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

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

Clear
134 matching releases

Communication relating to Homelessness Deaths 2019 publication: FOI release

Copies of correspondence (email, notes, memos, handwritten notes, text messages, whatsapp messages, minutes of meetings, minutes of calls and/or otherwise) between civil servants and/or Special Advisers and/or Housing Minister Kevin Stewart regarding the National Records of Scotland publication ‘Homelessness Deaths 201...

FOI unclear 75 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings whatsapp 2 attachments
Published
2021-05-05
Reference
FOI/202100163933
Directorate
Topic
Housing, Public sector

First Minister call with Scottish Tourism Alliance 2020: FOI Review

Further to our letter of acknowledgement of 8th March , I have now completed my review of our response to your request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) for the following: Any agenda, minutes, notes briefing papers, handouts, or memos in relation to a private call with the Scottish Tourism Al...

FOI unclear 75 score 13 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings 2 attachments
Published
2021-04-21
Reference
FOI/202100171976 Review of 202100146574
Directorate
Topic
Programme for Government, Public sector

Costs of legal advice provided to special advisers for harassment inquiry: FOI release

The total cost, to date, of providing external legal services/advice to Scottish Government special advisers related to the Scottish Parliament's Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints. This should include all legal services related to the inquiry, such as providing personal legal advice...

FOI unclear 50 score 26 working days over deadline correspondence special advisers spending
Published
2021-04-21
Reference
FOI/202100158578
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Communications regarding Chromebook purchases for local authorities: FOI release

The Scottish Government has purchased Chromebooks which have then been offered to local authorities for distribution to pupils in need. I would like to know how the government arrived at the decision to purchase Chromebooks rather than an alternative. I would therefore like the government to provide all materials regar...

FOI unclear 80 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings spending s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2021-04-08
Reference
FOI/202100136555
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Correspondence regarding Export Statistics Figures - 2019: FOI release

From 1 January 2021 to present: Copies of correspondence (email, minutes of calls, minutes of meetings, minutes of calls, memos and/or otherwise) from and/or to civil servants and/or Special Advisers regarding the ‘Export Statistics Figures: 2019’.

FOI unclear 75 score 13 working days correspondence special advisers meetings 2 attachments
Published
2021-04-06
Reference
FOI/202100173864
Directorate
Chief Economist Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Redeployment of Freedom of Information Unit staff due to COVID-19: FOI release

1. For each month commencing January 2020 to date, please provide the total number of FTE staff working in the FOI unit. 2. All correspondence discussing and enacting the decision to redeploy FOI Unit staff to Covid critical roles. The correspondence should be specifically between the following two groups (A) Ministers...

FOI unclear 55 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.17(1)
Published
2021-03-30
Reference
FOI/202100155415
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Exchanges relating to the Chief Constable announcement of doubling patrols: FOI release

Could please send me all of the email - and all other communications - exchanges between the Chief Constable, his office, Police Scotland officers and/or staff and the office of the First Minister, the Justice Secretary and Scottish government civil servants and/or special advisers, in advance of the announcement by th...

FOI unclear 75 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings 2 attachments
Published
2021-03-19
Reference
FOI/202100144714
Directorate
Safer Communities Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Scottish Government procedure of recording financial interests of National Clinical Directors: FOI release

What is the minimal financial value (in pounds Sterling) that requires a National Clinical Director in Scotland to register a personal financial interest with the Scottish Government, such that this financial interest is recorded on Scottish Government systems. You said that this FIOSA 2002 request pre-supposes that th...

FOI unclear 55 score 6 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.17(1)
Published
2020-11-11
Reference
FOI/202000088601
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, Money and tax, Public sector, +1 more … Work and skills

Scottish Government Special Adviser WhatsApp group titles: FOI release

1. The titles of WhatsApp groups that Scottish Government Special Advisors are in.

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers whatsapp
Published
2020-11-06
Reference
FOI/202000087805
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

The First Minister's office and Special advisers of the Scottish Government: 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.

FOI unclear 50 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers
Published
2020-10-29
Reference
FOI/202000082245
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Flights taken in financial year 2019/20, routes and cost: FOI release

1) The number of flights taken by Scottish Government ministers, officials and special advisers over the financial year 2019/20. 2) The routes Scottish Government ministers, officials and special advisers have flown over the financial year 2019/20 3) The cost of any flights taken by Scottish government ministers, offic...

FOI unclear 75 score 2 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending 2 attachments
Published
2020-05-20
Reference
FOI/202000028715
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Flights taken, routes & cost taken in last three financial years: FOI release

1) The number of flights taken by Scottish Government ministers, officials and special advisers broken down by the last three financial years 2) The routes Scottish Government ministers, officials and special advisers have flown broken down by the last three financial years 3) The cost of any flights taken by Scottish ...

FOI unclear 75 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending 2 attachments
Published
2020-04-03
Reference
FOI/202000019787
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

'Scotland's right to choose: putting Scotland's future in Scotland's hands' related costs: FOI release

All costs associated with the Scottish Government's document 'Scotland's Right to Choose: Putting Scotland's Future in Scotland's Hands'. If possible please break this down into costs on staffing (or staffing hours spent on this), internal costs, external costs such as printing etc. The number of Scottish Government st...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.17(1)
Published
2020-02-10
Reference
FOI/202000011414
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Ministers and Special advisers internal communication channels: FOI release

Details of all internal communication channels used by Scottish government ministers and special advisers Please provide the name of the platform and the time for which it has been in use This includes, but is not limited to, services such as text messaging, email, Slack channels and Whatsapp chats

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers whatsapp
Published
2019-09-30
Reference
FOI/201900003700
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

First Minister emails to Special Advisers using various accounts: FOI release

FOI-201900002906: How many emails received by Scottish Government special advisers from Nicola Sturgeon using any email address ending in "@gov.scot" or "@scotland.gsi.gov.uk" in June 2019. FOI-201900002907: The number of emails received by Scottish Government special advisers from Nicola Sturgeon while she was using a...

FOI unclear 75 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers 2 attachments
Published
2019-08-21
Reference
FOI/201900002906
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Number of female; Cabinet Secretaries, Ministers and Special Advisers: FOI release

You made the following request for information: For verification of the number of women Cabinet Secretaries, Ministers and Special Advisers as provided in your table.

FOI unclear 50 score 11 working days correspondence ministers special advisers
Published
2019-07-22
Reference
FOI/19/01693
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Ministers and Special Advisers roles responding to FOI requests: FOI release

Please provide the following: (A) any and all procedures, guidance, emails that set out the current role of Ministers and Special Advisers in responding to FOI requests and requests for internal review. (B) a risk assessment that sets out the data protection compliance considerations associated with (A).

FOI unclear 80 score 12 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.25(1) s.8(1) s.1(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2019-03-27
Reference
FOI/19/00669
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

First Minister’s visit to the United States and Canada: FOI release

Regarding the First Minister’s visit to the US and Canada, you asked for: 1. What was the full size of the party? 2. How long was the visit? 3. Was there a dedicated photographer? 4. What were the flight costs and ticket class of First Minister? 5. What were the accommodation costs and FM Costs? 6. What were the ...

FOI unclear 75 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings spending 2 attachments
Published
2019-03-14
Reference
FOI/19/00466
Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Staffing: Transport Scotland including special advisers and managers: FOI release

Any new staff, including special advisers, brought to Transport Scotland by the new Cabinet Secretary, Michael Matheson, including their total salary and how this compares with the previous special advisers. The total number of special advisers current in Transport Scotland. Changes in the number of staff currently emp...

FOI unclear 50 score correspondence ministers special advisers
Published
2018-08-15
Reference
Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Transport

Special Adviser salary, costs and expenses 2014/15, 2017/18: FOI release

The current combined annual salary costs for Scottish Government special advisers; for the combined annual salary cost in November 2014 and for the total expenses bill associated with special advisers in 2014/15 and 2017/18

FOI unclear 55 score correspondence ministers special advisers meetings contracts s.25(1)
Published
2018-07-13
Reference
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

First Minister's visit to China: FOI release

For the First Minister's recent visit to China: 1. What was the First Minister's detailed Itinerary? 24/7 2. What was the schedule of meetings? 3. What was the subject or purpose of the meetings? 4. Who attended the meetings? 5. What agreements or commitments were made on behalf of the Scottish electorate?

FOI unclear 80 score correspondence ministers special advisers meetings s.25(1) 2 attachments
Published
2018-05-21
Reference
Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector