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
115 matching releases

Total spend on external legal advice since April 1st, 2020: FOI release

1) The total spend, broken down by financial or calendar year, on external legal advice since April 1, 2020. (I.e. 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23 to date) a) Please break this down by the list of associated cases or disputes, and their individual cost. b) If possible, please provide the final settlement or damages or other ...

FOI unclear 50 score 9 working days correspondence spending
Published
2022-12-19
Reference
FOI/202200332541
Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Recruitment processes for "Senior Policy Advisors - Various Climate Change Posts" from June 2022: FOI release

1. What were the circumstances that related to the cancelling of 12 posts advertised externally under the heading "Senior Policy Advisors - Various Climate Change Posts" reference 2022-2955, which closed to external applicants on 2 June 2022? What was the nature of the 'internal business review' that was stated as the ...

FOI unclear 55 score 19 working days correspondence meetings spending s.9 s.2 s.3 s.15 s.6
Published
2022-12-06
Reference
FOI/202200314931
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Redress Scotland solicitor fees: FOI release

1. Are solicitors allowed to charge a 10 percent fee for helping the survivors of csa or are they just entitled to a set amount of fees? https://www.gov.scot/publications/redress-survivors-historical-child-abuse-care-scotlandact-2021-statutory-guidance-payment-legal-fees-related-decisions-made-redressscotland/#:~:text=...

FOI unclear 55 score 18 working days correspondence spending s.96 s.2 s.25(1)
Published
2022-12-06
Reference
FOI/202200315429
Directorate
Children and Families Directorate
Topic
Children and families, Public sector

Information around Child Disability Payment: FOI release

Multiple questions regarding: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder FASD; Prenatal Alcohol Exposure PAE; In Utero Exposure to Drugs; and Prescription Opiate Medications [and the information] that is used in the award of child disability. Please provide the information used by the assessor and medical practitioner who reviews...

FOI unclear 50 score 10 working days correspondence meetings spending
Published
2022-11-30
Reference
FOI/202200328749
Directorate
Social Security Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Policies and standards for the evaluation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in government decision making: FOI release

"Publish your policies and standards for the evaluation of AI in government or public service decision making including - Internal policies and standards within the Scottish Government and its subsidiary departments Any current advice or recommendations to other public services on evaluation of AI."

FOI unclear 50 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence
Published
2022-09-01
Reference
FOI/202200310403
Directorate
Digital Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Question on alcohol: FOI release

‘How come you can't buy alcohol free drinks (for example becks blue) from say somewhere like home bargains before 10am yet I can drink alcohol at the airport at 4am? Or I can drink on a plane in the sky before 10am? I can understand that rule for selling actual alcohol but I can't understand the logic when it's non alc...

FOI unclear 55 score 7 working days correspondence s.12
Published
2022-08-16
Reference
FOI/202200313298
Directorate
Justice Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

School attendance during Covid: FOI release

1. What advice did the Scottish Government give to local authorities with regard to recording COVIDrelated absence? 2. What work is the Scottish Government doing, in conjunction with Education Scotland and local authorities, to ensure that all pupils are re-engaging with formal schooling following lockdown and how is t...

FOI unclear 75 score 9 working days correspondence 2 attachments
Published
2022-08-04
Reference
202200286782
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Questions regarding work on "Building a New Scotland" document: FOI release

1. How many civil servants worked on these documents and for how long and what the total cost of this was? 2. How many special advisers worked on these papers and what exactly their role was. I would also like to know if any of the special advisers have authority over civil servants. 3. Has the advice of the Permanen...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.3 s.17(1)
Published
2022-07-27
Reference
FOI/202200306418
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Sexual abuse in Scottish football: FOI release

1. In that request, I was informed that the Scottish Government had not made contact with the United States Department of Justice, The New Jersey Attorney General, or both. Since the previous request: 1.1 Has the Scottish Government made contact with either or both? 1.2 If no contact has been made, can it be explained...

FOI unclear 55 score 13 working days correspondence ministers s.1 s.2 s.3 s.17 s.5
Published
2022-05-17
Reference
FOI/202200289175
Directorate
Population Health Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, Public sector

Face covering regulations for adults in a primary school setting: FOI release

1. Please provide information/details of the relevant Scottish Government ‘Face covering’ regulations and advice for parents and other visitors when visiting a primary school. 2. Please provide information/details of the relevant Scottish Government ‘Face covering’ regulations and advice for adults when in a primary sc...

FOI unclear 55 score 8 working days correspondence ministers s.5 s.20
Published
2022-05-16
Reference
FOI/202200292251
Directorate
Early Learning and Childcare Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public safety and emergencies, Public sector

Legal costs incurred regarding the judicial review concerning the Gender Representation on Public Board (Scotland) Act 2018: FOI release

Can you please provide full external legal costs incurred by the Scottish Government regarding the judicial review concerning the Gender Representation on Public Board (Scotland) Act 2018, which was brought by the campaign group For Women Scotland. This should include full costs for the initial hearing (including print...

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence spending
Published
2022-05-03
Reference
FOI/202200282789
Directorate
Legal Services (Solicitor to the Scottish Government)
Topic
Equality and rights, Public sector

Ventilation in schools: FOI release

“Regarding the policy of school doors been undercut to improve airflow: Would there still be a requirement for these door to maintain the intumescent strip, consequently have laws with regards to this been changed? Did the Government take advice from Fire Safety Officer prior to making any decision regards cutting off...

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending
Published
2022-03-10
Reference
FOI/202200278077
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Governance and management of South Lanarkshire and Glasgow Clyde colleges: FOI release

1. Please confirm what action the Scottish Government has taken in relation to the current governance crisis in South Lanarkshire College. 2. Please confirm what action the Scottish Government took in relation to the governance crisis in Clyde College in 2015? 3. Please confirm what role the current Principal of South ...

FOI unclear 55 score 17 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.25(1)
Published
2022-02-24
Reference
FOI/202200275968
Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Procedure for making a complaint about Ministerial behaviour: FOI release

Whether the new Scottish Government’s ‘Procedure for making a complaint about a Minister or Former Minister’s behaviour’ published on 13 January 2022 will apply only to former ministers who were ministers at the time this procedure is in place OR if it applies to all former ministers regardless of whether or not this p...

FOI unclear 50 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers
Published
2022-02-22
Reference
FOI/202200272554
Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Total cost of Edinburgh Tram inquiry: FOI release

1. The total cost of the Edinburgh Tram inquiry to date. 2. A breakdown of cost by year since establishment to date. 3. The cost of any external legal advice or representation for the Scottish Government as part of the Edinburgh Tram inquiry (please indicate whether this is included in the answer to question 1). 3a. Pl...

FOI unclear 55 score 2 working days correspondence spending s.20
Published
2021-12-21
Reference
FOI/202100256857
Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Transport

Correspondence pertaining to the welfare of sheep on St Kilda: EIR Review

Please supply a copy of your division’s correspondence, internal and external, pertaining to the welfare of, specifically the sheep on the St Kllda archipelago – including their considered legal welfare status – from the time of preliminary discussions around the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 to the pre...

FOI/EIR unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.20 s.11(2) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2021-12-15
Reference
FOI/202100253172 Review of 202100235081
Directorate
Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic
Farming and rural, Public sector

Information regarding registration of birth: FOI release

1. Under what authority do l have to register a birth in scotland? 2. What happens if l don't register a birth in scotland? 3. Can l gain a passport and travel internationally without registering a birth?

FOI unclear 55 score 14 working days correspondence s.14 s.16(3) s.53(3) s.5 s.13 s.44
Published
2021-12-13
Reference
FOI/202100250063
Directorate
Justice Directorate
Topic
Children and families, Law and order, Public sector

NHS Highland workforce policies: FOI release

1. Who appoints the staff running NHS Highland (from the chief executives down to the heads of finance, payroll managers, HR managers, FoI administrators, security managers, directors of finance, board secretaries, legal office managers, etc.), and to whom they have to report? 2. Who monitors the staff running NHS High...

FOI unclear 55 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.17(1) s.7
Published
2021-12-13
Reference
FOI/202100248176
Directorate
Health Workforce Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, Public sector

Covid-19 vaccine passport: FOI release

1. Can you confirm: will the word “vaccine” be used on this document. Further will it be officially called and titled a covid or a vaccine passport? 2. A statement was made by Nadhim Zahawi MP in the House of Commons in relation to vaccine passports and the fact that the experimental “vaccine” trial required to have so...

FOI unclear 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers contracts spending s.5 s.25(1) s.20 2 attachments
Published
2021-11-08
Reference
FOI/202100240769
Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Information regarding Multi Agency Working: FOI review

Your request, reference 202100220747 Per a recent article in The Telegraph, local councils and NHS have engaged in multi agency working to vaccinate 16 and 17 year old’s without an underlying health condition in the England. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/07/02/children-vaccinated-councils-go-rogue/ 1. Please ad...

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence
Published
2021-10-20
Reference
FOI/202100234822 review of 202100220747
Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Cost to Scottish Government of its participation of recent inquiry’s: FOI release

1. Any estimate and breakdown of the cost to the Scottish Government of its participation in the Scottish Parliament Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints. 2. Any estimate and breakdown of the cost to the Scottish Government of the James Hamilton inquiry. 3. Any estimate and breakdown o...

FOI unclear 55 score 75 working days over deadline correspondence ministers contracts spending s.2 s.12 s.17(1) s.25(1)
Published
2021-10-07
Reference
FOI/202100209285
Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

The New Scots Refugee Integration Delivery Project: FOI release

Please could you provide a full breakdown of the money allocated in this press release? Helping New Scots settle - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

FOI unclear 50 score 13 working days correspondence
Published
2021-09-29
Reference
FOI/202100231402
Directorate
Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate
Topic
Equality and rights, Public sector

Physical distancing rules on Caledonian MacBrayne ferries: FOI release

1. What is the medical and scientific justification for the maintenance of this rule on CalMac ferries, given that other forms of transport in Scotland cannot enforce the same restrictions? Your website confirms this as follows : “You should also adhere to physical distancing whilst on public transport, at stations, te...

FOI unclear 50 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending
Published
2021-09-08
Reference
FOI/202100225329
Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector, Transport

Breakdown of legal fees from £25,000 - £50,000: FOI release

1. In the last five financial years (inclusive of 2021/22), please provide the details of which matters counsel or legal advice was sought for any cumulative cost of legal fees of more than £25,000 and less than £50,000, itemised by amount. 2. This should include live and closed matters, with "matters" taken to be a ge...

FOI unclear 50 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending
Published
2021-08-04
Reference
FOI/202100220760
Directorate
Legal Services (Solicitor to the Scottish Government)
Topic
Law and order, Money and tax, Public sector