Reform Directorate staff, Communications staff) and any representatives of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children.

FOI released 95 score 33 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers 2 attachments
Published
2022-08-05
Reference
FOI/202200305546
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Repairing the Cairngorm Mountain Funicular Railway: FOI release

All briefings, correspondence, emails, letters, notes of meetings and telephone conversations, since 1 June 2021 between Scottish Government Ministers/Officials/Special Advisors and Highlands and Islands Enterprise officials concerning the revised completion date and revised final costings to repair the Cairngorm Mount...

FOI released 95 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending 4 attachments
Published
2022-08-01
Reference
FOI/202200281964
Directorate
Economic Development Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Culture - Record of engagements: FOI release

Record of Engagements between Cabinet Secretary/Ministers and the Board of Creative Scotland in the past 6 months Record of Engagements between Cabinet Secretary/Ministers and the Board of National Museum of Scotland in the past 6 months Record of Engagements between Cabinet Secretary/Ministers and the Board of Nationa...

FOI released 95 score 18 working days correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2022-07-25
Reference
FOI/202200279186
Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Correspondence between Scottish Government and partner agencies: FOI release

1. In relation to the email sent to Catherine Calderwood and Gareth Brown from a @gov.scot address at 18:07 on 16 February 2016 (as included in the response to my previous request): a. A copy of Catherine Calderwood's reply to the email. b. A copy of the communications from the author of the email to HPS (as mentioned ...

FOI released 95 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2022-04-11
Reference
FOI/202200283366
Directorate
Population Health Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, Public sector

Meetings held by Government Ministers with Sir Martin Donnelly: FOI release

1) 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: 1a) Any meeting held by government mi...

FOI released 95 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings 2 attachments
Published
2022-03-17
Reference
FOI/202200273204
Directorate
Economic Development Directorate
Topic
Economy, Public sector

GDPR principles including the principle of Data Minimization: FOI release

1. (Part 1) Details of who is the data controller for the Scottish Government questionnaire which includes the controversial sex questions being asked of pupils in S4-S6. (Part 2) What checks were taken to ensure that the survey adheres to all GDPR principles including the principle of Data Minimization. (Part 3) Speci...

FOI released 70 score 14 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2022-02-24
Reference
FOI/202200276495
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Median formula pay increase percentages for public sector employees: FOI release

The percentage pay rise awarded to Scotland's councillors for each of the following years - under the 'median formula pay increase for all public sector employees in Scotland' introduced by Scottish Ministers in 2017: 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

FOI released 70 score 7 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2022-02-23
Reference
FOI/202200277852
Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Details of independent review into The New School, Butterstone closure: FOI release

1. I wish to know how much was spent on the Independent Review Into the Closure of The New School, Butterstone. Please break this down into: Remuneration/salary/wages etc Expenses Legal fees Other costs 2. I wish to know how Mr James Martin CBE was recruited to perform this task and what procurement process was used....

FOI released 70 score 18 working days correspondence ministers meetings contracts spending
Published
2021-12-22
Reference
FOI/202100253273
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Engagement with Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) from 2014: FOI release

You asked for “The total costs incurred by the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration from 2014 to the present day. This includes all secretariat staffing costs, daily board member fees and expenses, events, publications and office-running costs.” And additionally “A record of all engagement between board members ...

FOI released 75 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.20(2) s.25(1)
Published
2021-11-16
Reference
FOI/202100244813
Directorate
Children and Families Directorate
Topic
Children and families, Public sector

Total costs incurred by Children’s Hearings Scotland from 2014 - 2021: FOI release:

The total costs incurred by Children’s Hearings Scotland from 2014 to the present day. This includes all secretariat staffing costs, daily board member fees and expenses, events, publications and office-running costs. Additionally, a record of all engagement between board members and Scottish Government Ministers and ...

FOI released 75 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.22(2) s.25(1)
Published
2021-11-12
Reference
FOI/202100244571
Directorate
Children and Families Directorate
Topic
Children and families, Public sector

GP surgery payments relating to vaccinations: FOI release

Information about how much GP surgeries are being paid for Flu vaccination clinics and COVID vaccinations. Also what happens if the GP surgeries do not carry out the vaccines? Do they still get paid?

FOI released 70 score 6 working days correspondence ministers meetings contracts spending
Published
2021-11-04
Reference
FOI/202100247355
Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, Public sector

Scottish Government stance on economic research: FOI release

whether during the last 7 months since 1 March 2020 the Scottish Government has carried out polling on issues about the economy and/or Scotland’s finances. You also asked if such polling research was conducted to provide the following details: Which Minister in Government sanctioned such polling and were their Special...

FOI released 95 score 99 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers spending 2 attachments
Published
2021-04-21
Reference
FOI/202000103788
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Economy, Public sector

Information relating to Harmful Sexual Behaviours Online Survey: FOI release

All correspondence between Scottish Government officials and Young Scot regarding the Harmful Sexual Behaviours Online Survey promoted by Young Scot on social media on 26 January 2021.

FOI released 95 score 15 working days correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2021-04-09
Reference
FOI/202100146126
Directorate
Children and Families Directorate
Topic
Children and families, Public sector

James Hamilton QC independent investigation: FOI release

1 - An Independent Investigation currently being led by James Hamilton QC is investigating possible breaches of the ministerial code by the First Minister. If he concludes that the FM did not knowingly mislead parliament as well as did not break other parts of the MC then I presume that the First Minister would not res...

FOI released 75 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.1 s.25(1)
Published
2021-03-18
Reference
FOI/20210016129
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Stornoway Wind Farm extension of time for implementation: EIR release

In relation to the extension of time for implementation of the Stornoway Wind Farm granted in May 2020. Please would you be able to direct me to the link for the application on the ECU website or send me: The full consultee comments associated with the extension of time for implementation request dated 17th February 2...

FOI/EIR released 100 score 0 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.36 s.36C 4 attachments
Published
2021-03-12
Reference
FOI/202000122017
Directorate
Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic
Energy, Environment and climate change, Public sector

Briefings relating to the winter payment for low income families: FOI release

You asked for: Copies of any briefings prepared by the civil service on the £100 winter payment for low income families announced by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 November 2020.

FOI released 95 score 13 working days correspondence ministers briefings spending 2 attachments
Published
2021-02-09
Reference
FOI/202000118338
Directorate
Topic
Public Sector, Wider Benefits

Number of civil servants and special advisers employed in specific directorates: FOI release

1. How many civil servants and special advisors worked directly in the following Scottish Government directorates in each of the past five financial years to date. For 2020-21 please give the most recent figure at time of response. Please breakdown the figures by number of civil servants and number of special advisors ...

FOI released 100 score 16 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2021-02-02
Reference
FOI/202000110675
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

COVID-19 patients discharged from hospital: FOI release

1. You publish the daily Hospital & ICU admissions in relation to Covid, however you do not publish the daily discharge of patients information. I would like to see the figures for this and for them to be published for greater transparency going forward. 2. How can you hope to legally enforce laws and charge members o...

FOI released 95 score 16 working days correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2021-01-22
Reference
FOI/202000130457
Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Correspondence regarding polling by Ipsos Mori/STV News: FOI release

You asked for details on: Any Scottish Government emails from 11-15 October 2020 (inclusive), either internal or external, concerning polling by Ipsos Mori/STV News or news inquiries or news coverage related to this polling. Please also include attachments to these emails. Any briefings or notes provided to Scottish ...

FOI released 100 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings whatsapp s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2020-12-04
Reference
FOI/202000098657
Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Economic assessment with changes to trading hours for bars and pubs announced on 7 October 2020: FOI release

You asked for: 1. The economic assessment made of changes to trading hours for bars and pubs announced by the First Minister on 7 October 2020. 2. (a) The number of behavioural economists employed by the Scottish Government and (b) how many are working on Covid - 19 policies, restrictions.

FOI released 95 score 29 working days over deadline correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2020-12-04
Reference
FOI/202000096849
Directorate
Chief Economist Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention Fund grant letter: FOI release

You asked for: "Information online indicates that the Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention Fund (CYPFEIF) was to run to March 2019, but the Scottish Government (SG) announced in March 2018 that this funding would be extended to 31 March 2020. What were the recorded contractual conditions (e.g. repor...

FOI released 95 score 8 working days correspondence ministers contracts 4 attachments
Published
2020-11-16
Reference
FOI/202000091124
Directorate
Children and Families Directorate
Topic
Children and families, Public sector

The Scottish Government process of publishing FOI responses: FOI release

In order to clarify the strange apparent invisibility of several documents to the search engine - all of which, by a remarkable coincidence, relate to allegations of misconduct by the former First Minister Alex Salmond - please provide me with the search tags which have been attached to each of these 16 documents: (lis...

FOI released 95 score 5 working days correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2020-10-26
Reference
FOI/202000101090
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector