Scottish Government FOI Index

19,099releases indexed

31,532attachments found

29.7avg calendar days

7,049partially withheld

2018-11-16oldest in sample

2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 7,049 unclear 6,352 not held 2,688 released 1,289 already published 610 cost limit 529 clarification 306 withheld 208 transferred 68

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4381 s.20 3726 s.34(1) 3480 s.39(2) 2967 s.30 2536 s.17(1) 2457 s.25(1) 2090 s.10(4) 1747 s.11(2) 1413 s.29(1) 1021 s.2 1021 s.3 800

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 1,082 releases · 27.9 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 858 releases · 31.1 avg days Marine Directorate 802 releases · 29.6 avg days Learning Directorate 714 releases · 34.4 avg days Population Health Directorate 607 releases · 28.7 avg days Economic Development Directorate 577 releases · 40.0 avg days Constitution Directorate 573 releases · 36.1 avg days People Directorate 536 releases · 25.8 avg days

Clear

109 matching releases

Assurance on NHS compliance with Supreme Court Judgement: FOI release

The following questions based on the communication issued by Gillian Russell, Director of Health Workforce, to NHS Board Chief Executives on 30 September 2025. 1. Is Ms Russell now assured that each NHS Board has in fact obtained their own legal advice as independent legal entities – please provide a list of all NHS B...

FOI unclear 55 score 12 working days correspondence ministers spending s.17(1)

Published: 2026-05-13
Reference: FOI/202600507521
Directorate: Health Workforce Directorate
Topic: Equality and rights, Health and social care, Public sector

Operation Branchform communications between Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and First Minister: FOI release

1. The total number of recorded communications sent from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) (including the Lord Advocate’s office, Solicitor General’s office, private secretaries, and/or COPFS officials) to the First Minister’s Office / First Minister’s Private Office which refer to, relate to, or a...

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings

Published: 2026-05-13
Reference: FOI/202600507223
Directorate: Legal Services (Solicitor to the Scottish Government)
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

NHS Tayside walk in centre location query: FOI release

“I note the following https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr45ekv79lzo FOI What determination and research was made to place a walk in centre within 5 mins of NHS Tayside main hospital building and not more centrally located in Dundee serving all of Dundee and not just trying to cut down A&E visits from the local area...

FOI unclear 80 score 18 working days correspondence ministers contracts s.17(1) s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2026-04-27
Reference: FOI/202600508399
Directorate: Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector

Transport Scotland - Oban Harbour Revision Order (HRO) information: FOI release

Documents in relation to the draft Oban Harbour Revision Order (HRO): All internal written communications within Transport Scotland; Notes of all meetings held within Transport Scotland; and Records of all internal telephone calls made within Transport Scotland.

FOI unclear 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.17(1) s.36(1) s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2026-04-23
Reference: FOI/202600506295
Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

Transport Scotland - Cross‑pavement charging information: EIR release

Information held by Transport Scotland between 1 January 2020 and the present relating to the selection of pilot authorities for the cross‑pavement charging grant and documents relating to national guidance on cross‑pavement charging.

FOI/EIR unclear 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.10 2 attachments

Published: 2026-04-22
Reference: EIR/202600505424
Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

Total spending on the proposed Heat in Buildings Bill: FOI release

Please confirm total spending on the proposed Heat in Buildings Bill in each year during the current session of the Scottish Parliament beginning in 2021. Please include details of all spending on the public consultation launched in November 2023 and the analysis of responses.

FOI unclear 50 score 12 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2026-02-09
Reference: FOI/202500494499
Directorate: Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic: Energy, Public sector

Transport Scotland proposed CalMac Ferries Limited Subsidy to the Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU): FOI release

“On 30 October 2024, Transport Scotland submitted a request to the Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU) for a report under section 52 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022. This referral concerned the proposed subsidy to CalMac Ferries Limited (CalMac) for the provision of lifeline ferry services. I request the following: All documen...

FOI unclear 80 score 6 working days correspondence briefings meetings spending s.52 2 attachments

Published: 2026-01-26
Reference: FOI/202500488698
Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

Education Scotland inclusion, equality and diversity guidance: FOI Review

Orginal Request: 202500471940 1. Has Education Scotland revised any of its published or internal guidance documents for schools, educators, or education authorities in response to the UK Supreme Court judgment of 16 April 2025, which confirmed that the term “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex? 2. ...

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence meetings s.17(1) s.36(1) s.2

Published: 2025-11-05
Reference: FOI/202500477857 Review of 202500471940
Directorate
Topic: Education, Public sector

Education Scotland policy reviews since UK Supreme Court decision: FOI release

I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Following the 2024 UK Supreme Court ruling in R (on the application of For Women Scotland) v Scottish Ministers, the legal definition of “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 has been confirmed to mean biological sex. This...

FOI unclear 55 score 25 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.17(1)

Published: 2025-10-16
Reference: FOI/202500472710
Directorate
Topic: Education, Equality and rights, Public sector

Inclusion of Trans and Non-Binary People in Equality Impact Assessments: FOI release

Can you please advise [including precise references to sections of the Equality Act 2010 or Codes published by the Equality & Human Rights Commission] what government’s legal basis is for the inclusion of ‘trans and non-binary’ issues in Equality Impact Assessments ? Could you also please explain what rights Scottish g...

FOI unclear 50 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence

Published: 2025-10-09
Reference: FOI/202500477416
Directorate: Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate
Topic: Equality and rights, Public sector

Cumulative costs of Scottish Government legal fees: FOI Review

Original Request - 202500462518 You asked for '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 less than £50,000. This should include live and closed matters, with "matters" taken to be a ge...

FOI unclear 55 score 10 working days correspondence ministers spending s.23 s.37 s.20

Published: 2025-09-24
Reference: FOI/202500472207 Review of 202500462518
Directorate: Legal Services (Solicitor to the Scottish Government)
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Social Security Scotland internal and external legal services: FOI release

Request for Information 1: The number of full time equivalent (FTE) employees who work in Social Security Scotland’s internal legal team, including all lawyers, solicitors, etc. in a) Financial Year 2022/23, b) Financial Year 2023/24, and c) Financial Year 2024/25. Request for Information 2: The total amount spent by ...

FOI unclear 55 score 16 working days correspondence ministers spending s.20

Published: 2025-09-23
Reference: FOI/202500468165
Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Forestry legal services: FOI release

1. The number of FTE employees who work in Scottish Forestry’s internal legal team, including all lawyers, solicitors, etc. in a) Financial Year 2022/23, b) Financial Year 2023/24, and c) Financial Year 2024/25. 2. The total amount spent by Scottish Forestry on internal legal services, including the salaries of employ...

FOI unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence

Published: 2025-09-23
Reference: FOI/202500468209
Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Accountant in Bankruptcy legal services information: FOI release

1. The number of FTE employees who work in Accountant in Bankruptcy’s internal legal team, including all lawyers, solicitors, etc. in a) Financial Year 2022/23, b) Financial Year 2023/24, and c) Financial Year 2024/25. 2. The total amount spent by Accountant in Bankruptcy on internal legal services, including the sala...

FOI unclear 75 score 16 working days correspondence contracts spending 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-30
Reference: FOI/202500468120
Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a Woman: FOI release

The total costs incurred by The Scottish Government in relation to other development, promotion, and subsequent defence of policies or legal positions involving the definition of the term ‘women’ - particularly where it concerns the gender identity alongside, or in place of biological sex. Please include: 1. Legal co...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.3 s.17(1)

Published: 2025-07-21
Reference: FOI/202500462238
Directorate: Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate
Topic: Equality and rights, Public sector

Student Awards Agency Scotland recruitment policy and procedure: FOI release

Do you have a recruitment policy which relates to permanent and short term contracts for those employed by SAS? Specifically, how are positions advertised, who oversees the recruitment process and how are candidates assessed? Are family members of senior management, including Board members, prohibited from employment ...

FOI unclear 55 score 17 working days correspondence contracts s.17(1)

Published: 2025-06-30
Reference: FOI/202500457723
Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Enforcement of mask-wearing in schools: FOI release

1. Definitive documentation that grants Scottish regional councils the authority to enforce mask-wearing in schools without parental or child consent. 2. Details on how this authority was established, including any legal or statutory basis, and how such authority aligns with or circumvents human rights obligations. 3...

FOI unclear 55 score 18 working days correspondence s.3

Published: 2025-06-10
Reference: FOI/202500456359
Directorate: Population Health Directorate
Topic: Education, Health and social care, Public sector

Scottish Government Records Management Plan details: FOI release

The current Scottish Government records management plan/retention system for ministerial decisions and any changes which have been made in the last three years, including specifically what changes were made.

FOI unclear 50 score 1 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending

Published: 2025-02-18
Reference: FOI/202500451286
Directorate: Digital Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Freedom of Information request queries: FOI release

1. In case the Scottish Government does not currently have resources to answer all of the questions to a Freedom of Information request, what questions does the Scottish Government select from the request? Will the questions be answered in order, or will only the easiest questions be answered, or anything else? 2. How...

FOI/EIR unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence briefings s.14 s.60 s.20

Published: 2025-02-18
Reference: FOI/202500447643
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Legal costs incurred to challenge the release of information: FOI release

Any legal costs incurred over the last five years by the Scottish Government or other agencies to challenge the release of information requested via freedom of information requests. Costs may include those paid to lawyers and external barristers. Please provide details of every legal case.

FOI unclear 55 score 14 working days correspondence ministers spending s.25(1) s.17(1)

Published: 2025-01-31
Reference: FOI/202500446774
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Legal costs of Supreme Court case against For Women Scotland: FOI release

The full legal costs, including advice breakdown, for the Scottish Governments Supreme Court case about gender against For Women Scotland.

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2025-01-21
Reference: FOI/202400443240
Directorate: Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate
Topic: Equality and rights, Public sector

Grant payments to Bus Users UK: FOI release

'Any grant to UK campaigning group BUS USERS UK? They have a Scottish branch and if any grants have been made to that group in the past five financial years starting 2019/20 could tell me what the amounts are for the relevant years and any conditions that are attached to acceptance of such grants?'.

FOI unclear 50 score 8 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings contracts

Published: 2024-11-13
Reference: FOI/202400437431
Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

Legal advice given to the Scottish Government/ministers in reference to The Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Commissioner (case reference number XA10/23): FOI Appeal

Original request - 202300390057 All legal advice given to the Scottish Government/ministers in reference to the court case known as The Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Commissioner (case reference number XA10/23). This includes legal advice given in relation to the decision to appeal, as well as advice i...

FOI unclear 80 score 160 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-10-26
Reference: FOI/202400394394 - Appeal
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Procedural changes to the NHS clinical frailty scale during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

Can you confirm that the CMO was responsible for any procedural changes to the NHS clinical frailty scale and or DNACPR notices put in place during the pandemic?

FOI unclear 55 score 12 working days correspondence ministers s.12

Published: 2024-10-17
Reference: FOI/202400433801
Directorate: Chief Medical Officer Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector

Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Commissioner: Court of Session case costs : FOI release

Could you please provide me with all costs the Scottish Government incurred in relation to the Court of Session case Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Commissioner, which was heard on December 6. https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/supreme-courts/about-the-court-of-session/livestream-hearings/case-xa1...

FOI unclear 50 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending

Published: 2024-09-13
Reference: FOI/202300388530
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector