Scottish Government FOI Index

22,640releases indexed

40,478attachments found

29.5avg calendar days

8,386partially withheld

2016-06-13oldest in sample

2026-09-02newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,386 unclear 7,405 not held 3,239 released 1,581 already published 700 cost limit 627 clarification 372 withheld 249 transferred 81

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 5149 s.20 4430 s.34(1) 3727 s.39(2) 3593 s.30 2994 s.17(1) 2922 s.25(1) 2520 s.10(4) 2060 s.11(2) 1619 s.29(1) 1223 s.2 1222 s.3 958

Timeline

2026-09 1 2026-08 299 2026-07 476 2026-06 1 2026-05 410 2026-04 312 2026-03 217 2026-02 589

Directorate Profiles

Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate 1,312 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 978 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 961 releases · 30.9 avg days Learning Directorate 871 releases · 34.3 avg days Economic Development Directorate 737 releases · 39.7 avg days Constitution Directorate 702 releases · 35.9 avg days Population Health Directorate 665 releases · 28.5 avg days People Directorate 657 releases · 25.6 avg days

Clear

249 matching releases

First Minister and Scottish and Southern Energy meeting regarding the Skye project: FOI release

According to the Scottish Parliament Lobbying register, on the 17th March, 2025, the First Minister, John Swinney, met SSE at Edinburgh Castle at a dinner where the topic of discussion was the SSE Skye project “where we were already two and a half years into the process of consenting on an existing line. We Proposed a ...

FOI withheld 80 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-31
Reference: FOI/202500467585
Directorate: International Trade and Investment Directorate
Topic: Business, industry and innovation, Economy, Public sector

Registered Fostering Agency (RFA) queries: FOI release

How long have any Scottish Government Minister been aware that there are RFA's that are subsidiaries of a parent organisation, and while complying with the terms of their registration to operate on a NFP basis? In doing so they transfer moneys to their parent organisation in the form of loans. Loans that over time have...

FOI withheld 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.27(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-28
Reference: FOI/202500465708
Directorate: Children and Families Directorate
Topic: Children and families, 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

Draft NHS Gender Transitioning Guide: FOI release

a) The most senior Scottish Government official involved in the development process of the draft guide. b) The respective directorate and policy areas for Scottish Government officials involved in the development process of the draft guide. c) The respective unions involved in the development process of the draft gui...

FOI withheld 55 score 20 working days correspondence s.17

Published: 2025-07-21
Reference: FOI/202500459424
Directorate: Health Workforce Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector

Online media and marketing advertising budgets: FOI release

Please can you provide me with your spending for 2023-4 and 2024-5 on: * Print media advertising, broken down by newspaper or outlet; and * Online media advertising, broken down by platform, e.g. Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, etc.

FOI withheld 55 score 18 working days correspondence contracts spending s.27 s.33 s.33(1)

Published: 2025-07-10
Reference: FOI/202500459416
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, 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

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands briefing notes on salmon farming debate: EIR release

The full briefing notes provided to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands in preparation for her appearance at the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee Debate: Salmon Farming in Scotland on Thursday 20 March 2025.

FOI/EIR withheld 80 score 16 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.20 s.39(2) s.6(1) s.10(4) s.11(2) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-07-02
Reference: EIR/202500458424
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

Heat in Buildings Bill Consultation: EIR release

1. The number of Scottish Government staff working on processing responses to the Heat in Buildings Bill Consultation. 2. How many working hours a week are committed to processing responses to the Heat in Buildings Bill Consultation. 3. Minutes from meetings to discuss the timeline for publishing the Heat in Building...

FOI/EIR withheld 55 score 19 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.10(4)

Published: 2025-05-20
Reference: FOI/202500455533
Directorate: Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic: Energy, Public sector

Information about the NHS Scotland Workforce: Gender Transitioning Guide: FOI release

1. Please state when work on developing the draft (Gender Transitioning) Guide began (month/year). 2. Please state when the draft Guide was first distributed to Health Boards for consultation (month/year). 3. Please state which organisations have been consulted on the draft Guide, or asked to comment in any way. This...

FOI withheld 55 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.29(1) s.17

Published: 2025-05-08
Reference: FOI/202500455189
Directorate: Health Workforce Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector

Forestry Grant Scheme information: EIR release

1. How many woodland creation applications approved under the current FGS in Scotland had the WEAG impact assessment submitted as a part of the application process (please provide a list)? 2. What is the area of arable and mixed-use land (defined as LCA classes 1-4) approved to date be planted with trees under the cur...

FOI/EIR withheld 80 score 20 working days correspondence s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.2 2 attachments

Published: 2025-04-30
Reference: EIR/202500455011
Directorate
Topic: Environment and climate change, Public sector

Stobo woodland creation scheme inspection: EIR release

In relation to the Stobo woodland creation scheme 23FGS74574, please could you address the following questions and provide the requested information: 1. Has Scottish Forestry decided to inspect the site for work carried out so far? If not, why not, given that Scottish Forestry is the regulator for forestry? If yes, pl...

FOI/EIR withheld 80 score 40 working days over deadline correspondence contracts spending s.2 s.20 s.39(2) s.6(1) s.10(4) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-04-16
Reference: EIR/202500448931
Directorate
Topic: Environment and climate change, Public sector

Correspondence regarding Horizon Post Office system: FOI release

1. All briefings prepared ahead of Angela Constance's appearance at Holyrood on Tuesday 9 January to discuss the Horizon Post Office scandal? 2. Why did Lord Advocate not speak about Horizon that day? 3. All correspondence between the Scottish Government and the Crown Office/Lord Advocate regarding Horizon between De...

FOI withheld 80 score 34 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.30 s.2 s.38(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-04-08
Reference: FOI/202400393692
Directorate: Justice Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Seal shooting licensing process, criteria and impact: EIR release

1. Seal Shooting Licences Issued How many licences have been granted in Scotland to permit the shooting of seals from January 2015 to February 2025? Please provide a breakdown of the number of licences issued each year, including the species of seals (e.g., grey seals or common seals) targeted by these licences. Could...

FOI/EIR withheld 55 score 10 working days correspondence ministers s.3 s.20 s.39(2) s.6(1) s.9

Published: 2025-03-27
Reference: EIR/202500454363
Directorate: Marine Directorate
Topic: Marine and fisheries, 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

Marine Protection Vessels (MPVs) inspections: EIR release

1. Any documents describing the current procedure for selecting vessels for random inspections (at sea or in port) by the Directorate's fleet of Marine Protection Vessels (MPVs). 2. A list, in .csv format, of all random inspections carried out by MPVs since 1st January 2022 to the date at which you process this reques...

FOI/EIR withheld 80 score 20 working days correspondence s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-02-26
Reference: FOI/202500449742
Directorate: Marine Directorate
Topic: Marine and fisheries, Public sector

Royal College of Nursing report briefing materials: FOI release

1. A copy of any briefing material that was prepared for the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on the Royal College of Nursing report regarding instances of corridor care. 2. A copy of any briefing material produced for the First Minister ahead of First Minister's Questions on the 16th January regarding the...

FOI withheld 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-02-20
Reference: FOI/202500448357
Directorate: Chief Nursing Officer Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector

Ardrossan Harbour details: EIR release

1. Please provide the business case for Ardrossan Harbour. 2. What works are required to the harbour? 3. How much are these works projected to cost? 4. How much money has been spent on Ardrossan Harbour since 2018? Please provide a breakdown by year and by expenditure type. 5. How much money has been spent on the A...

FOI/EIR withheld 80 score 14 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.20 s.39(2) s.6(1) s.5 2 attachments

Published: 2025-02-18
Reference: EIR/202500448920
Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

Correspondence between Marine Directorate and NatureScot regarding wrasse fishing within Special Areas of Conservation: EIR release

Correspondence between Marine Directorate and NatureScot from 1st July 2024 to 13 January 2025 relating to Appropriate Assessments under the Habitats Regulations in connection with wrasse fishing within Special Areas of Conservation.

FOI/EIR withheld 80 score 20 working days correspondence s.10(4) s.11(2) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-02-18
Reference: EIR/202500447750
Directorate: Marine Directorate
Topic: Marine and fisheries, Public sector

Capital borrowing and bonds programme costs: FOI release

In this FOI release (Capital borrowing and bonds programme costs) the Scottish government said it has incurred external costs of £20,000 plus VAT on the programme to issue the first Scottish government bond. Can you please provide: 1. A breakdown of which external vendors these costs were paid to and when. If the tota...

FOI withheld 55 score 15 working days correspondence meetings contracts spending s.2 s.29(1) s.38(1)

Published: 2025-01-21
Reference: FOI/202400442830
Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Planning consultation data: FOI release

For the list of consultations below that closed in 2024, please provide the following: 1) The response ID and the text that has been redacted, including the question each portion of redacted text was associated with. 2) The exemption or exception used and public interest tests for each piece of redacted text. I am an...

FOI withheld 80 score 19 working days correspondence s.38(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2025-01-17
Reference: FOI/202400440930
Directorate: Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic: Building, planning and design, Public sector

Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) report concerning Presumed Liability in Civil Law: FOI release

Information relating to the report prepared by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) concerning Presumed Liability in Civil Law. We understand this consultancy work was commissioned jointly by the Department for Transport and Transport Scotland and was completed in late 2021. In particular, we require the following i...

FOI withheld 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence briefings s.36(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2025-01-17
Reference: FOI/202400440525
Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

Eskdalemuir Seismic Array zone renewable development correspondence: EIR release

1. Any correspondence between the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Defence about renewable developments including solar and wind farms within the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array zone over the past three years (since 2020) including any conversations about the MoD’s noise calculating budget for the area. 2. Any corres...

FOI/EIR withheld 80 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence spending s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.11(2) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-11-20
Reference: FOI/202400435349
Directorate: Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic: Energy, Public sector

Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) Scotland Bill production: FOI release

1. How many civil servants are currently working on the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill? Please provide this figure for each month since work on the bill began. Please also provide the salary band for each civil servant. 2. What is the total spend on civil servants relating to work on the ...

FOI withheld 55 score 13 working days correspondence spending s.17(1) s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1)

Published: 2024-11-11
Reference: FOI/202400436025
Directorate: Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic: Energy, Environment and climate change, Public sector

Deputy Chief Medical Officer WhatsApp messages during the COVID-19 pandemic: FOI release

The WhatsApp messages of Professor Nicola Steedman, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, during the Covid-19 pandemic, which for practical purposes we have interpreted as the period from 21 January 2020, the date on which the WHO published its ‘Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Situation Report’, to 30 April 2022, the date on whi...

FOI withheld 80 score 52 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.30 s.37(1) s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-11-01
Reference: FOI/202400422235
Directorate: Health and Social Care Finance Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector