Scottish Government FOI Index

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

131 matching releases

Democracy Matters Steering Group information: FOI release

Information about the Democracy Matters Steering Group including if the group was formed, when this group met and for how long, when they are scheduled to meet next, who are members of the group, if it has produced a report, who it was reported to and will it be available to the public and lastly whether members of the...

FOI unclear 55 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings s.25(1)

Published: 2026-05-13
Reference: FOI/202600502250
Directorate: Public Service Reform Directorate
Topic: Communities and third sector, Public sector

Sensitive and routine Freedom of Information request statistics: FOI release

In reference to the express article linked here: https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-special-advisers-oversawhundreds-35647218 1) How many FOI requests from January 16th 2025 to January 15th 2026 were deemed "routine" 2) How many FOI requests from January 16th 2025 to January 15th 2026 were deeme...

FOI unclear 50 score 13 working days correspondence ministers special advisers

Published: 2026-05-12
Reference: FOI/202600513776
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Information regarding the Cabinet Secretary for Housing's former role as a Special Adviser: FOI release

I would like some info re Mhairi McAllan: 1. When was she appointed as a Special Adviser? 2. What was her role as a Special Adviser? 3. When did she cease being a Senior Adviser?

FOI unclear 50 score 15 working days correspondence ministers special advisers

Published: 2026-05-11
Reference: FOI/202600501269
Directorate: People Directorate
Topic: Public sector

First Minister’s social media channels: FOI release

I would like to ask a question about a number of videos which the First Minister has taken to posting from his private Social Media profiles. These videos appear to be taken inside Scottish Government property and look to be professionally filmed and edited, but there is nothing to say whether these are privately funde...

FOI unclear 55 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.17(1)

Published: 2026-02-24
Reference: FOI/202500496893
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

First Minister's taxation claim evidence and correspondence: FOI release

1. What evidence the Scottish Government has to substantiate the claim made by the First Minister on 13 November 2025 that: ‘we’ve maintained our manifesto commitments in relation to taxation’. 2. All correspondence between the First Minister, Senior Civil Servants and Special Advisers regarding this claim since 13 No...

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers meetings spending s.17(1)

Published: 2026-02-18
Reference: FOI/202500494899
Directorate: Tax Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Scottish Government spend report: FOI release

Could you please also request the information or interactions showing why and when the reports were halted and for what reason and what reason the Spads gave for not reviewing prior to publication. Also to see what the previous ublication process was could you please share copies of emails which were sent out to the SP...

FOI unclear 75 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence special advisers briefings spending 2 attachments

Published: 2026-02-16
Reference: FOI/202500489104
Directorate: Financial Management Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Scottish Public Pensions Agency - Internal guidance for the Teachers Pension Scheme: FOI release

I am writing to request be supplied with a copy of certain SPPA Teachers Pension Scheme Internal Guidance documents. You should consider this request as a freedom of information request in line with the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. I am requesting copies of: Internal Guidance document...

FOI unclear 80 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.20 s.2 2 attachments

Published: 2026-02-11
Reference: FOI/202500493752
Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Details of the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy's trip to COP30: FOI release

1. Total Cost: The final total expenditure for the Cabinet Secretary’s trip to COP30. 2. Itemised Breakdown: A breakdown of these costs into the following categories: (a) Travel (including flights, internal transfers, and any carbon offsetting costs); (b) Accommodation; (c) Subsistence; (d) Any other associated costs...

FOI unclear 50 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers spending

Published: 2026-02-04
Reference: FOI/202500498535
Directorate: Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic: Environment and climate change, International, Public sector

Hamilton Report redaction queries: FOI release

1. Is this passage stating that neither Gavin Henderson (Deputy Director – Organisational Continuity Team), Neil Rennick (Director – Organisational Continuity Team) nor Lesley Fraser (Director General Corporate) made the physical redactions to the Hamilton Report? 2. If so, I do not understand the material difference ...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence special advisers briefings s.14(1) s.25(1)

Published: 2026-01-26
Reference: FOI/202500489293
Directorate: Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Special adviser expenses: FOI release

The details of the special adviser expenses that were published by the Scottish Government here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/special-advisers-gifts-hospitality-media-meetings-and-expenses-april-june-2025/ By details, I mean what accommodation was booked, where the accommodation was, what iExpenses refers to and ...

FOI unclear 50 score 16 working days correspondence special advisers meetings spending

Published: 2026-01-13
Reference: FOI/202500486812
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Costs of creating the new position of Cabinet Secretary for Housing: FOI release

The cost of creating the new position of Cabinet Secretary for Housing. Please break down all costs involved, including, for example, creating new office space, buying new stationery, hiring new staff or special advisers, purchasing new signage or business cards, etc.

FOI unclear 55 score 15 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.17(1)

Published: 2025-10-22
Reference: FOI/202500476510
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Ministerial correspondence with Salmon Scotland Chief Executive: EIR Review

Original Request - 202500471588 Written correspondence including (but not limited to) letters, emails, texts and WhatsApp messages, on any subject, from or to Salmon Scotland Chief Executive Tavish Scott, from or to the First Minister, Scottish Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers, Scottish Government Special Advisers, F...

FOI/EIR unclear 80 score 41 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers whatsapp s.20 s.11(2) s.34(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2025-10-22
Reference: FOI/202500476396 Review of 202500471588
Directorate: Marine Directorate
Topic: Marine and fisheries, Public sector

Special Advisers and ChatGPT documentation: FOI release

Any recorded transcripts, logs, outputs, or other documentation of interactions between Scottish Government Special Advisers and ChatGPT or any other large language model (LLM) from January 1, 2025, to June 18, 2025. This includes any saved chats, screenshots, exported files, or other relevant records held by the Scot...

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

Published: 2025-08-06
Reference: FOI/202500471620
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

The Edinburgh Agreement negotiations: FOI release

Could you give me a full list of all those involved in the Edinburgh Agreement negotiations from the Scottish Government side and the dates of when they were involved?

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers

Published: 2025-07-08
Reference: FOI/202500465520
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

First Minister travel costs for Orkney and London trips: FOI release

Could you supply full costs of travel for John Swinney's trips to Orkney and London in February, and full costs of travel and method for any civil servants/spads who travelled with him?

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending

Published: 2025-06-24
Reference: FOI/202500455966
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers Federation (SNIPEF) correspondence, funding and press release: FOI release

1. All correspondence between Scottish Government Ministers and Special Advisers and the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers Federation between 4 March 2025 and the present date (inclusive). This should include correspondence that Ministers or Special Advisers were copied into. 2. Whether the Scottish Gov...

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers

Published: 2025-06-10
Reference: FOI/202500456101
Directorate: Education Reform Directorate
Topic: Education, Public sector

Special Adviser involvement in James Hamilton QC's report on the Ministerial Code: FOI Review

Original request 202400446131 1) I am aware through previous FOI requests and written answers in parliament (S6W-25078), that the Scottish Government has confirmed that four civil servants were "involved in the process of deciding" what parts of the report to redact. To be clear was there any SPAD involvement in a non...

FOI unclear 55 score 16 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings s.17(1)

Published: 2025-03-25
Reference: FOI/202500452219 Review of 202400446131
Directorate: Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Chief Statistician correspondence to Scottish Ministers: FOI release

1. All instances of the Scottish Government’s Chief Statistician writing to any Scottish Minister (or their private office) advising them that they should correct the official record of the Scottish Parliament due to a factual inaccuracy since 8 May 2024. Please provide the full correspondence of the Chief Statistician...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 s.25(1) s.17(1)

Published: 2025-03-13
Reference: FOI/202500450754
Directorate: Digital Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Freedom of Information requests received regarding ministerial trip to Scottish League Cup Final: FOI release

How many FOI requests about Neil Gray's ministerial trip to the Scottish League Cup Final on December 17 have been made, and how many were registered as sensitive and were sent to Special Advisers for comment and onwards to Ministers for clearance? Could you supply each of these "sensitive" FOI requests, who they went...

FOI unclear 50 score 4 working days correspondence ministers special advisers

Published: 2025-02-20
Reference: FOI/202500451289
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Arts, culture and sport, Public sector

Freedom of Information requests sent to Special Advisers and Ministers: FOI release

1. How many FOI requests have been sent to Special Advisers and Ministers in the last 12 months, and how many haven't been sent in the same time period? 2. Could you detail which one they had been sent to i.e Special Adviser or Minister or both?

FOI/EIR unclear 55 score 14 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.20

Published: 2025-02-14
Reference: FOI/202500448221
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Training days attended by Special Advisers: FOI release

A breakdown of costs associated with any away days or training days attended by Special Advisers (SpAds) over the past five years. Details of the dates, locations, and purposes of these events.

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence special advisers spending s.17(1)

Published: 2025-01-22
Reference: FOI/202400444261
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Pay grades or salary bands for current Special Advisors: FOI release

1. An updated list of all current Special Advisers (SpAds) employed by the Scottish Government. 2. The pay grades or salary bands for each individual SpAd.

FOI unclear 55 score 10 working days correspondence special advisers s.25(1)

Published: 2025-01-21
Reference: FOI/202400444257
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Questions formulated for the National Speed Management Review consultation: FOI release

1. Were the questions in the consultation formulated "in house" i.e. by civil servants employed by the relevant department? 2. If civil servants did not formulate the questions, who did? Specifically, I would like to know if this was an independent consultant, consultancy company or special adviser. 3. Whoever was re...

FOI unclear 50 score 3 working days correspondence special advisers spending

Published: 2025-01-17
Reference: FOI/202400444506
Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

Date specific Special Adviser commenced role: FOI release

What date did Olaf Stando begin his role as Special Adviser to the First Minister?

FOI unclear 50 score 2 working days correspondence ministers special advisers

Published: 2024-12-17
Reference: FOI/202400441696
Directorate: People Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Information on civil servants working in the Constitutional Futures Division: FOI release

1. Please confirm the number of civil servants currently on the unit’s payroll. 2. Please also confirm, in list form, what material has gone from any civil servants on the units payroll to Special Advisors or Ministers since 1 July 2024. I do not want copies of documents, I just require a list of what has been sent to...

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings

Published: 2024-10-14
Reference: FOI/202400430106
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector