Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

21,864releases indexed
39,478attachments found
29.7avg calendar days
8,113partially withheld
2016-06-13oldest in sample
2026-06-12newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,113 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

2026-06 1 2026-05 410 2026-04 312 2026-03 217 2026-02 589 2026-01 479 2025-12 177 2025-11 263

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
7,795 matching releases

Exchange between SQA Chief Executive and Scottish Government: FOI release

I understand that on 14 May 2021 the Chief Executive of the SQA wrote to the Scottish Government regarding the proposals for the appeals system that would be put in place for 2021 N5, Higher and Advanced Higher results. This letter included discussion of a 'no detriment' approach and sought advice from the government. ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 444 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-10
Reference
202100243443
Directorate
Education Reform Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Communications concerning the £400 teacher bonus payment: FOI release

Any internal Scottish Government communications concerning the £400 teacher bonus payment. I would like this information from 15 September 2021 to 25 October 2021.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 364 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-10
Reference
202100251825
Directorate
Education Reform Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Letter referenced by John Swinney in Stage 3 debate on UNCRC Bill: FOI release

Internal or external correspondence between 04/03/2021 and 04/06/2021 on the topic of the letter referenced by John Swinney MSP in the Official Report from the Stage 3 debate on the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill 2021.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 81 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings s.29(1) s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-10
Reference
202200280656
Directorate
Children and Families Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Fireworks legislation and impacts: FOI release

The evidence the Minister for Community Safety was referring to when she told the Criminal Justice Committee: ‘We have looked carefully at evidence from countries where restrictions have been tightened, and we did not find any that it has fuelled the black market.’ Specifically, which countries were looked at and what ...

FOI unclear 75 score 224 working days over deadline correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-10
Reference
202200296857
Directorate
Safer Communities Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Emails mentioning Mridul Wadhwa, CEO of Rape Crisis Edinburgh: FOI release

Emails from 1 April 2021 to the present, which mentioned Mridul Wadhwa, CEO of Rape Crisis Edinburgh from May last year, and/or rape crisis attitudes to trans issues, and/or discussed tensions within the organisation on these matters and differences of opinions between different geographic centres of the Rape Crisis mo...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 75 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-10
Reference
202200297844
Directorate
Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Legal advice provided regarding independence referendum: FOI release

Please provide me with the legislative advice and reference provided to the Scottish Government and First Minister relating to the proposed Independence Referendum as referred to by the Information Commissioner in recent media.

FOI unclear 75 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-10
Reference
202200299367
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Montrose Harbour and Aberdeen Harbour marine licences: EIR release

Marine Licence 00009326 Montrose Harbour I note the UKD Marlin has been recently dredging Montrose Harbour around 8/5/22. I note from the above licence that dredging is not permitted from 1/4/22 to 31/5/22 unless a mitigation plan has been agreed with the Scottish Ministers. The UKD Orca also carried out dredging ju...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 12 working days correspondence ministers s.11(2) 6 attachments
Published
2023-11-10
Reference
202200299941
Directorate
Marine Directorate
Topic
Public sector

FM offshore wind business breakfast: FOI release

On 4th November 2021, Nicola Sturgeon tweeted this: Good to speak at the Offshore Wind business breakfast on energy day at #COP26 - I set out Scotland’s ambitions to increase offshore capacity, provide greater certainty to investors and strengthen the supply chain opportunities as part of our just transition https://...

FOI released 95 score 6 working days correspondence ministers 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-10
Reference
202200301392
Directorate
Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Scotland’s share of Europe’s potential offshore wind resource: EIR release

All internal Scottish Government discussion (including between Ministers, Civil Servants, and Special Advisers) relating to the question of Scotland’s share of Europe’s potential offshore wind resource, restricting the search to dates between 6th May 2021 and 20th October 2022. You also indicated how to narrow down you...

FOI/EIR cost limit 70 score 30 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.11(2) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-10
Reference
202200325962
Directorate
Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Covid discussions of New Year and travel to England: FOI release

Details of all correspondence, including emails and notes of meetings, between the Scottish Government/Government Ministers and relevant bodies/organisations that led to the decision taken by the Scottish Government/First Minister on December 28, 2021, to ask people living in Scotland not to cross the border into Engla...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.17(1)
Published
2023-11-10
Reference
202300339444
Directorate
Population Health Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Statutory Plant Health Notices for Phytophthora ramorum: EIR release

What is Scottish Forestry’s Phytophthora ramorum policy review process and what is the current status of this process? In Annex 2 of the SPHN document [Biosecurity on sites served with a Statutory Plant Health Notice for Phytophthora ramorum on larch], it says a key rationale for the policy is: 'to minimise financial l...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending s.20 s.39(2)
Published
2023-11-10
Reference
202300341045
Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Cost of Lorna Slater's trip to Rum, and passenger numbers: FOI release

The cost of the boat trip by Lorna Slater to go to and from Rum on 12 May 2023. How many people accompanied Ms Slater on the trip.

FOI unclear 50 score 13 working days correspondence ministers spending
Published
2023-11-09
Reference
202300356455
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Total spend, broken down by financial or calendar year, on external legal advice: FOI release

1. The total spend, broken down by financial or calendar year, on external legal advice since April 1, 2020. (i.e. 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23 to date) a) Please break this down by the list of associated cases or disputes, and their individual cost. b) If possible, please provide the final settlement or damages or othe...

FOI cost limit 45 score 32 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings contracts spending s.12 s.20 s.26 s.21 s.33(1)
Published
2023-11-09
Reference
202200332510
Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Number of civil servants producing Yes movement material: FOI release

On 12th May 2023, Minister for Independence, Jamie Hepburn published an article on yes.scot in which he stated: “Work is well underway to produce new materials for our activists.” Please disclose the number of Scottish Government employees who have worked on producing new materials for “Yes movement” activists, broke...

FOI unclear 50 score 12 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2023-11-09
Reference
202300356472
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Ministerial involvement in court cases: FOI release

How many other court cases, along with your Ministers, involved yourselves with court cases?

FOI released 70 score 14 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2023-11-09
Reference
202300339792
Directorate
Safer Communities Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Advice on wearing face coverings: FOI release

The content of all advice provided to Scottish ministers by their Covid advisors about the extent to which wearing a face covering stops the transmission of the BA.2 type of the omicron variant. Please include school settings, workplaces, public transport, shops, places of leisure such as theatres and gyms, tourism se...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 43 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.30 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-09
Reference
202200290091
Directorate
Topic
Public sector

First Minister face covering incident - Police Scotland correspondence: FOI release

The method through which police officers spoke ‘to the First Minister to remind her of the importance of wearing a face covering when there is a legal requirement to do so’ as per Police Scotland’s statement on 18 April 2022. All correspondence (including WhatsApps, phone calls, text messages, emails and meetings) betw...

FOI unclear 75 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-09
Reference
202200295176
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Nicola Sturgeon's access to chauffer driven cars since leaving office: FOI release

Does Ex FM Nicola Sturgeon have access to chauffer driven cars from the Scottish Government? When did Ex FM Nicola Sturgeons access to Scottish Governments chauffer driven cars cease?

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2023-11-08
Reference
202300349395
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Nicola Sturgeon diary between February 2022 and April 2023: FOI release

Nicola Sturgeon's ministerial car journeys between February 2022 and the date of this FOI, including where she went and the return journey. If you cannot supply this, explain why not? - If this costs too much, can it be between August 2022 and the date of this FOI Has Nicola Sturgeon used a ministerial car since she of...

FOI unclear 50 score 17 working days correspondence ministers spending
Published
2023-11-08
Reference
202300351941
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Annual cost and nature of work on independence prospectus: FOI release

Following the Minister for Independence appearance on The Sunday Show where he alluded to the fact that 20 civil servants were still working on an independence prospectus, notwithstanding the fact that the UK Supreme Court had advised that the Scottish Government cannot hold a referendum can you advise: How much the s...

FOI unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence ministers spending
Published
2023-11-08
Reference
202300358072
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Corran Ferry information: FOI release

When did the Scottish Government know that the Corran Ferry would be required to be out of action until at least the end of May 2023? What date has the Scottish Government requested for that the MOD begin temporary support for the Corran Ferry, while the permanent ferry is out of action? What date has the Scottish Gove...

FOI released 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending
Published
2023-11-08
Reference
202300354901
Directorate
Performance, Delivery and Resilience Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Waverley Line extension from Tweedbank to Carlisle: FOI release

You asked for (1) the number of letters of correspondence from MSP Rachel Hamilton regarding the Waverley Line [Borders Rail] extension from Tweedbank to Carlisle to the Scottish Government Transport Minister and vice versa (which i have assumed, for consistency, to be for the same two year period as the second part of...

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings
Published
2023-11-08
Reference
FOI/202300374145
Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Transport

NHS strike contingency plans: FOI release

All copies of documented contingency plans for NHS Health Boards over the strike period Each date the Health Secretary and Scottish Government engaged with Health Boards specifically on contingency plans.

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.17(1)
Published
2023-11-08
Reference
202200329495
Directorate
Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Evidence for COVID-19 face masks: FOI release

Have the Scottish Government ever consulted any industrial hygenists or occupational health and hygiene specialists (example link provided) to assess the safety and efficacy of masking to reduce the spread of COVID-19, if so what was the outcome ? Since 2020 till present have the Scottish Government ever conducted any ...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.20 s.12
Published
2023-11-08
Reference
FOI/202300373214
Directorate
Population Health Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, Public sector