Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

17,099releases indexed
27,856attachments found
30.0avg calendar days
6,297partially withheld
2020-01-10oldest in sample
2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 6,297 unclear 5,710 not held 2,434 released 1,096 already published 565 cost limit 491 clarification 264 withheld 186 transferred 56

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 3926 s.20 3344 s.34(1) 3080 s.39(2) 2635 s.30 2273 s.17(1) 2227 s.25(1) 1918 s.10(4) 1572 s.11(2) 1292 s.2 942 s.29(1) 927 s.3 712

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 1,007 releases · 28.2 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 813 releases · 30.8 avg days Marine Directorate 678 releases · 28.5 avg days Learning Directorate 617 releases · 35.4 avg days Population Health Directorate 557 releases · 29.0 avg days Constitution Directorate 532 releases · 36.5 avg days Economic Development Directorate 516 releases · 40.0 avg days Local Government and Housing Directorate 513 releases · 29.3 avg days
Clear
15 matching releases

Norwegian Mountain Salmon (NMS) correspondence: EIR release

Disclosure of all recorded information held by the Scottish Government relating to communications with Norwegian Mountain Salmon (NMS) during the period 1 January 2025 to 22 December 2025. For the avoidance of doubt, this request includes, but is not limited to: Emails (including internal and external emails) Letters...

FOI/EIR withheld 80 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.20 s.39(2) s.11(2) s.10(4) s.10(5) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-03-04
Reference
EIR/202500499541
Directorate
Marine Directorate
Topic
Marine and fisheries, Public sector

Non-Domestic Rates (Liability for Unoccupied Properties) (Scotland) Bill correspondence: FOI release

1. The correspondence that first informed the Scottish Government about the drafting error with the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 2020 which pointed out that the amendments made by the 2020 Act to devolve Empty Property Relief had not had the intended legal effect. 2. All correspondence between relevant Scottish G...

FOI withheld 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings spending s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.29(1) s.33(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-02-23
Reference
FOI/202500495336
Directorate
Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic
Housing, Money and tax, Public sector

Formal complaints made about the behaviour of Special Advisers: FOI Review

Original request: 202500489885 1. The total number of formal complaints made about the behaviour of Special Advisers, broken down by year 2. For each complaint: The nature/category of the complaint (e.g. bullying, harassment, unprofessional behaviour, etc.). The outcome of the complaint (e.g. upheld, partially uphel...

FOI withheld 80 score 20 working days correspondence special advisers s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2026-02-16
Reference
FOI/202500489885 review of 202500485300
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Communications regarding Special Adviser involvement in the redaction process: FOI release

(Previous) Permanent Secretary in advance of his meeting with the Information Commissioner, setting out the investigation that had been undertaken on whether there had been Spad involvement in the redactions process. 1) I request all communications regarding the investigation that has been referenced in the above pass...

FOI withheld 55 score 20 working days correspondence special advisers meetings s.1 s.30
Published
2026-01-26
Reference
FOI/202500489287
Directorate
Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Formal complaints made about the behaviour of Special Advisers: FOI release

Please provide the following in relation to Special Advisers employed by the Scottish Government from 1 May 2021 to the present: 1. The total number of formal complaints made about the behaviour of Special Advisers, broken down by year. 2. For each complaint: The nature/category of the complaint (e.g. bullying, hara...

FOI withheld 55 score 20 working days correspondence special advisers contracts s.38(1) s.34(1)
Published
2026-01-13
Reference
202500485300
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Formal complaints regarding Special Advisers: FOI release

Whether any formal complaints have been made about the behaviour of Special Advisers since 1 May 2021 (including bullying, unprofessional behaviour, harassment, or any other type of complaint) from any staff member employed by the Scottish Government or its public bodies. If any were made, please indicate how they were...

FOI withheld 55 score 17 working days correspondence special advisers s.38(1) s.34(1)
Published
2025-08-18
Reference
FOI/202500474757
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Civic Gathering correspondence, attendees and costs: FOI release

Your request 202500463138 asked for a full list of attendees of the Civic Gathering of 23rd April 2025 and any cost associated with the summit. Your request 202500463132 asked for: 1. Any correspondence (including emails, letters, phone calls, handwritten notes, WhatsApp messages or any other documents) between the o...

FOI withheld 55 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.27(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30
Published
2025-07-22
Reference
FOI/202500463138
Directorate
Strategy Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Ministerial correspondence, staffing and budget statement for the Offshore Wind Hub in Aberdeen: EIR release

1. All correspondence between Ministers, Special Advisers and Officials relating to the Scottish Government’s proposal to create an Offshore Wind Hub in Aberdeen as announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Local Government in the Scottish Government’s 2025/26 Budget Statement on 4 December 2024. 2. How many st...

FOI/EIR withheld 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.2
Published
2025-07-08
Reference
FOI/202500458971
Directorate
Marine Directorate
Topic
Marine and fisheries, Public sector

Correspondence regarding Former First Minister memoirs: FOI release

You requested the following information: 1. Any information held on advice provided to Nicola Sturgeon about the Radcliffe Rules around political memoirs. 2. Whether Nicola Sturgeon has submitted a manuscript of her memoir, Frankly, to the Permanent Secretary for approval under those rules. 3. A copy of any part of ...

FOI withheld 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 s.3 s.33(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-06-09
Reference
FOI/202500458988
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Queries regarding access to secretariat members email accounts: FOI Review

Original request 202400444352 In the court of session ruling from case XA10/23, the court ruling states: "In this connection it is notable that in their written submissions the Ministers accept that they (or their officials) could gain access to the information. They acknowledge that some of the email accounts of sec...

FOI withheld 80 score 10 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.21(4) s.38(1) s.36(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202500449874 Review of 202400444352
Directorate
Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Freedom of Information guidance, monitoring the social media profiles of journalists and sex offender name changing: FOI release

1. Could you supply the full internal guidance/guidebook for dealing with FOIs which the Scottish Government abide by, including whether Special Advisers are given first look at them, and what details they are provided with? 2. Could you supply details about whether the Scottish Government monitor the social media pro...

FOI withheld 80 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.38(1) s.34(1) s.2 s.25(1) s.17(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.36(1) 2 attachments
Published
2024-09-02
Reference
FOI/202400408156
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Law and order, Public sector

Wealth tax in Scotland correspondence: FOI release

Information on Scottish Government and Ministerial engagements on the issue of wealth tax since 28 March 2023, with particular reference to any briefings, correspondence, meetings, or discussions on the Scottish Trade Union Congress’ (STUC) proposals on wealth tax and the IPPR paper on the case for fair tax reform in S...

FOI withheld 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.17(1) s.30 6 attachments
Published
2024-08-14
Reference
FOI/202300378648
Directorate
Tax Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Deposit return scheme letter: EIR release

Regarding the Deposit Return Scheme letter to MSPs: The identity and/or position of the person who wrote the letter. All drafts of the letter, including any comments from Scottish Government employees (Ministers, Civil Servants, Special Advisers, or Press Officers). The identity and/or position of the Scottish Governm...

FOI/EIR withheld 55 score 16 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4)
Published
2024-01-11
Reference
202300342959
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Attendees and details of Director-General Corporate meetings regarding Covid-19 Inquiry: FOI release

1. All meetings between any current or former Scottish Minister and the Director-General Corporate of the Scottish Government regarding the Covid Inquiry, the Scottish Government’s Record/Information Management Policy or the mobile messaging apps - usage and policy guidance (including any draft versions of that policy)...

FOI withheld 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings whatsapp s.30 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-07
Reference
FOI/202300383319
Directorate
Digital Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC) ruling 004/2023: FOI release

The cost of any legal advice - either from the Scottish Government's legal directorate or from external advisers/counsel - in regards to the decision to challenge the SIC ruling 004/2023. Any internal correspondence among senior civil servants, special advisers, and ministers (including any attachments or referenced br...

FOI withheld 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings spending s.36(1)
Published
2023-08-29
Reference
FOI/202300368377
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector