Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

21,863releases indexed
39,476attachments found
29.7avg calendar days
8,112partially withheld
2016-06-13oldest in sample
2026-05-20newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,112 unclear 7,200 not held 3,069 released 1,537 already published 671 cost limit 607 clarification 349 withheld 241 transferred 77

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4931 s.20 4280 s.34(1) 3589 s.39(2) 3481 s.30 2878 s.17(1) 2774 s.25(1) 2381 s.10(4) 1987 s.11(2) 1571 s.29(1) 1175 s.2 1158 s.3 908

Timeline

2026-05 410 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 1,279 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 967 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 923 releases · 31.0 avg days Learning Directorate 861 releases · 34.4 avg days Economic Development Directorate 729 releases · 39.9 avg days Constitution Directorate 685 releases · 36.1 avg days Population Health Directorate 645 releases · 28.7 avg days People Directorate 633 releases · 25.8 avg days
Clear
777 matching releases

Organogram and pay for Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government office: FOI release

The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles not names of individuals) for the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government office, including both civil service and political staff, and (ii) the wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish...

FOI unclear 75 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-30
Reference
202200335638
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence mentioning "offshore wind": FOI release

All email correspondence sent (1st August 2021 - date) by Liz Lloyd, Strategic Policy and Political Adviser to the First Minister of Scotland, and mentioning "offshore wind".

FOI partially withheld 65 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.28(1)
Published
2023-11-29
Reference
202200333689
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Staff structure for the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Economy office: FOI release

The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles not names of individuals) for the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Economy 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. The pay gra...

FOI unclear 75 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-29
Reference
202200335633
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Staff Structure for the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture office: FOI release

(i) The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles not names of individuals) for the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture office, including both civil service and political staff, and (ii) the wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scotti...

FOI unclear 80 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-29
Reference
202200335604
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Staff structure and pay grades for the Deputy First Minister's office: FOI release

(i) The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles not names of individuals) for the Deputy 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. The pay grades for each st...

FOI unclear 80 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-29
Reference
202200335612
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Press conference at Bute House about Supreme Court ruling: FOI release

All correspondence between ministers, special advisers and civil servants regarding the prospect of holding a press conference at Bute House on 23/11/22 about the Supreme Court ruling. This should include emails, text, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Messenger or other electronic communications, and handwritten notes.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers whatsapp s.36(1) s.38(1) 4 attachments
Published
2023-11-28
Reference
202200332116
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees office: FOI release

The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles, not names of individuals) for the Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees 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. The ...

FOI unclear 75 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-28
Reference
202300358413
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

£20m independence fund: FOI release

What is the Scottish Government now doing with its £20m independence fund due to the Supreme Court ruling? If they are using it for independence how are you justifying it considering the Supreme Court ruled the government cannot legally legislate for a referendum? Any correspondence (including emails, WhatsApps) betwee...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending whatsapp s.25(1) s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.17(1) 4 attachments
Published
2023-11-28
Reference
202200331939
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence on transgender guidance in schools: FOI release

Any correspondence (letters, emails, notes, minutes of meetings or otherwise) between the Scottish Government and senior civil servants, special advisers, or the First Minister on the topic of transgender guidance in schools between January 2021 and the present day.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 77 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers meetings s.30 s.36(1) s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-28
Reference
202200333588
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Legal advice on independence referendum: FOI release

The amount spent on legal advice regarding the Scottish Government’s prospectus for an independent Scotland between 07 September 2021 and the date of response to this inquiry? Any correspondence (including emails, attachments, typed or handwritten notes, letters, notes/records of phone calls, minutes of meetings, brief...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.17 s.17(1) s.29(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-27
Reference
202200287065
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Constitution, External Affairs and Culture organogram and grades: FOI release

The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles, not names of individuals) for the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture office, including both civil service and political staff. The wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish Governmen...

FOI unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-27
Reference
202300358383
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Justice and Home Affairs organogram and grades: FOI release

The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles, not names of individuals) for the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs office, including both civil service and political staff. The wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish Government. The pay grades ...

FOI unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-27
Reference
202300358385
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Mairi McAllan resignation date as Special Adviser: FOI release

The date of Mairi McAllan’s resignation as a Special Adviser to the Scottish Government.

FOI unclear 50 score 11 working days correspondence special advisers
Published
2023-11-24
Reference
202200332687
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence between Scottish Ministers and the Press office regarding the Scottish Green Conference or party in general: FOI release

Internal correspondence between the press office and from the press office to Scottish Ministers and special advisers in March 2022 on the Scottish Green conference or the Scottish Greens generally.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.38 s.38(1) s.30 s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-23
Reference
202200291466
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Staff structure for Net Zero, Energy and Transport office: FOI release

Can I please request the following information: The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles not names of individuals) for the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport office, including both civil service and political staff, and (ii) the wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (specia...

FOI unclear 80 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-23
Reference
202200335622
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence between the Scottish Government and Dr Robbie Mochrie: FOI release

Please provide copies of all email correspondence between the Scottish Government (including Ministers, Civil servants, and Special Advisers) and Dr Robbie Mochrie of Heriot-Watt University. Please restrict the search to dates between 1st January 2021 and 24th June 2022.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 15 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.38(1) 4 attachments
Published
2023-11-22
Reference
202200307868
Directorate
Chief Economist Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Building a New Scotland - A stronger economy with independence: FOI release

On 17th October, the Scottish Government published Building a New Scotland - A stronger economy with independence. It included this statement: "Given the uncertainty over the outlook for the global, UK, and Scottish economies, and future fiscal and economic policy decisions by the UK and Scottish governments prior to ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.29(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-22
Reference
202200325262
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence between Scottish Government and NHS Grampian: FOI release

Any correspondence (including emails, letters, phone calls, handwritten notes, WhatsApp messages or any other documents) between NHS Grampian and/or Scottish Government ministers and/or special advisers about FOI request FOI/2022/807 regarding the response to that FOI request. Information should include but not be limi...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 62 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers whatsapp s.38(1) 4 attachments
Published
2023-11-22
Reference
202300339767
Directorate
Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence between Scottish Government and Scotonomic podcast or Scotonomic Live festival: FOI release

Copies of all email correspondence between the Scottish Government (including Ministers, Civil servants, and Special Advisers) and anyone representing the Scotonomics podcast or Scotonomics Live festival, 1st January 2021 - date." You further clarified on 21 February 2023 that you were interested in correspondence "bet...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-22
Reference
202300342984
Directorate
Chief Economist Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity organogram and grades: FOI release

The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles, not names of individuals) for the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity office, including both civil service and political staff The wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish Government. Th...

FOI unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-22
Reference
202300358411
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise organogram and grades: FOI release

The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles, not names of individuals) for the Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise office, including both civil service and political staff. The wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish Government. Th...

FOI unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-22
Reference
FOI/202300358410
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care organogram and grades: FOI release

The staff structure/organogram (giving job titles, not names of individuals) for the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care office, including both civil service and political staff. The wider and complete political staff structure/organogram (special advisors) of the current Scottish Government. The...

FOI unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-22
Reference
202300358370
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Comparability of Ireland's GDP with Scotland's GDP: FOI release

All internal Scottish Government discussion (including between Ministers, Civil Servants, and Special Advisers), 6th May 2021 to date, on the question of the comparability of Ireland's GDP with Scotland's GDP.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.25(1) s.30 s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-21
Reference
202300353396
Directorate
Chief Economist Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Freedom of Information (FOIs) cases discussed at Cabinet: FOI release

During the Scottish Parliament's Convener's Group meeting on September 27, 2023, Humza Yousaf said that certain FOIs had been brought to cabinet to discuss. Which FOIs were they, why were they brought to cabinet, and what was the resulting decision? Please also provide the responses to the FOIs that were brought to Cab...

FOI not held 45 score 10 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings s.17(1)
Published
2023-11-21
Reference
FOI/202300378309
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Travel by Ministers for Party Political Occasions: FOI release

In Section 9.23 of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers – Party Political Occasions, it states that; ‘Where a visit is a mix of political and official engagements, it is important that the Government and the party each meet a proper proportion of the actual cost’. Please provide information on whether or not the S...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 26 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers meetings spending s.9 s.17(1) s.39(1)
Published
2023-11-20
Reference
FOI/202300373939
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector