Scottish Government FOI Index

15,099releases indexed

24,092attachments found

29.8avg calendar days

5,640partially withheld

2021-04-20oldest in sample

2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 5,640 unclear 4,937 not held 2,189 released 952 already published 503 cost limit 446 clarification 223 withheld 160 transferred 49

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 3525 s.20 3020 s.34(1) 2738 s.39(2) 2374 s.30 2097 s.17(1) 1971 s.25(1) 1711 s.10(4) 1434 s.11(2) 1157 s.29(1) 850 s.2 835 s.3 641

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 900 releases · 28.1 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 775 releases · 30.4 avg days Marine Directorate 596 releases · 27.4 avg days Local Government and Housing Directorate 513 releases · 29.3 avg days Population Health Directorate 505 releases · 26.6 avg days Learning Directorate 486 releases · 37.0 avg days Economic Development Directorate 479 releases · 41.5 avg days People Directorate 443 releases · 25.9 avg days

Clear

7 matching releases

Transfer of devolved powers to the UK Government queries: FOI release

1. Confirmation of whether any Section 30 Order has ever transferred devolved powers from the Scottish Government or Scottish Parliament to the UK Government Please confirm: Whether any Order in Council made under Section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998 has ever had the effect of reducing the legislative competence of the...

FOI transferred 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.30 s.1 s.4 s.17(1)

Published: 2026-05-11
Reference: FOI/202600500071
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Freedom of Information vexatious or repeated requests data: FOI release

1) Please provide the number of Freedom of Information requests refused by the Scottish Government for being vexatious since John Swinney became First Minister. Also provide the same for the time Humza Yousaf was First Minister and the same for when Nicola Sturgeon was First Minister. 2) For each of the above provide ...

FOI transferred 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings spending s.14(1) s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.25(1) s.14V 2 attachments

Published: 2026-05-06
Reference: FOI/202600510718
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Information related to Scottish Information Commissioner decision notice: FOI release

1. What is the name of the individual whose role in the redaction process of the Hamilton Report was under investigation by the Scottish Information Commissioner and who wrote a signed statement to the Commissioner's office, as noted in Decision Notice 144/2025 and pages 15-18 of the below FOI release? 2. Why has this...

FOI transferred 80 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.17(1) s.6 4 attachments

Published: 2026-01-06
Reference: FOI/202500480860
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Education (Scotland) Bill correspondence and cost of implementation: FOI release

The total cost to the Scottish Government associated with the development, consultation, drafting, and implementation of the Education (Scotland) Bill. Including: Internal staffing costs (policy teams, legal, communications, programme teams). External consultancy or legal advice related to the Bill. Public engagement,...

FOI transferred 55 score 13 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)

Published: 2025-10-20
Reference: FOI/202500477146
Directorate: Education Reform Directorate
Topic: Education, Public sector

Secretariat to Former Independent Adviser to the Scottish Government: FOI release

1. In FOI/202300382811 GOVERNMENT PHONES ISSUES TO MINISTERS there is a list of names of officials that the Scottish Government states are senior enough to be named. If the name of the official who carried out the secretariat role for James Hamilton is included in this list then there is no legitimate reason that thei...

FOI transferred 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 s.17(1) s.3 s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-09-24
Reference: FOI/202500469235
Directorate: Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Gender Recognition Reform Bill costs: FOI release

(a) Since 1 November 2023, what is the total cost to the Scottish Government of any work or legal advice relating to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill? (If possible, could you break down any costs). (b) Could you share any correspondence: to the UK Government from the First Minister or Kaukab Stewart, rela...

FOI transferred 80 score 18 working days correspondence ministers spending s.17(1) s.35 s.27(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-03-27
Reference: FOI/202500452867
Directorate: Justice Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Health and Wellbeing Census – retaining data where information wasn’t provided: FOI release

You asked a range of questions on the use of SCN as an email address in 2022, the Scottish Government response to this, and the impact on ethics, data quality and the processing and sharing of the health and Wellbeing Census 2022 data by Scottish Government.

FOI transferred 80 score 20 working days correspondence briefings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.1(1) s.17(1) s.25 2 attachments

Published: 2024-07-08
Reference: FOI/202400398313
Directorate: Learning Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector