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
134 matching releases

Costs and documentation for the First Minister's speech at Barclays campus: FOI release

1. Could you supply the updated special adviser register of interests? 2. How much has been spent on paying off/severance payments for special advisers, in each of the last three years, with a breakdown by year and by how much each special adviser got? 3. Could you supply the full costs of putting on John Swinney's e...

FOI unclear 55 score 15 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.14(2) s.14 s.14O
Published
2024-10-03
Reference
FOI/202400425443
Directorate
Business and Better Regulation Directorate
Topic
Business, industry and innovation, Public sector

Briefing pack produced for the Scotonomics Festival of Economics: EIR release

This is a follow up request to a previous FOI response. Your ref: 202400406159. The above referenced FOI response included a briefing pack produced for the Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work, Gillian Martin, in advance of her appearance at the Scotonomics Festival of Economics on 23rd March 2024. Plea...

FOI/EIR unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.20 s.39(2) 2 attachments
Published
2024-09-03
Reference
EIR/202400413337
Directorate
Chief Economist Directorate
Topic
Economy, Public sector

Correspondence between Scottish Government (SG) and Scotonomics podcast or Scotonomics Live festival: EIR release

Copies of all email correspondence between the Scottish Government (including Ministers, Civil Servants, Special Advisers, and Press Officers) and anyone representing the Scotonomics podcast or Scotonomics Live festival, 1st February 2023 - date. When asked to clarify further, you asked for: “The correspondence I am ...

FOI/EIR unclear 80 score 48 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.20 s.39(2) 2 attachments
Published
2024-09-03
Reference
EIR/202400413339
Directorate
Chief Economist Directorate
Topic
Economy, Energy, Public sector

Government Car Service (GCS) Policy: FOI release

Please can you provide a copy of the policy regarding the government car service? Please can you also confirm: Who is able to use the government car service and who is not able to use the government car service?

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending
Published
2024-09-03
Reference
FOI/202400412114
Directorate
Corporate Operations Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector, Transport

Residence of Scottish Government Special Advisors: FOI release

1. The number of current Scottish Government Special Advisors who have their permanent residence outside of Scotland. 2. The number of current Scottish Government Special Advisors who have undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from non-Scottish Universities, broken down into a table, and listing the universities in q...

FOI unclear 55 score 11 working days correspondence special advisers s.17(1)
Published
2024-04-15
Reference
FOI/202400403406
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Scottish Government staff associated with Ministers: FOI release

"The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles, not names of individuals) for all of the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers, including both civil service and political staff, and (ii) the wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish Government...

FOI unclear 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.25(1) 4 attachments
Published
2024-03-28
Reference
FOI/202400392767
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Meetings to discuss impact of Storm Babet: EIR release

Please can you help with the following. Regarding the Scottish Government's level of preparedness for Storm Babet on Thursday October 19 and 20. Did any resilience function of the Scottish Government, for example SGoRR, meet to consider the impact of Babet following the issue of a red weather warning for the east coas...

FOI/EIR unclear 80 score 10 working days correspondence special advisers meetings s.11(2) 2 attachments
Published
2024-03-12
Reference
FOI/202300383476
Directorate
Performance, Delivery and Resilience Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public safety and emergencies, Public sector

Amount of records destroyed in accordance with Record Management Policy from 2019 - date: FOI release

How many records the Scottish Government have destroyed in accordance with Record Management Policy in 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and so far in 2023-24. Please detail whether these records included emails, WhatsApps, minutes of Scottish Government meetings etc and any other information that is recorded about th...

FOI unclear 80 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings whatsapp s.3 2 attachments
Published
2024-03-05
Reference
FOI/202300384324
Directorate
Digital Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Use of Bute House for interviews by the First Ministers wife: FOI release

Can you confirm what the rules are in regards to the first ministers wife, who is not a member of the government, using the taxpayer funded bute house address to film media interviews with the BBC today? Can you also share the rules on the first minister taking his family to government work events (children and wife) w...

FOI unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-02-27
Reference
FOI/202300380502
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Special Advisors employed by Scottish Government: FOI release

How many special advisers does the Scottish Government currently employ, broken down by (a) portfolio, (b) job tile, and (c) pay grade?

FOI unclear 55 score 8 working days correspondence special advisers s.25(1)
Published
2024-02-27
Reference
FOI/202400392620
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Internal correspondence request: FOI review

Copies of all internal Scottish Government email correspondence (including Marine Scotland, Civil Servants, and Special Advisers) discussing the responses to these two previous FOI requests: FOI/202100132049 and FOI/202200292407.

FOI/EIR unclear 80 score 122 working days over deadline correspondence special advisers s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-02-07
Reference
FOI/202300337459 Review of 202200313781
Directorate
Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Cash support sent to Storm Babet and Gaza: FOI release

Total amount of money sent by the Scottish Government to help support those affected by Storm Babet. Please confirm the up to date figure. The date when the first cash support was sent. Total amount of money sent by the Scottish Government to support Gaza. The date the cash support to Gaza was sent. Where exactly was t...

FOI unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending
Published
2024-01-30
Reference
FOI/202300385785
Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

DRS correspondence with special advisers: EIR review

A copy of email correspondence from special advisers and Scottish Government officials during the period 1st November 2021 to 31st March 2022 where deposit return (DRS) was discussed.

FOI/EIR unclear 80 score 34 working days over deadline correspondence special advisers s.11(2) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-01-23
Reference
EIR/202300351098 Review of 202200318719
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Staff structure/organogram for the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands office: FOI release

The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles, not names of individuals) for the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands office, including both civil service and political staff, and (ii) the wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish Gove...

FOI unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-29
Reference
202300358360
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Discussion/analysis of the LSE report on trade, Brexit and Scottish independence: FOI release

All Scottish Government discussion/analysis of the report published on 3rd February 2021 by the LSE's Centre for Economic Performance, Disunited Kingdom? Brexit, Trade and Scottish Independence, (including comments by Ministers, Civil Servants, and Special Advisers). Please restrict the search to dates between 3rd Febr...

FOI unclear 50 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings spending
Published
2023-12-15
Reference
202200331126
Directorate
Chief Economist Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Education and Skills organogram and pay grades: FOI release

The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles not names of individuals) for the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills office, including both civil service and political staff. The wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish Government. The pay grades for e...

FOI unclear 75 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-08
Reference
202200335608
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Staff Structure for the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans office: FOI release

The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles not names of individuals) for the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans office, including both civil service and political staff, and (ii) the wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish Government. The pay gr...

FOI unclear 75 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-08
Reference
202200335623
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Staff structure/organogram for the First Minister's Office: FOI release

The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles not names of individuals) for the First Minister's Office, including both civil service and political staff, and (ii) the wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish Government. The pay grades for each staff member ...

FOI unclear 75 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-08
Reference
202200335616
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Staff structure/organogram for the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care office: FOI release

The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles not names of individuals) for the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care office, including both civil service and political staff, and (ii) the wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish Government. The pay g...

FOI unclear 75 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-08
Reference
202200335641
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence with ministers or special advisers regarding instant messaging: FOI release

1. Between March 1, 2020 and May 1, 2021, any correspondence involving ministers or special advisers on the topic of instant messaging messages, including but not limited to the deletion of them.

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers
Published
2023-12-06
Reference
FOI/202300382848
Directorate
Digital Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Staff structure/organogram for the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands office: FOI release

The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles not names of individuals) for the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands office, including both civil service and political staff, and (ii) the wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish Government. The pa...

FOI unclear 80 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-05
Reference
202200335615
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Staff structure/organogram for the Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade office: FOI release

The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles, not names of individuals) for the Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade office, including both civil service and political staff, and (ii) the wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish Government. Th...

FOI unclear 75 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-01
Reference
202300358392
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Staff structure/organogram for the Minister for Victims and Community Safety office: FOI release

The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles, not names of individuals) for the Minister for Victims and Community Safety office, including both civil service and political staff, and (ii) the wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish Government. The pay gr...

FOI unclear 75 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-01
Reference
202300358402
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Staff structure/organogram for the Minister for Transport office: FOI release

The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles, not names of individuals) for the Minister for Transport office, including both civil service and political staff, and (ii) the wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish Government. The pay grades for each staff...

FOI unclear 75 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-01
Reference
202300358412
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Organogram and pay for Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government office: FOI release

The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles not names of individuals) for the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government office, including both civil service and political staff, and (ii) the wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish...

FOI unclear 75 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-30
Reference
202200335638
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector