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

540 matching releases

Valneva plant in Livingston: FOI release

All the correspondence and any other messages - email, letter, WhatsApp, text and any other form of communication - between the Scottish Government, including the First Minister's office (including civil servants and special advisers) and Valneva, or any other company or agency involved, on the First Minister's visit t...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers whatsapp s.33(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 20 attachments

Published: 2023-12-21
Reference: 202200292252
Directorate: Economic Development Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Correspondence with residents effected by Storm Arwen: FOI release

How many residents affected by Storm Arwen were contacted by the Scottish Government for the purpose of conducting its Storm Arwen review. Please provide the number of residents contacted between 26 November 2021 and 27 January 2022. All correspondence between Scottish Government Ministers and residents affected by Sto...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 35 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings whatsapp s.17(1) 6 attachments

Published: 2023-12-20
Reference: 202200276452
Directorate: Performance, Delivery and Resilience Directorate
Topic: Public sector

National Farmers Union of Scotland and gene editing: EIR release

Correspondence (including emails, attachments, typed or handwritten notes, letters, notes/records of phone calls, minutes of meetings, briefings, WhatsApp messages or otherwise) between Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon MSP, any other Scottish Government representatives and the National Farmers Union of Scotland, the Ros...

FOI/EIR cost limit 70 score 37 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.20 s.39(2) s.5(2) s.6(1) s.10(4) 28 attachments

Published: 2023-12-20
Reference: 202200280877
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Correspondence received by Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon MSP regarding ‘fertiliser’ and the ‘price of fertiliser’: EIR release

All correspondence received by Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon MSP regarding ‘price of fertiliser’, ‘shortages of fertiliser’, ‘price of ammonium nitrate fertiliser’, and ‘shortages of ammonium nitrate fertiliser’ between 8 May 2021 and 16 March 2022 including, emails, Whatsapp messages and meeting minutes. As the inf...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.10(5) 12 attachments

Published: 2023-12-19
Reference: 202200288436
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Funding for V&A museum in Dundee and Kings Theatre in Edinburgh: FOI release

How much money has the Scottish Government and any Scot Gov quango handed out overall to the V&A museum in Dundee? Breakdown by year, how much was given and what for? Over that same time period how much money has the government or any Scot Gov quango handed out to the Kings Theatre in Edinburgh? Breakdown by year, how ...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings spending s.30 s.33(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2023-12-16
Reference: 202300340809
Directorate
Topic: Public sector

The implementation of the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019: FOI release

All briefing and correspondence between officials and ministers and all fourteen health boards (including emails, attachments, typed or handwritten notes, letters, records of phone calls, minutes of meetings, briefings, WhatsApp messages or otherwise) relating to the implementation of the Health and Care (Staffing) (Sc...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.38(1) s.34(1) s.01 182 attachments

Published: 2023-12-15
Reference: 202200304110
Directorate: Chief Nursing Officer Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Correspondence regarding spend to mitigate UK welfare policy in Aberdeen City Council: FOI release

All correspondence, WhatsApp and text messages in relation to a parliamentary question concerning Scottish Government spend to mitigate UK welfare policy in Aberdeen City Council within the last five years.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 11 working days correspondence ministers spending whatsapp s.38 s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2023-12-14
Reference: FOI/202300376380
Directorate: Social Security Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Correspondence between Scottish Forestry and the Scottish Government regarding the 2022-23 budget: FOI release

Any correspondence (including emails, attachments, typed or handwritten notes, letters, notes/records of phone calls, minutes of meetings, briefings, WhatsApp messages or otherwise) between Scottish Forestry and the Scottish Government regarding the 2022-23 Scottish Government budget, limited to correspondence dates be...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 37 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.29(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 26 attachments

Published: 2023-12-12
Reference: 202200285844
Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Correspondence regarding resignation and appointment of Transport Minister: FOI release

1. All correspondence (emails, whatsapps, texts) regarding the resignation of Kevin Stewart as transport minister and the appointment of his replacement Fiona Hyslop received and sent by the Scottish Government/Transport Scotland between June 1 and August 1 2. Is the Scottish Government/Transport Scotland commissionin...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 13 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.38(1) s.34(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2023-12-12
Reference: FOI/202300371786
Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

Communication around housing Ukrainian refugees on MS Victoria: FOI release

All documents, meeting minutes and details of communication by the Scottish Government, ministers and special advisors about housing Ukrainian refugees on a ship in Edinburgh. Please provide any details about the communication, including but not limited to emails, letters, text/whatsapp messages, and minutes of meetin...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.38(1) s.36(2) s.30 s.33(1) s.29(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2023-12-12
Reference: 202200332251
Directorate
Topic: Public sector

A9 dualling project between Tomatin to Moy: EIR release

1. All advice and documentation received by Transport Scotland regarding the Tomatin to Moy dualling project. In particular, the timeline to procurement, advice on the offers made and how the process will be changed for the next round of procurement. 2. All correspondence received and sent by Drew Hendry regarding the...

FOI/EIR clarification 80 score 27 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings contracts s.3 s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.11(2) s.34(1) s.6(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2023-12-12
Reference: FOI/202300369752
Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Transport

Correspondence regarding Covid-19 Inquiry and social media messaging policy: FOI release

1. A full list of media requests to Jason Leitch, and Scottish Government ministers regarding the Covid Inquiry between Oct 25 and the date of this FOI. Can you include who the organisation is and whether they got accepted or rejected? 2. How many ministers requested exemptions from the Enterprise Vault back-up system...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending whatsapp s.25(1) s.17(1) s.17 6 attachments

Published: 2023-12-11
Reference: FOI/202300383421
Directorate: Digital Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Drugs Deaths Task Force women-only services: FOI release

The following information about work undertaken by the Scottish Government's 'Drug's Death Task Force': https://www.gov.scot/groups/drugdeaths- task-force/ The Drug's Death Task Force recently published their 'Women's Report': https://drugdeathstaskforce.scot/news-information/publications/reports/womens-report/ The r...

FOI already published 75 score 70 working days over deadline correspondence briefings meetings whatsapp 4 attachments

Published: 2023-12-11
Reference: 202200276062
Directorate: Population Health Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Resource Spending, Capital Spending and Medium-Term Financial Strategy : FOI release

1. All correspondence (including emails, attachments, typed or handwritten notes, letters, notes/records of phone calls, minutes of meetings, briefings, WhatsApp messages or otherwise) between the Scottish Government and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service regarding the Scottish Government’s Resource Spendin...

FOI already published 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings spending s.25 s.27(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.17(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2023-12-08
Reference: 202200303701
Directorate: Public Spending Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Scottish Government probe into leaked budget: FOI release

1a.) Have/did the Scottish Government launch a probe into the leaked budget proposals which were reported by BBC Scotland on December 15 last year? 1b.) If not, why and if you did explain the process of the investigation? 1c.) What was the final outcome of the investigation? 1d.) Any correspondence (including emails...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers whatsapp s.1C s.1D s.38(1) s.29(1) s.20 2 attachments

Published: 2023-12-08
Reference: 202300344253
Directorate: Public Spending 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

Mobile messaging applications policy and guidance: FOI release

On 30th October 2023, the First Minister Humza Yousaf was getting asked about people deleting whatsapp messages and he told a news reporter that the Scottish Government “had a social media messaging policy which actually required us to routinely delete Whatsapp messages, that was the policy at the time”. Based on this...

FOI unclear 75 score 20 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp 4 attachments

Published: 2023-12-07
Reference: FOI/202300383064
Directorate: Digital Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Policy and guidance on mobile messaging apps: FOI release

You asked for the first draft of this Mobile Messaging Apps policy. https://www.gov.scot/publications/mobile-messaging-apps-usage-and-policy-guidance/ Please also send me all subsequent drafts, including requests for changes or annotations from ministers or officials, which contributed to the final draft. Please als...

FOI unclear 75 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp 4 attachments

Published: 2023-12-07
Reference: FOI/202300383191
Directorate: Digital Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Covid-19 Inquiry WhatsApp messages handover: FOI release

1. How many WhatsApp messages have, as of 26th October 2023, been handed over to the UK or Scottish Covid-19 inquiries? 2. How many WhatsApp messages have, as of 26th October 2023, yet to “go through the appropriate process” before (potentially) being handed over to the UK or Scottish Covid-19 inquiries?

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.25(1)

Published: 2023-12-06
Reference: FOI/202300382615
Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Mobile messaging apps usage and policy guidance: FOI release

Speaking to the media on 30th October 2023, the First Minister said: “Remember, of course, we had a social media messaging policy which actually required us to routinely delete WhatsApp messages. That was the policy at the time.” Please provide the text of this policy, and a list of those (by name or by position) to ...

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp

Published: 2023-12-06
Reference: FOI/202300382974
Directorate: Digital Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Government policy on social media messaging: FOI release

In an interview with LBC regarding the deletion of messages during the Covid pandemic, FM Humza Yousaf stated that: "we had a social media messaging policy which actually required us to routinely delete whatsapp messages." Please release the following under FOISA: Full and complete details of the policy (including th...

FOI unclear 50 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence whatsapp

Published: 2023-12-06
Reference: FOI/202300382914
Directorate: Digital Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Mobile messaging apps – usage and policy guidance: FOI release

1. Between February 1, 2020 and April 1, 2020, any advice or guidance or correspondence on the use of instant messaging platforms in the context of remote working. 2. During the same time period, any correspondence on the topic of policies relating to remote working and record keeping, including any policy documents.

FOI unclear 50 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence whatsapp

Published: 2023-12-06
Reference: FOI/202300382913
Directorate: Digital Directorate
Topic: Public sector

WhatsApp retention policy: FOI release

1. All government correspondence sent to civil servants and other related staff regarding the retention of WhatsApp messages. To be more specific, correspondence can include any internal emails or messages or other forms of communication that were put out to civil servants, Ministers and other related staff to explain ...

FOI withheld 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.30 s.37(1) s.21 2 attachments

Published: 2023-12-06
Reference: FOI/202300382735
Directorate: Digital Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Current and previous versions of Information Management Policy: FOI release

The Scottish Government’s current Information Management Policy and all previous iterations of the policy dating back to 1 January 2020. For clarity, please provide the policy as it stood on 1 January 2020, as it currently stands at the present date and all other versions of the policy where any changes have been made ...

FOI unclear 80 score 20 working days correspondence meetings whatsapp s.17 2 attachments

Published: 2023-12-06
Reference: FOI/202300382922
Directorate: Digital Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Policy on handling of Whatsapp messages: FOI release

A copy of any policy on how SMP's and Government employees should deal with Whatsapp messages and similar messaging services, from 1st January 2015 to 31st October 2023. Please could you indicate the author of any such policy, or under whose direction it was issued.

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp

Published: 2023-12-06
Reference: FOI/202300383183
Directorate: Digital Directorate
Topic: Public sector