Scottish Government FOI Index

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

774 matching releases

Response time statistics for Freedom of Information requests: FOI release

The mean, median and maximum response times for an FOI to the Scottish Government for each month of the last five years. The number and percentage of FOIs that were referred to Special Advisers for each month of the last five years. The mean, median and maximum response times for all FOIs referred to Special Advisers...

FOI/EIR released 100 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence special advisers s.20 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-11
Reference: FOI/202400422721
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Valuation of the main Lochaber smelter security asset: FOI release

“1. The figure for the financial difference in the valuation of the main Lochaber smelter security asset held by the Scottish Government between 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years (i.e. -£30m). 2. Any internal correspondence amongst those within the Strategic Commercial Assets Division, including any reports or submi...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings contracts s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-10
Reference: FOI/202300385648
Directorate: Economic Development Directorate
Topic: Economy, Public sector

Correspondence regarding Scotland offshore wind potential: EIR Review

Original request - 202300356373 In November 2022 the Scottish Government announced that it would be updating the discredited statistic that Scotland has 25% of Europe’s offshore wind potential. Please provide: 1. All internal Scottish Government correspondence (8th November 2022 - date) related to the updating of the...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 181 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 s.20 s.10(4) 4 attachments

Published: 2024-09-10
Reference: FOI/202300387044 review of 202300356373
Directorate: Chief Economist Directorate
Topic: Energy, Public sector

Correspondence relating to the Scottish Currency Group: FOI release

Please provide copies of all email correspondence between the Scottish Government (including Ministers, Civil Servants, Special Advisers, and Press Officers) and Tim Rideout, Robbie Mochrie, Ian Stewart, or Cathryn Jones (who are all representatives of the Scottish Currency Group), 1st January 2023 - date.

FOI cost limit 70 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 s.12 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-10
Reference: FOI/202300387857
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Establishment of the Centre for Teaching Excellence: FOI Review

Original request 202300381669 A range of information relating to the recent announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills of a Centre for Teaching Excellence, including: consideration of the policy, decisionmaking, engagement/consultation, costings and role: and for communications related to these (bo...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.29(1) s.30 s.29 s.38 s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-10
Reference: FOI/202300389692 Review of 202300381669
Directorate: Education Reform Directorate
Topic: Education, Public sector

Communications with Operation Branchform Mentions: FOI Review

Original request - 202300367384 All emails sent or received by Scottish Ministers and/or Special Advisers containing the term “Branchform” or “Branch form”. Please provide the full contents of emails containing either of these terms dating back to 1 September 2022.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.30 s.35(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-09
Reference: FOI/202300374787 review of 202300367384
Directorate: Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Domestic Abuse Leavers Fund- Scottish Women’s Aid: FOI Review

Original request (202300372279) a list of all meetings held with Scottish Women’s Aid on the topic of a leavers fund to support victims of domestic abuse to leave abusive relationships. all correspondence related to these meetings including the minutes of the meeting, any briefing notes provided to ministers related t...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-09
Reference: FOI 202300377738 Review of 202300372279
Directorate: Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Ministers and staff who visited Germany during Euro 2024: FOI release

1. List of all ministers and staff (grade/profession if not SCS) who visited Germany during the Euros 2024. 2. The total cost of these trips (broken down by spend).

FOI partially withheld 65 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.27(1)

Published: 2024-09-09
Reference: FOI/202400422955
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Cost of travel and accommodation for the First Minister’s visit to Germany: FOI release

1. Total cost of travel and accommodation for the full duration of FM’s visit to Germany over the weekend of Friday 14 June. 2. Correspondence between private office and officials around the visit planning, agenda etc. 3. Correspondence between private office, officials and stakeholders which FM met including invites...

FOI cost limit 45 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.4 s.39(1) s.12

Published: 2024-09-05
Reference: FOI/202400419226
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Costs relating to John Swinney's trip to Germany: FOI release

A breakdown of costs relating to John Siwnney's [sic] trip to Germany in June 2024. A full list of SG staff in attendance and associated costs. Any correspondence held by the Government in relation to the trip. Notes of the meeting that took place between Mr Swinney and the Bavarian Minister of State for Europe and ...

FOI cost limit 45 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings spending s.39(1) s.12 s.32(1) s.38(1) s.34(1)

Published: 2024-09-05
Reference: FOI/202400419227
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Spring Budget communications campaign: FOI release

You recently engaged in a communications campaign, e.g. https://x.com/scotgov/status/1766116922909692407 The text reads: “The UK Spring Budget has failed to deliver the funding Scotland needs for public services. National Insurance cuts in the Spring Budget and Autumn Statement have cost £20 billion. This means Scotl...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 s.17 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-05
Reference: FOI/202400403341
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Scottish Budget speech analysis: FOI release

On 27th February 2024, the Deputy First Minster delivered a speech in the Scottish Parliament which included the following excerpt: “And our capital spending power is due to contract by almost 10 per cent in real terms over five years. And that's after factoring in our borrowing powers. All told that's a cut from West...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers special advisers contracts spending s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-05
Reference: FOI/202400403342
Directorate: Public Spending Directorate
Topic: Economy, Money and tax, Public sector

HS2 remarks made by Chief Economist: FOI release

On 19th February 2024, the Scottish Daily Express published a story on inaccurate remarks about HS2 made by Scottish Government’s Chief Economist, Gary Gillespie, the Scotonomics Festival of Economics in 2023. That story can be found here: https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-government-adviser-fue...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.38 s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-05
Reference: FOI/202400402645
Directorate: Chief Economist Directorate
Topic: Economy, Public sector, Transport

Correspondence regarding Operation Branchform and Operation Koper: FOI release

1. All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government, including internal, briefings and minutes, regarding sex offenders needing to notify police if they change gender, as discussed here: https://news.stv.tv/politics/conservatives-call-for-sex-offender-gender-change-rule-to-be-fast-tracked offender-gender...

FOI cost limit 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.29(1) s.36(1) s.27(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-05
Reference: FOI/202400400381
Directorate: Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Sent correspondence from the Scottish Government containing "Trump": FOI release

All emails sent by Scottish government ministers containing the word "Trump" in 2024. All emails sent by Scottish government special advisers containing the word "Trump" in 2024. All correspondence sent to or by Scottish government ministers or special advisers regarding Donald Trump's visit to Scotland in May 2023.

FOI not held 70 score 11 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.36 s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-04
Reference: FOI/202400414636
Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

Chief of Staff to the First Minister: FOI release

All Chief of Staff to the First Minister, and who the First Minister was they were Chief of Staff to The tenure of duration of each chief of staff General duties, roles and responsibilities of the Chief of Staff to the First Minister Engagements of the Chief of Staff within the Scottish Government, office of the First ...

FOI not held 45 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.25(1)

Published: 2024-09-04
Reference: FOI/202400411404
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Resignation of Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care: FOI release

All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government, including internal correspondence, minutes, notes and briefings held, about the resignation of Michael Matheson between January 15 2024 and the date of this FOI?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.30 s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-04
Reference: FOI/202400397967
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Programme for Government, Public sector

Former First Minister's travel to London in March 2023: FOI release

In relation to FOI 202300372115 about the former First Minister's travel to London in March 2023 and followed up to ask: 1. Was the trip solely for the purposes of the previous First Minister to take part in a television programme called ‘Loose Women’? 2. If not, was the trip also for the purpose of matters which are...

FOI not held 40 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers meetings spending

Published: 2024-09-04
Reference: FOI/202400412363
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Former Deputy First Minister's 2017 trip to India: FOI release

1. All meetings John Swinney had during his December 2017 trip to India, the attendees of those meetings, the minutes of those meetings and any actions taken by the Scottish Government as a result of those meetings. 2. Any messages, emails or letters sent by John Swinney between 1 and 6 December 2017 (inclusive) that ...

FOI already published 80 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers meetings spending s.2 s.3 s.25(1) s.17(1) s.32(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-03
Reference: FOI/202400412239
Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

Impartiality of the Scottish Government with regards to political messaging: FOI release

All internal discussions on handling this (202400408775) request. This should include any email correspondence relating to it; any Teams messages relating to it; any documents produced which outlined the assessment made of the balance of public interest test; its inclusion in any summaries going to SCS, Special Adviser...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-03
Reference: FOI/202400413226
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, 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

Special Advisers work in the general election campaign: FOI release

1. Can you confirm that any work carried out by Special Advisers in pursuit of the SNP’s general election campaign cannot be paid by the Scottish Government, and should be paid by the political party? 2. Please send any communications to Special Advisers or Ministers advising this re this election.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 16 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2024-09-03
Reference: FOI/202400415543
Directorate: Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Special Advisers Termination of Employment: FOI release

Total contractual payments made (where applicable) on termination of employment for special advisers in 2024 in respect of: Accrued but untaken holiday pay unpaid wages Payment received instead of working a notice period, e.g. payment in lieu of notice (PILON)

FOI released 70 score 10 working days correspondence ministers special advisers contracts spending

Published: 2024-09-03
Reference: FOI/202400414780
Directorate: People Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, 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